Did you know there are more than a handful of borax uses? It’s inexpensive and can do wonders for so many things in your home!
Borax Uses Every Homesteader Should Know About
It tackles almost any household task…anything from cleaning to pest deterrent! You can find it on the laundry detergent aisle at your local supermarket.
In this article, I’ll cover it’s many uses such as:
- Rust Remover
- Swimming Pool Maintenance
- DIY Febreeze Spray
- Unclog a Drain
- Stop Mold In Its Tracks
- Cleans Your Garbage Disposal
- Make Clothing Flame Retardant
- Homemade Dish Soap
- DIY Floor Cleaner
- Remove Carpet Stains
- Remove Stains From Clothes
- Weed Killer
- Ant Deterrent
- Mice Deterrent
- Flea Deterrent
Let’s get started!
Borax Uses For Every Household
1. Rust Remover
Need a product that’ll remove rust with ease? Borax to the rescue!
Sprinkle a little Borax and a little lemon juice onto a damp sponge and apply to the rusted area, leave on for 3 minutes, then wipe off with a clean cloth.
2. Swimming Pool Maintenance
Borax will raise the pH levels in your pool. To raise the pH levels just add ½ cup per 10,000 gallons of water.
3. DIY Febreeze Spray
Febreeze is one of my favorite items around the house! It keeps everything smelling so fresh and clean. But, let’s face it…it’s a little pricy.
You can make your own Febreeze spray using borax and it’s safe for things such as bedding, sofas, rugs, and any other item you would spray with name brand Febreeze.
Mix ½ cup of Borax with a pint of water into a spray bottle. Give it a little shake and you’re all set!
4. Unclog a Drain
To unclog a drain, pour ½ cup of borax into the drain, then follow immediately with 2 cups of boiling water. Wait for about 20 minutes then turn on the faucet and leave running for about 3-5 minutes. This will help flush the clog completely. One great plumbing tip, huh?
5. Stop Mold In Its Tracks
Mold is dangerous to your health and can make you extremely sick. To stop mold in its tracks, make a paste out of Borax and water. Apply this paste directly on the mold and let dry. It will flake up as it dries so make sure to sweep (not vacuum) up the excess. Once the dried paste is removed, rinse with the spot with warm water.
6. Cleans Your Garbage Disposal
Garbage disposal cleaning is a cinch with Borax! All you have to do is add 3 tablespoons of Borax to the garbage disposal, let the Borax sit for about an hour, and then pour warm water down the disposal and you’re all set!
7. Make Clothing Flame Retardant
This use for Borax is pretty impressive! You can actually make clothes fire retardant using Borax and boric acid!
Combine 1 cup of Borax , ½ cup of boric acid, and 1 gallon of water. Using a spray bottle, after the clothes have been washed and dried, spritz the clothing with this mixture to make them fire retardant. You will need to spritz the clothing after every wash and dry cycle.
8. Homemade Dish Soap
This simple DIY dish soap is a great way to save money! Combine 1 tablespoon of finely grated soap, 2 cups of boiling water, and 1 tablespoon of Borax. Allow to cool completely before use.
9. DIY Floor Cleaner
This DIY floor cleaner will leave your kitchen and bathroom floors sparkling!
Combine ¼ cup of Borax, ½ cup of vinegar, and 1 squirt of liquid dish soap into a bucket and fill with warm water. Mop floors as usual.
10. Remove Carpet Stains
Borax is an excellent stain remover for carpets!
Combine ½ cup of Borax and 2 cups of warm water. Wet a sponge with this mixture and dab onto the carpet stain and let it sit for about 20-30 minutes. Next, pat dry the area with a dry cloth, then vacuum the area.
11. Remove Stains From Clothes
Borax also is an excellent stain remover for clothes!
Combine 1 tablespoon of Borax and 2 cups of warm water. Add this mixture over the stain and leave on stain for 20-30 minutes. Next, scrub the stain and then toss into the washing machine.
12. Weed Killer
Borax is a great weed killer and it’s so easy! All you have to do is sprinkle a little on top of the weed and that’s it!
13. Ant Deterrent
Borax is great for getting rid of ants! Combine equal parts Borax and sugar and sprinkle this mixture on any known ant path. You will an ant free home in no time!
Please make sure that it is out reach from pets and small children.
14. Mice Deterrent
Apparently, mice do not like the feel of borax on their feet. Sprinkle Borax in any of their known paths and they will not return!
15. Flea Deterrent
Spread Borax in places such as your carpet, open cracks in baseboards, or any opening where they can lay eggs. You can sprinkle it on pet bedding but, keep the bedding away from your pets until the bedding has been thoroughly vacuumed.
Watch this video by Clean My Space on Borax uses in cleaning:
Do you have other Borax uses in your household? Share with us your favorite Borax use in the comments below.
UP NEXT:
- 23 Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar | Home Remedies & Apple Cider Vinegar Uses
- 10 Coconut Oil Survival Uses | Basics For The Savvy Survivalist
- 25 Effective Uses of Activated Charcoal
Follow us on facebook, instagram, pinterest, and twitter!
The contents of this article are for informational purposes only. Please read our full disclaimer.
Love using Borax. I tried using it to stretch out the laundry liquid I use but after boiling it with water it just gets hard and becomes hard again. Any ideas to fix this. Thanks.