Borax is known for its uses in the home as a boost to washing clothes and even for pest elimination, but there are so many more Borax uses that you probably don’t know about!
Borax is known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate. It is a naturally occurring mineral found in soil, plants and even within our own bodies. It is an important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid. Powdered borax is white soft, colorless crystals that dissolve easily in water.
Most borax comes from a mine in Boron, California, which is the largest, most economically sound, and environmentally sustainable mine in the United States. The product of Mule Team 20 from this mine.
Some people ask if it is safe. Borax is considered a non-carcinogenic and a mild skin irritant. It is comparable to salt and actually, ounce for ounce, salt, is more toxic. Like salt, a little is good for you but a lot can kill you. So you make the decision.
I am sure there are tons more Borax uses on the internet than I have listed here, but this is a pretty good list to get you started. I have tried to include the most common and simple Borax uses I could find for you. Feel free to drop me a note if you have any more so I can add them to my list.
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Uses for Borax
- Carpet Cleaning: boost the cleaning power by adding 1/2 to 3/4 cup borax into the reservoir.
- Toilet Bowls: Adding 1 cup of borax at night, then scrubbing in the morning leaves a shiny clean bowl.
- Eliminates sticky goo: Combine 1 oz water to 1 oz borax, scrub and rinse.
- Cleans Pots and Pans: Sprinkle on the pot or pan and rub with a damp sponge, then rinse.
- Showers/Tubs: Sprinkle then wash with a wet sponge and rinse. (great on fiberglass)
- Rust Remover: Add 2 Tbsp Borax, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, and some water to make a paste. Scrub and rinse.
- Cleans Humidifiers: Dissolve 1/2 cup of Borax in 1 gallon of water, add to the tank. Run for 20 minutes, empty and rinse.
- Clean Stainless and Porcelain Sinks: Make a paste of 1 cup Borax and 1 /2 cup of lemon juice, scrub and rinse.
- Cleans Outdoor Furniture: Add 1 Tbsp. of Borax, a few drops of dish soap into a quart of warm water, wash and rinse.
- Deodorizes the fridge: Add 1 Tbsp Borax to a quart of warm water, wash and rinse.
- Eliminates Pests: Sprinkle equal parts of Borax and sugar where bugs enter.
- Deters Mice: Mice avoid the feel of it on their feet.
- Flea Killer: Sprinkle on dog’s beds, carpeting, and anywhere there are fleas.
- Preserves Flowers: Removes moisture from the blossoms and leaves. Mix with equal parts of cornmeal and cover completely till dry.
- Aides Fruit Trees: Adding 1 cup to a full-grown tree or 2 Tbsp. to saplings provides stronger cell wall structure and good fruit and seed development.
- Removes Musty Smell from Linens: Soak in 2 quarts of warm water and 2 cups of Borax for a few hours then rinse.
- Cleans Floors: Mix 1/3 cup Borax, 1 tsp. dish detergent, and 1 tsp. lemon juice to 1 gallon of hot water.
- All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix 2 Tbsp. Borax with 2 cups of hot water in a spray bottle.
- Deodorizes Mattresses: Wet mattress, sprinkle with Borax, rub the mixture in with a damp cloth, vacuum when dry.
- Unclog Drains: Mix 1/2 cup Borax with 2 cups boiling water and pour down the drain, let sit 20 minutes, rinse.
- Deodorize Litter Boxes: Sprinkle into the bottom of the litter box before adding litter.
- Cleans Hairbrushes: Mix 1/4 cup Borax with a few drops of dish soap in a bucket of warm water, add the brushes. Swish, let soak and rinse.
- Kills weeds: Sprinkle over over any cracks in cement to kill weeds growing there.
- Deodorize Garbage Cans: Sprinkle in the bottom. Replace with each bag as needed.
- Inhibits Mold: Make a thick paste of Borax and water and smear on the mold. Let dry, sweep up powder.
- Make Clothing Flame Retardant: Combine 1 cup Borax, 1 cup boric acid, and 1 gallon of water. Soak, rinse, dry.
- Deodorize the Garbage Disposal: Add 3 Tbsp Borax to the drain, let sit 45 minutes and rinse.
- Shines China: Soak china in a sink full of warm water and 1/2 cup Borax. Rinse well and repeat as necessary, was as usual.
- Extends Candle Wicks: Soak the wick in salt and Borax to reduce ash and smoke when burning.
- Makes Floam for Kids: see the recipe.
There you have it, 30 Borax uses. Do you use Borax around your homestead? Please feel free to share some other ways it can be used.