Borax may remind you of an old-fashioned cleaning routine, but this household staple still has plenty of practical uses. Also called sodium borate, it has been used for generations in laundry, household cleaning, odor control, and pest management.
It comes as a white powder and mixes easily with water. While borax can be useful around the house, it needs to be handled carefully. Keep it away from children and pets, avoid breathing the powder, and follow the directions on the product label. It also isn’t a good choice for use around edible plants or as a homemade garden treatment, since too much boron can harm plants.
Here are 11 ways borax can still earn a spot in your cleaning cupboard.
What Is Borax?
Borax, or sodium borate, is a naturally occurring mineral compound that has been used in household products for many years. It is found in mineral deposits, including those formed in dry lake beds.
The white powder dissolves in water and has long been used in laundry products and household cleaners. It can help with stains, odors, grease, and hard-water residue.
Because borax is a chemical substance, treat it like any other household cleaner. Don’t use it on surfaces that could come into contact with food unless the product directions specifically allow it, and wash your hands after handling it.
1. Borax as a Laundry Booster
A little borax can give your regular laundry detergent some extra help, especially with odors and hard-water residue. Add the amount recommended on the product label along with your usual detergent.
It can be particularly useful for loads of towels, work clothes, and other fabrics that tend to hold onto smells.
2. Help Clean Mold and Mildew
Borax can help clean mold and mildew from washable household surfaces. Mix it with water according to the product directions, apply it to the affected area, and scrub with a suitable brush or sponge.
For larger mold problems or areas that stay damp, cleaning the surface alone may not solve the problem. Fixing the moisture source is just as important.
3. Make a Household Cleaning Solution
Borax can be mixed with warm water to make a cleaning solution for certain household surfaces. It can help loosen dirt and greasy buildup on areas such as sinks, tubs, and other washable surfaces.
Always check the surface manufacturer’s instructions first. A cleaner that works well on one material may damage another.
4. Help Remove Stains
Borax can be useful for some stubborn laundry and household stains. Depending on the type of stain and material, it can be mixed with water to make a paste or added to a wash load.
For carpets and upholstery, test the mixture on a hidden section first. Some fabrics and dyes can react badly to cleaning products.
5. Control Ants and Other Household Pests
Borax is often used in homemade ant baits. A mixture containing borax and sugar can attract ants, which may carry the bait back to the colony.
Keep these mixtures away from children and pets, and place them only in areas where they can’t be reached accidentally.
Related: How to Make a Borax Ant Trap
6. Freshen Up Smelly Areas
Borax can help with stubborn household odors. A small amount can be used as part of a cleaning solution for washable surfaces, garbage cans, and other areas where unpleasant smells tend to linger.
Don’t leave loose borax where children or pets could get into it. For a simple refrigerator deodorizer, baking soda is usually a safer household choice.
7. Help Remove Hard-Water Buildup
Hard water can leave a chalky film on sinks, tubs, and fixtures. Borax can help loosen some of this residue when mixed with water and used as directed.
Give the surface a good rinse afterward so you don’t leave behind a powdery film.
8. Clean Grimy Bathroom Surfaces
Bathroom sinks, tubs, and other washable surfaces can collect soap residue and grime. Borax can be part of a homemade cleaning mixture for these areas.
Apply the mixture with a sponge or cloth, scrub the buildup, and rinse the surface well. Test the cleaner first if you’re working with a delicate finish.
9. Freshen Laundry Between Washes
Musty towels, bedding, and other fabrics can sometimes benefit from borax during the wash. Adding the recommended amount to the washing machine can help with lingering odors and residue.
This is especially useful for fabrics that have been sitting in a hamper for a few days or towels that haven’t dried properly between uses.
10. Help Clean a Dirty Sink
A sink that sees a lot of use can collect grease, food residue, and grime. Borax can be sprinkled onto a damp sponge or used as part of a cleaning solution, depending on the surface and product directions.
Scrub gently, then rinse thoroughly. For stainless steel, porcelain, or specialty finishes, check the manufacturer’s cleaning recommendations before using any abrasive powder.
11. Tackle Stubborn Household Grime
Borax can be handy for some of those messy cleaning jobs that regular soap doesn’t quite handle. It can help loosen grime on washable surfaces, particularly when combined with warm water and some scrubbing.
Since borax isn’t appropriate for every material, test a small hidden area before cleaning a large surface.
Borax has been around for generations for a reason: it’s inexpensive, versatile, and useful for several everyday cleaning jobs. Just keep its limits in mind. It isn’t a cure-all, and using more of it doesn’t make a cleaning job better. Follow the product directions, keep it away from kids and pets, and choose a gentler cleaner for surfaces or tasks that don’t call for borax.
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