For more than a hundred years, people have used Borax to clean their houses and do their laundry. Borax, which is also known as sodium borate, is a naturally occurring mineral. Borax isn’t harmful to the environment, and it’s safe to use. While many people simply use Borax for cleaning, it can also do so much more.
We’ve gathered 35 creative and unique ideas for using Borax in your home. This versatile product is useful for so many things, from keeping pests aways to reducing odors. You can even use Borax to preserve flowers and help fruit trees grow!
If you have a box of Borax in your cupboard and aren’t sure what to do with it, these tips will help you. Whether you’re looking to make your own detergent or add a shine to your fine China, Borax is a great choice for you. Read on to learn about all the creative ways you can use this mineral!
If you want to preserve some freshly cut flowers, Borax can help you. Borax will draw out the moisture in the flowers, and it will prevent them from wilting. Simply mix two parts cornmeal with one part of Borax. Place the flowers in the mixture, and soon, they’ll be perfectly preserved!
2) Making Homemade Detergent
If you’re looking for an all-natural way to clean your clothes, try making your own laundry detergent with Borax. To make a great detergent, first grate a bar of soap in a food processor, Then, mix one cup of Arm & Hammer washing soda, one cup of Borax, and the grated soap in a bowl. Place the mixture in a sealed jar, and use about two tablespoons in each load of laundry.
3) Reducing Odors In Fridges
Noticed an unpleasant odor in your fridge? Borax can help reduce the smell! Place a tablespoon of Borax in a quart of warm water. Wipe down the fridge using the Borax mixture, and then rinse your fridge with cold water. Your fridge will immediately smell much better.
Borax is a great way to remove streaks and add a shine to your windows. Mix two tablespoons of Borax with three cups of water, and then use this mixture to clean your windows. Then, wipe your windows again with a mixture featuring equal parts vinegar and water. After that, be sure to dry your windows. You’ll be amazed to see how clean your windows look after using this mixture!
If you’re hosting a special dinner, you’ll most likely want to bring out your fine China. If your fine China is looking a bit dull, use Borax to add a sparkle to it. Fill your sink with warm water, and add a ½-cup of Borax. After you’ve washed the fine China in the Borax mixture, be sure to wash it a second time in plain water.
Over time, violins, cellos, and violas’ bow hairs can get gummed up with rosin. To remove this rosin, wet an old, unused toothbrush and dip it in Borax. Gently scrub the bow hairs until the gummed-up rosin is gone—try and avoid getting the Borax on the wooden part of the bow. Just like that, your bow will be good as new!
7) Making Homemade Silly Putty
If you’re looking for a fun craft to do with your kids’, try making homemade silly putty! To make the silly putty, you’ll need ¼-cup warm water, 1½ teaspoons of Borax, ¼-cup white glue, and one teaspoon of paint or food coloring. First, put the paint or food coloring into a bowl. Then, add the warm water and stir. After that, add in the glue. Finally, sprinkle in the Borax. Squish the mixture together in your hands, and watch as it becomes silly putty,
If you’re looking for another fun craft to do with your kids, try making Floam. Floam is a cross between slime and play-dough, and your kids are sure to enjoy playing with it and molding it into fun shapes! To make the Floam, you’ll need two tablespoons of Borax, a ½-cup of warm water, two ounces of glue, 1½ cups of polystyrene beads, and food coloring. First, mix the water and Borax in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the glue, water, and food coloring. Pour the glue-water mixture into a plastic bag, and then, pour in the polystyrene beads. After that, add the Borax-water solution into the bag and mix well.
Looking for an easy way to remove rust? Borax is just what you need! Mix a tablespoon of Borax, a tablespoon of lemon juice, and a bit of water. Mix these three ingredients together until they form a paste. Dip a scrub brush into the paste, and use it scour the rusty object. Afterwards, be sure to rinse the object down with water.
