Do you have a box of Borax hanging around your house?
Maybe you’ve seen it on the laundry aisle and weren’t quite sure what it was even used for. Well, if you have Borax or if you’ve seen Borax, you need to learn to appreciate it because it is amazing stuff.
Actually, my mother-in-law was the one that introduced me to Borax. It is very inexpensive and has so many amazing purposes. It is possible to keep a nice home with this little gem.
So if you aren’t aware of all of the great Borax uses, stick around because that is what this post is bringing your way.
Here are the many Budget Friendly Borax Uses:
1. Dishwasher Detergent Booster
If you have a dishwasher, I’m sure you’ve noticed how the dishes come out with water spots on occasion. Also, I’m sure you’ve noticed how dirty a dishwasher can be at times.
Well, borax will cure both of those issues. You just sprinkle 1-2 cups of borax in the basin of the dishwasher. Then you run your dishwasher as usual. It will clean the dishes and the dishwasher simultaneously.
2. Clean Hair Utensils
We all have a comb, pick, or brush that we use on a daily basis, I’m sure. Well, don’t forget that these items need cleaning too.
So you place a ¼ cup of borax and a tablespoon of Dawn dish liquid (or any dish liquid, I’m just a fan of Dawn) in the sink with warm water. Run the hair utensils through the mixture and allow them to soak. Then rinse and let dry.
3. Puts the Breaks on Mold
Mold can be quite dangerous if you have toxic black mold in your home. Even if it’s basic mold, it can make you very sick if you aren’t careful.
So you’ll need to make a paste with borax and water to begin the process. Place the paste on the molded area and let it dry. Then when it is dry it will flake off in a powder. You’ll need to sweep that powder up and then rinse the rest of the paste off of the spot.
4. Makes Clothing Safe
I know when my kids were little I paid really close attention to the pajamas they wore. I wanted to make sure that they were flame retardant in case something bad happened during the middle of the night.
Well, little did I know that Borax uses includes making any clothing flame retardant. By placing 1 cup of Borax and ½ cup of boric acid into a gallon of water, then if the clothing is washable you just soak it in the mixture after the final rinse and dry cycle. If not, then you just spritz it on the clothing. Be sure to repeat this process every time the clothing has been washed or dry cleaned.
5. Good for Crafts
If you’ve ever wanted to make your own homemade slime or homemade bouncy balls, then you are in luck because it is even more of those weird Borax uses. Borax is a component in slime and bouncy balls.
We actually tried the slime during our VBS last year. The kids really loved it. Give this recipe a try for the slime and this one a try for the bouncy balls.
6. Takes Care of Your Pool
We have an above ground pool, but if I’m honest, I’ve never even put it up. Why you might be asking? Well, because pools are a lot of work. Between farming, writing, and raising kids I don’t really need anything else.
But after realizing that Borax uses includes making pool maintenance a little easier, I might give it a go this year. Borax can actually help to raise or maintain your pool PH levels.
7. Homemade Laundry Detergent
I try to make my own homemade laundry detergent every chance I get. It saves us a lot of money as a family because I do a lot of laundry.
So if you need a great homemade laundry detergent recipe, then give this one a try. Borax will ensure that your clothing gets really clean.
8. Ditching Old Tree Stumps
So you had a tree fall down or be cut down. You want to drag the tree stump out of the ground so you don’t have to pay to have it grinded.
But the stump is stuck and isn’t budging. In fact, it’s actually trying to regrow. Well, sprinkle a little Borax on it until you can tell that the stump is dead. Then it should be able to be pushed out of the ground with a tractor. We did this at my mother-in-law’s house and it worked wonderfully.
9. Homemade Dish Soap
If you don’t want to pay for dish soap, then consider making your own. You can buy the ingredients for very little money and hopefully you will like the way it works on your dishes.
So the recipe for homemade dish soap is: 1 tablespoon finely grated soap, 2 cups boiling water, and 1 tablespoon of Borax. Then you allow it to cool before use.
