:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/hard-water-stains-in-the-toilet-2719033-15-b37b9c937e964ec1a210935b323d7b13.jpg?w=1024&resize=1024,1024&ssl=1 "This Old School Cleaner Is Actually a Cleaning Powerhouse — 9 Ways to Use It Around Your House")
Key Takeaways
- Borax is a naturally occurring mineral with industrial and household uses.
- It is a soft, white, many-sided crystal powder that dissolves readily in water.
- Borax can be a laundry detergent booster, kitchen and bathroom cleaner, odor remover, and insecticide.
Take a look at the ingredient list in many household products, and you’ll see sodium borate or sodium tetraborate. Commonly known as borax, you can use it to clean your home, get better laundry and stain removal results, and control pests like roaches and ants.
Learn all the ways you can use borax around the house.
What Is Borax?
The Spruce / Jason Donnelly
Borax is a naturally occurring compound mineral containing the element boron. The compound is a salt sold as a soft, white, many-sided crystal powder that dissolves readily in water.
Labeled as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, it has multiple industrial and commercial uses and is found in many brand-name household cleaning products.
You can purchase borax in the cleaning products aisle or in bulk at farm supply stores, hardware stores, and online to make DIY cleaning solutions at home.
Warning
Borax can irritate the skin and eyes, and it can be dangerous when inhaled or ingested in large amounts. Always wear rubber gloves when handling, mix and use in well-ventilated areas, and rinse skin immediately if it comes into contact. Keep the powder out of the reach of pets and children.
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How to Use Borax to Clean Around the House
Once you’ve put on your gloves, here are nine ways you can use borax to clean around your house.
Remove Stains From Laminate Countertops
Make a paste of one cup of borax and 1/4 cup of lemon juice or distilled white vinegar in a small bowl. Use a sponge dipped in the paste to gently scrub the stain. Rinse the area with warm water.
Freshen and Unclog Kitchen Sink Drains
To freshen a drain and garbage disposal, add three tablespoons of borax and let the powder sit for at least 15 minutes. Turn on the disposal and flush it with hot water for one minute.
To unclog a slow, greasy kitchen drain, pour one-half cup of borax and two cups of boiling water into the drain. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes (30 is better) and then flush with warm water.
Eliminate Pet Urine Stains and Odors From Carpets
Mix 1/4 cup each of borax, salt, and distilled white vinegar in a small bowl. After blotting as much of the pet urine as possible with paper towels, apply the paste to the carpet and scrub lightly with a soft-bristled brush. Let the paste remain on the carpet for 30 to 45 minutes, then vacuum it away.
Remove Grime From Plastic Outdoor Furniture
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
To remove dirt and mildew from plastic furniture, mix 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid, 1 teaspoon of borax, and 1 quart of warm water in a spray bottle. Shake to mix and spray the solution onto the plastic furniture. Use a soft-bristled brush or cloth to gently scrub the surfaces. Rinse well and dry with a microfiber towel.
Remove Toilet Bowl Stains
Pour one cup of borax into the toilet bowl at night or when the toilet will not be used for about eight hours. After eight hours, scrub the toilet bowl with a brush to remove stains.
Cut Through Hard Water Stains on Bathroom Fixtures
Sprinkle a damp sponge with borax powder and gently scrub chrome fixtures, shower stalls, and shower doors to remove water spots and grime. Rinse well after scrubbing and dry with a microfiber cloth.
Get Better Laundry Room Results
- Stain-removing presoak: Add 1/2 cup of borax per gallon of water in a large sink or plastic tub. Add the stained, washable items and soak them for about 30 minutes. Remove the clothes from the solution and wash them as usual.
- Detergent booster: Add 1/2 cup of borax to the washer drum before loading in dirty laundry to boost the cleaning power of your usual laundry detergent.
- DIY laundry detergent: Mix 1/2 cup of borax, 1 cup of soap flakes, 1 cup of baking soda, and 1 cup of washing soda in a resealable container to make your own laundry detergent.
Boost the Cleaning Power of Your Dishwasher Detergent
If you have trouble with cloudy glassware or stains on dishes, sprinkle one-half cup of borax in the bottom of the dishwasher before loading it with dirty dishes. Add your regular dishwasher detergent to the dispenser and complete the cleaning cycle as usual.
Get Rid of Household Insects
- Roaches: Sprinkle borax in areas where you’ve seen evidence of roaches. When they walk through it, it has a poisoning and dehydrating effect
- Ants: Mix 1 part borax with 3 parts sugar to bait the ants and sprinkle it in the area where you have an ant problem.
- Bed bugs: Studies have shown that ingestion of boric acid in even small amounts results in a high mortality rate for bed bugs. Sprinkle dry borax around the sides of a mattress, bed platform, or furniture cushions.