10) Cleaning Porcelain And Aluminum Cookware
If you’re having trouble getting a food stain out of your porcelain or aluminum cookware, use some Borax. Sprinkle borax onto the cookware, and then rub it was a damp dishcloth or towel. Afterwards, be sure to rinse the cookware thoroughly in warm water.
11) Cleaning Showers and Tile
Borax is great for getting the grime off showers and tile floors. Sprinkle Borax on a damp sponge, and then scrub your shower and tile floor down. Then, rinse thoroughly. Borax will remove all the dust and grime from the tile, leaving you with a sparkling floor and shower.
12) Making Homemade Dish Soap
If you’re looking for a great alternative for store-bought dish soap, try making your own soap using Borax. Mix a tablespoon of grated bar soap, a tablespoon of Borax, and two cups of boiling water. Allow the mixture to cool down before using it. This homemade soap will easily remove food residue from dishes, and it will give them a beautiful shine.
If your child accidentally wets the bed, Borax can help remove the odor from the mattress. First, wet down the mattress. Then, sprinkle Borax into a damp cloth. Wipe the mattress with the cloth, and then let the mattress dry. Once the mattress is dry, vacuum up the remaining Borax powder.
14) Making Homemade Candle Wicks
Many people enjoy making homemade candles, but often, the wicks on these candles will produce more smoke than the ones on store-bought candles. To fix this problem, simply soak the wick in a solution of salt and Borax.
Fleas are always a pain for you and your dog. If your dog has brought home fleas, Borax can help get rid of them. Sprinkle the Borax on your dog’s bed, on the carpets, and any other spot where you think fleas might be hatching. Doing this will help stop your flea infestation before it gets any worse.
Over time, humidifiers tend to develop a bit of an odor. To reduce this odor, pour a ½-cup of Borax into a gallon of water. Then, pour this mixture into your humidifier’s tank. Turn on the humidifier and let it run for around 10 minutes. After that, dump out the tank and rinse it well.
17) Making Homemade Air Freshener
Using Borax is a great way to enhance a homemade air freshener. Mix a ½-cup of Borax with one pint of water. Place this mixture into a spray bottle, and spray the mixture onto rugs, couches, pillows, and curtains. If you’d like, you can also add essential oil to give your air freshener a pleasant fragrance.
18) Helping Fruit Trees Grow
If you’ve noticed your fruit trees aren’t producing as much fruit as they used to, Borax can help. Every three to four years, sprinkle a cup of Borax around your fruit tree. The Borax will add boron to the soil, which helps fruits and seeds develop.
Borax is great for removing stains from porcelain or stainless steel sinks. Mix ¼-cup lemon juice and a cup of Borax, and stir until you create a paste. Dip a sponge into the paste, and scour the sink. Afterward, wash the sink off with warm water.
20) Removing Sticky Adhesives
When you remove a price sticker on a recent purchase or a label from a jar, you may notice a sticky residue on the product. To remove this residue, pour a ½-cup of Borax into a ¼-cup of warm water. Dip a rag into the mixture and rub it on the adhesive. The adhesive will quickly dissolve.
21) Making Clothes Flame Retardant
If you’re looking for a way to make your clothes or your kids’ clothes more flame retardant, try using Borax. Place a cup of Borax and a ½-cup of boric acid into a gallon of water. Wash your clothing in the washing machine like normal. Then, soak your clothes in the Borax-boric acid mixture before placing the clothes in the dryer. Be sure to repeat this process each time you wash your clothing.
22) Refreshing Linens and Towels
Are your linens or towels starting to smell a bit musty? You can reduce this odor by soaking them in a mixture featuring two cups of Borax and two cups of water. Leave your linens in the mixture for about two hours, and then rinse them thoroughly.
Borax can help clean your toilet bowl and reduce odors. Simply sprinkle the Borax lpowder into the toilet bowl. Let it sit for a minute or two, and then scrub the bowl using a scrub brush.