10. Floor Cleaner
Borax uses includes making a great floor cleaner. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like paying a lot of money for cleaning items. I don’t know what’s in them, and I always have to rebuy them when I don’t have the money to spare in my budget.
So that is why I prefer inexpensive and effective homemade cleaners like this recipe for floor cleaner. You mix ¼ cup of Borax with a ½ cup of vinegar in a mop bucket or sink. Then fill it with hot water. You finish it up by adding one squirt of dish soap. I prefer Dawn dish liquid.
11. Great for Stain Removal
I have 3 boys so their clothes get put through it. They come in with dirt stains, grass stains, and lots of food stains on their clothing.
So I treat them adding 1 tablespoon of Borax and 2 tablespoons of water and then spread that mixture on the stain. Then you need to let it sit on the clothing for 30 minutes. You finish by scrubbing the stain out of the clothing and tossing it in the wash.
12. Carpet Stain Removal
Borax not only removes stains from clothing but also from carpets as well. If you have stained carpet, then you’ll want to consider using this recipe to help get them out.
So you’ll need ½ cup of Borax that is mixed with 2 cups of warm water. Dip a sponge in the mixture and then dab it on the stain in the carpet. Let it sit for 30 minutes. You’ll finish up by vacuuming the area and letting it dry.
13. Carpet Deodorizer
I love for my carpets and rugs to smell fresh. Yet, when you have pets it seems like a never ending task to keep everything fresh.
But thanks to Borax, you can kill the odors in your carpet. You’ll need to mix 1 pint of Borax with 1 pint of baking soda. Sprinkle the mixture on your carpet and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then vacuum it up off of your rugs and carpet.
14. Homemade Febreeze
I love Febreeze, but it is so expensive. And remember me telling you about how I find I always have to buy replacement cleaning supplies when I’m flat broke?
Well, thanks to Borax (yet again) you can create your own inexpensive alternative. Mix a ½ cup of Borax with a pint of water. Place in a spray bottle. (I use old cleaning spray bottles that have been rinsed out.) Then spray on your couches, carpets, rugs, pillows, curtains, and any other item in your home that needs freshening up. Add some essential oils to the mix for fragrance.
15. Use in the Kitchen
I always keep baking soda on hand in my kitchen. Not only does it keep my fridge smelling fresh, but baking soda is also great if you develop a grease fire in your kitchen.
Well, Borax can do the same thing for grease fires. If you have one unexpectedly flare up, toss a little Borax on it to extinguish it.
16. Borax Works Great on Ants
Borax is great for killing ants in your kitchen. My mother-in-law shared this tip with me when I had ants move into my kitchen one summer.
She mixed equal parts Borax and sugar. Then she sprinkled it along the ants’ path. They were gone in no time. You can also add a little water to make it liquid and place cotton balls of the mixture on your counters. They’ll lap it up and take it home to the whole ant hill and it rids you of the problem.
17. Borax the Window Washer
Borax is a great household cleaner, if you haven’t already noticed. It takes care of everything from laundry to cleaning dirty bathrooms. Now, we discover it can even do windows.
So if you have an extra dirty window then mix 2 tablespoons of Borax with 3 cups of water. Wipe the windows down with a rag that has been dipped into this mixture. You’ll need to repeat this process with equal parts vinegar and water before you dry the window.
18. Rids Your Fridge of Odors
If you have a bad smelling fridge, then put Borax to work on it. Instead of just leaving the box open in the fridge like you do baking soda, you’ll need to actually wipe your fridge down with a Borax mixture.
So the mixture consists of a quart of warm water and a tablespoon of Borax. Then rinse your fridge down with cold water when you are finished.
19. Helps Freshen Your Humidifier
If you use a humidifier very often you’ve probably realized that it can develop a foul odor from time to time. Well, you don’t have to live with that.
In between uses, add 1 tablespoon of Borax per gallon of water inside your humidifier. Let it sit until you are ready to use again. Then empty the humidifier and fill with fresh water.
20. Bathroom Shower Cleaner
I mentioned above that you could use Borax to clean your bathroom shower. Well, now I’m going to expand upon that thought.
