As a young budget-conscious mom, Borax was a lifesaver when it came to laundry
and cleaning chores. While being environmentally friendly, borax handled most
all of the cleaning and sanitizing jobs around the house. Depending on the type
cleaning to be done, borax could be used along with other natural products that
were already on hand, such as vinegar, baking soda or lemon juice. There was no
need to have a cabinet filled with the latest expensive cleaning products just a
box of borax.
Borax, which is also known as sodium borate, is a natural
mineral compound that was discovered over 4000 years ago. It is found deep
underground in the Western United States as well as in China and is used widely
for commercial purposes, however it is best known in most households for its
cleaning power. Borax is odorless, not flammable and can be safely mixed with
most other cleaning agents. It is not harmful to washing machines, plumbing or
septic tanks and does not contain chlorine or phosphates.
Even though
Borax is natural, you should not automatically assume that it is safer for you
than other man-made products. Remember the old adage, too much of a good thing
can be bad. Knowing that Borax is commonly used to kill ants, fleas and roaches
would be another clue. In quantity, it is also toxic to people. Generally, Borax
is safe as it has no toxic fumes and is environmentally-friendly, however it
should be used properly and with common sense. Do not use borax around food and
keep it out of reach from children or pets.
Even though it best known as
a laundry booster, borax does much more, and once you discover how many things
it is good for, you will want to keep a box handy. Here are just some of the
everyday tasks it can handle:
Laundry A cup of Borax in every load of
wash along with detergent will boost the cleaning power of your detergent.
Mixing cup of Borax with 2 cups of warm water and you have a stain remover that
works on blood, chocolate, coffee, mildew and urine stains.
Baby Diapers
and Clothes Presoak flushed-out, soiled diapers in a diaper pail filled with hot
water and cup of Borax for 30 minutes before washing. It helps to reduce odors
and stains and makes diapers more absorbent.
Flea Control Sprinkle Borax
on carpet and let it sit for a few hours, or overnight, before vacuuming. Just
keep the kids and pets out of the room until vacuumed.
Deodorizing
Garbage Disposals Just sprinkle a few tablespoons down the drain and after 15
minutes or so, flush the drain with warm water.
Clean and Deodorize
Refrigerator Dissolve one tablespoon of borax per quart of warm water and use it
to wipe down the insides of the refrigerator.
Deodorizing Garbage Pails
Soak garbage pail with a mixture of hot water and a cup borax to eliminate
odors. After it has dried, sprinkle in more borax inside to help absorb future
odors.
Sinks, Bathtubs and Toilets Borax alone is a great non abrasive
cleanser, and when mixed with lemon juice into a paste, it can help to get rid
of rust stains.
If you would like to learn more about the uses for
borax, visit LaundryGoddess.com where the
author, who has been using borax for over 25 years, shares cleaning tips and
laundry advice .
Feel free to use this article, as long as nothing is
changed and the authors paragraph and link remains intact.
Wow, that's a long time! Hopefully there's not a next time, but if so, you may want to try working the borax into the carpet by using a plastic rake, soft broom or brush (depending on type of carpet). That really speeds up the process!
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
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