Weeds are always a nuisance, and it can be tricky to get rid of them. To quickly remove weeds, pour five teaspoons of Borax into a quart of water. Then, pour the mixture onto the affected part of your lawn. You can also use this solution to kill weeds in the cracks in your driveway.
25) Removing Clothes Stains
Struggling to remove a tricky clothes stain? Use a solution featuring one tablespoon of Borax and two tablespoons of water. Spread the solution onto the stain, and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Afterward, rinse out the piece of clothing and wash it in your washing machine.
Borax is great at removing stains and odors from carpets. Mix a ½-cup of Borax with two cups of warm water. Soak a sponge in the mixture, and then scrub the mixture into your carpet. Let the mixture sit for about 30 minutes, and then vacuum your carpet.
27) Cleaning Garbage Disposal
To easily clean and sanitize your garbage disposal, pour three tablespoons of Borax down your drain. Let the Borax sit for around an hour, and then rinse the drain out with warm water.
If you’re worried about mice getting into your house, use Borax to deter them. Sprinkle the Borax on the floor along the wall—mice don’t like getting the Borax on their feet, and so they’ll avoid running in that area.
Have you noticed mold somewhere in your house? Use Borax to remove the mold growth. Make a thick paste featuring Borax and water, and then spread the paste on the mold. Leave the paste overnight to dry—as it dries, it will turn into powder. In the morning, sweep up the remaining powder.
If you’re searching for another fun craft to make with your kid, try making bouncy balls. To make these, you’ll need one tablespoon of Borax, a ½-cup of warm water, one tablespoon of cornstarch, two tablespoons of white glue, and food coloring. First, mix the warm water and Borax in one bowl. In another bowl, mix the cornstarch, food coloring, and glue. Pour the cornstarch-glue mixture into the water-Borax mixture. After about ten minutes, the glue mixture will harden. Pull the mixture out and roll it in your hand to make a ball. This craft is easy as can be and tons of fun!
31) Reducing Litterbox Odors
If you’ve noticed an unpleasant odor coming from your cat’s litterbox, clean it out using Borax. Sprinkle a bit of Borax into the cat’s litter, and mix it in. The Borax should help minimizes any odors coming from the litterbox.
32) Cleaning Combs and Hairbrushes
It’s a good idea to regularly clean your hairbrushes and combs. To remove the gunk from your hair products, fill a basin up with water, a ¼-cup Borax, and a tablespoon of dish soap. Place your hairbrush and combs in the basin, and let them soak for about an hour. Then, let them dry completely before you use them.
It’s always annoying when cockroaches or ants get into your house. To keep these bugs away, mix equal parts sugar and Borax in a bowl. Then, sprinkle the mixture around doorways and any other place where you think the bugs may be entering your house.
34) Cleaning Outdoor Furniture
Looking for a good way to clean outdoor furniture? Mix one teaspoon of Borax, one teaspoon of dish soap, and one quart of warm water. Place the mixture in a spray bottle, and spritz on your furniture. Afterwards, wipe the furniture down with warm water.
35) Making Snowflake Ornaments
Using Borax, you can make unique snowflake ornaments that will look beautiful hanging up in your house or on your Christmas tree! To make the ornament, first twist three pieces of pipe cleaners together to form your snowflake. Then, tie the pipe cleaners to a pencil using string. Dip the pipe cleaners into a solution that includes three tablespoons of Borax, one drop of blue food coloring, and one cup of boiling water. Hang the snowflake over a container, and let it dry overnight. In the morning, beautiful Borax crystals will have formed on your snowflake.
Unique Ways To Use Borax
Borax is a versatile product that’s perfect for cleaning, removing odors, and boosting your laundry detergent. It’s also perfect for everything from making fun crafts to helping trees grow. If you’re looking for a way to easily remove stains, get rid of odors, and much more, Borax is the perfect choice for you!
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