So you’ll need to sprinkle Borax on a damp sponge and then scrub your shower down. This is a safe way to clean tile and fibreglass without scratching it. Then rinse thoroughly after you finish scrubbing.
21. Rust Removal
Have you found rust on something and you need to get it off? Yet again, put Borax to work for you. It is inexpensive as well.
So you’ll need to sprinkle Borax on a wet sponge. Add a splash of lemon juice to the sponge as well. Then wipe down the object that has rust on it.
22. Cleans Bathroom and Kitchen Sinks
Whether you have a porcelain sink or even a stainless steel sink, you can still clean it with Borax. Again, this is a very cost effective way to maintain cleanliness in your home.
So you’ll add a cup of Borax to a ¼ cup of lemon juice. Place this in your sink and then wipe it down with a sponge. Finally rinse and scrub simultaneously using hot water to finish removing stains from the sink.
23. Cleans Patio Furniture
If you have patio furniture you know how easily it gets dirty during the warmer months. Between the rainy weather and pollen, it can often become coated in grime.
Well, no worries because Borax can take care of that. You just mix together a teaspoon of dish liquid, a tablespoon of Borax, and a quart of warm water. Then spray it onto the furniture using a spray bottle. Finally, wipe the furniture down.
24. Minimizes Litterbox Odors
I have cats, and they are indoor so we have to battle a litterbox. You can clean the litterbox daily and buy the fancy litter, but you still have to deal with odors from time to time.
So that is why I’m always up for one more way to fight odors with the litterbox. By sprinkling a couple of tablespoons of Borax into the litterbox and then mixing it in, it helps to fight odors.
25. Cleans Garbage Disposal
I’ll be honest with you, growing up we always had a garbage disposal, but they seemed like such a hassle that I’ve never worried with having one since I’ve been an adult.
But if you have one, then you’ll be interested to know that Borax can clean it for you. You just place 3 tablespoons of Borax into the drain. Let it sit for an hour, then rinse the drain with warm water.
26. Great for Towels and Linens
Keeping towels and linens fresh is no easy task. I never realized this until I became the Queen of Laundry at my house.
So naturally, I wanted to find ways to make towels last longer around our home. You can soak them in 2 cups of Borax that has been mixed with 2 quarts of water. Let them sit for 2 to 3 hours, then rinse them. It helps freshen them and kill any foul odors.
27. Borax Uses for Unclogging a Drain
When you are a stay-at-home-person you kind of become a jack-of-all-trades. Plumbing has become my latest trade since my youngest is potty trained and likes to use a little too much toilet paper and toothpaste.
So if you have a clogged drain, you can place a ½ cup of Borax in your sink. Then rinse it down the drain with 2 cups of boiling water. Let that sit in your drain for about 15 minutes. Finally, you’ll flush the drain by letting the faucet run for about 5 minutes to finish flushing everything.
28. Remove Urine Odors from a Mattress
If you’ve ever had a child that struggles with bed wetting, or have cared for an elderly person that is struggling with their health, then you know what a struggle it can be to keep a mattress fresh and clean. After all, it isn’t their fault and you want them to have sanitary living conditions.
So Borax can help in these situations as well. You’ll need to wet the mattress, then rub Borax into the mattress with a damp cloth. Leave the mattress to dry for a few hours. When it is dry, you’ll have powder to vacuum up off of the mattress which is a sign that the odors are being absorbed.
29. Garbage Can Deodorizer
Borax is a wonderful cleaner around the home. It helps with many day to day items that we all have to face in order to keep our houses clean and smelling fresh.
Well, don’t let an odor filled trashcan stop your home from smelling fresh. Instead, sprinkle Borax into the empty trash can and add water. Let it soak and then rinse the trash can out. Finally, sprinkle Borax into the can again once the trash can is clean. This also works as a bug deterrent for your trash as well, and it will also absorb moisture from your trash too.
30. Weed Killer
Borax is a great weed killer. I don’t recommend going out into your garden and tossing it on to your weeds because it is powerful stuff and can kill your plants.
