A few years ago, my oldest son brought home an instruction sheet on making homemade snowflakes. Well, he was in first grade so it was "several" (waaaaaa! sniffle! Seriously he's almost a teen!?!) years ago. Anyway, you needed Borax.
I had never heard of it.
I bought a box, and my cleaning world changed forever. Not only did I make a snowflake with my son, I cleaned toilets, deodorized sinks and freshened laundry. Borax is similar to a box of cleaning magic. It's a safe alternative to bleach and harsh cleaners and it's cheap! While it should NOT be ingested, Borax is a naturally occurring mineral also known as sodium borate. It doesn’t cause cancer and it is not harmful to the environment.
In other words, it's awesome and you need a box STAT.
If you are interested in snowflake making, which you shouldn't be because it's Spring, about.com has the instructions.
In other words, it's awesome and you need a box STAT.
If you are interested in snowflake making, which you shouldn't be because it's Spring, about.com has the instructions.
In no particular order, here are some of my favorite uses for Borax.
1. TOILETS! I sprinkle some in (about 1/2 cup) and leave it overnight. The next morning swish and scrub, and when you flush that toilet it will be clean (sparkling!) and stink free! This is my absolute favorite use for borax. My kids are not avid toilet flushers which leads to stinky, urine smelling toilets!
2. Carpets. Dissolve 1/2 cup of Borax in a pint of water and sponge it onto stains, wait 15-20 minutes and "rinse" with a wet cloth. Let it dry and vacuum.
3. Add Borax to your laundry. Just a 1/2 cup with freshen the clothes, help remove stains and boost your detergents cleaning powers. If you have some tough stains, pre-soak! Borax naturally softens hard water too!
4. Sprinkle 1/4 cup Borax into the bottom of your dishwasher to help with spots on dishes.
5. Stinky garbage disposal? Add 3 tablespoons Borax and let sit at least 15 minutes. Flush with water while running disposal.
6. Using a clean sponge, scrub your counters and appliances with a sprinkle of Borax and some water.
7. You can use Borax to clean your patio furniture, garbage pails and microwave. Dissolve some in warm water and scrub!
8. FLEAS! If you have pets, and you suspect fleas, sprinkle borax wherever you think those fleas are hatching (pet beds etc). Borax would need to be ingested in VERY high doses to harm a pet, but it releases a poison that kills fleas.
9. Showers. Use with a sponge just as you would a powder cleanser and rinse thoroughly.
10. Unclog drains. Pour 1/2 cup borax down the drain and follow with 2 cups boiling water. Let sit for at least 15 minutes, then flush with water.
Any else have some helpful Borax tips I haven't listed? Share with me! Happy Wednesday!
8. FLEAS! If you have pets, and you suspect fleas, sprinkle borax wherever you think those fleas are hatching (pet beds etc). Borax would need to be ingested in VERY high doses to harm a pet, but it releases a poison that kills fleas.
9. Showers. Use with a sponge just as you would a powder cleanser and rinse thoroughly.
10. Unclog drains. Pour 1/2 cup borax down the drain and follow with 2 cups boiling water. Let sit for at least 15 minutes, then flush with water.
Any else have some helpful Borax tips I haven't listed? Share with me! Happy Wednesday!
equal parts borax and sugar to get rid of ants. I've seen wet and dry versions but I use the dry. Sprinkle where ants are and the next day they're gone. I have also heard straight borax around the outside of your foundation will keep the ants out of the house :)
ReplyDeleteWorks great in blacksmith work too , weld metal with borax.
ReplyDeleteI always use it n my carpet cleaner. With laundry detergent, some fabric softner and 1/4 cup borax. It cleans carpets very well!! Just mix the borax in 3/4 cup boiling water to dissolve them add other ingredients.
ReplyDeleteI and many other blacksmiths use borax as a forge welding flux... Versitle stuff!
ReplyDeleteAn extension to the laundry use- soak musty towels in Borax and warm water for about half an hour, then wash as usual (with or without the Borax additive). BAM.
ReplyDeleteMixed with water it kills mold, spray it on elbow grease if needed, hose it off.
ReplyDeleteIt preserves animal skins. It is used all the time in the taxidermy business. Especially on birds
ReplyDeleteTerrific post! Also great for hide preservation and taxidermy, preserves and prevents bug infestation.
ReplyDeleteMy mother always put it in the windowsills and around the perimeter of the attic and basement to kill bugs and roaches.
ReplyDeleteMix Borax with a small quantity of sugar and your "sugar ants" will be gone !!
ReplyDelete