However, if you have weeds that pop up through your driveway or walk way, it is great to sprinkle on them.
31. Shine the Fine China
Do you have fine china that you use on special occasions? Well, then I’m sure you want it nice and shiny whether it is in use or on display.
So you’ll need to place the dishes in a sink filled with warm water. Add a ½ cup of Borax to the sink and let the dishes soak. Then you’ll need to rinse the dishes and wash them before putting them away or using them.
32. Cleaning Carpets
Borax is great for cleaning your carpets. If you have a carpet steam cleaner, you don’t have to buy any fancy mixture to use it with (unless your steam cleaner specifies otherwise.)
Instead, you can add a ½ cup of Borax to a gallon of water and steam clean the carpets. It is an inexpensive way to get your carpets clean.
33. Borax is Great for Fruit Trees
via Arbor Tech Inc.
You might be thinking, huh? But truthfully, Borax can be used to help your fruit trees get a little healthier.
Actually, every 3-4 years you can add a cup of Borax around the base of a mature fruit tree or a few tablespoons around the base of a younger fruit tree. This will add boron to the soil which will help the tree with overall health.
34. Borax Uses if Excellent for Cleaning Toilets
Borax could very easily become the only cleaner you need around your house to keep it clean and sanitized.
So if you are looking for a good toilet cleaner, then add a cup of Borax to the toilet. Let is sit overnight. Then you’ll need to come back and clean the toilet with a brush the next day.
35. Pest Fighter
If you have a pest problem in your home, then you need to invest in some Borax. Mix equal parts of Borax and sugar to begin going to war with pests.
Then you just need to watch, wait, and refresh as needed. This mixture will kill roaches, water bugs, and most any other kind of insect.
36. Cleans Pots and Pans
It is hard to always find a good cleaner that won’t tear up your porcelain or aluminum pots and pans. Well, Borax is it.
You just need to sprinkle a little Borax into the pots and pans, then rub them with a damp wash cloth. Then rinse as usual.
37. Flea Fighter
Fleas are something that you have to constantly battle if you have pets. They are miserable for the pets and also miserable for your household if they are bringing them in.
So you’ll need to sprinkle Borax on your carpets, pet beds, and anywhere else you think that fleas might be hatching in your home. This should help you stay ahead of the game of a flea infestation.
38. Preserving Your Fresh Cut Flowers
I remember growing up, my cousins would always save the flowers that their boyfriends brought them when they went out on dates. Back then, they dried them out in the oven.
However, Borax uses includes preserving flowers by drawing the moisture out and not causing them to wilt. You just need to mix 2 parts Borax with part dry sand. You can also mix 1 part Borax to 2 parts cornmeal.
39. Saves Your Instrument Strings
If you play a stringed instrument, then you know that when the strings begin to go bad you have to replace them.
Well, with Borax you can simply dampen a toothbrush that has been dipped in Borax and scrub the strings gently. Then let them dry.
40. Borax Uses Includes Fighting Mice
If you have a mouse problem I feel for you. I hate mice, and I definitely don’t like them in a space I’ve deemed mine (such as my house.)
So if you find that you have a mouse in your house, sprinkle Borax along the walls as that is how they usually travel. Mice don’t like how this feels on their feet and will avoid that area if at all possible.
41. Helps Candle Wicks
If you make your own homemade candles, you might have noticed that the candle wicks have a tendency to smoke a little more than most store bought candles.
Well, Borax can fix that. Just soak the candle wicks in Borax and salt to put a stop to the smoking of the wicks when they are lit.
42. Gets the ‘Goo’ Gone
Have you ever used a sticky adhesive that you can’t seem to get rid of? Don’t worry because thanks to Borax uses, it’ll be gone in no time flat.
So you need to mix a 2:1 ratio of Borax and water. That will remove any sticky mess you have on your hands.
Well, now you are aware of over 40 Borax uses for around your home. It is an inexpensive purchase that packs a lot of power in a lot of different areas.
