DIY

If you’re like me, you grew up with a box of 20 Mule Team Borax above your washer and dryer. Well I still have a box in my laundry closet. But Borax is so much more than a laundry booster!

What is Borax?

Borax, sometimes known as sodium borate, is a compound, a mineral and a salt of boric acid. Powdered Borax is white, consisting of white and colorless crystals that dissolve in water. Does Borax contain boron? Yes, it does!

Along with vinegar and baking soda, Borax is quite versatile. These household items abolish the need to purchase tons of cleaning supplies and clear up plenty of storage space in your cabinets. Just one four-pound box of borax can be used to clean most things around your house! The amount of storage space you will have left will make it easier to store more important things such as food, cooking appliances, dishes and more. Check out these 35 awesome uses for Borax below!

35 Amazing Uses for Borax

First things first, you can make my fantastic Homemade Laundry Detergent with Borax. This easy to make recipe is safe for HE machines too! It smells great and will save you a TON of money over name brands in the store.

Ok, let’s get back to the many fantastic uses for Borax in and around your home.

What are some uses of the household cleaner, borax?

There are so many uses for Borax – in your kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and more! Borax packs some cleaning power!

1. Insect Killer
   During the summer, cockroaches are most likely to be seen around and in your home. Did you know you can take care of these little pests with Borax? It can also take care of other bugs such as ants, fleas and bedbugs. Simply sprinkle the Borax in the affected areas and it should give you clear and quick results.
2. Rat Repellent
   At the first sighting of rats or rat droppings, sprinkle Borax in pathways and it will scare them off. DenGarden.com gives you tips on making a rodent poison with Borax.
3. Fun For Kids
   Create slime, bouncy balls, fake snowflakes and more using borax! Check out this fun Slime Project from Family Fun Crafts.
4. Maintain Flowers
   Did you know you can use Borax to preserve fresh-cut flowers?
   See OurPastimes.com for How to Preserve Flowers With Borax.
5. Plant Fertilizer
   Caution, using Borax in large amounts will kill plants. However, the proper amount will increase the soil’s boran, a mineral essential for cell wall growth. This works best if your soil is boron deficient.
6. Weed Killer
   Take care of annoying weeds by sprinkling borax on them. Be careful because borax can kill certain types of plants, make sure you are diligent in where you put it, as well as avoid using it on days where the weather could impact where the Borax stays.
7. Clean Your Patio Furniture
   Mix borax with 1 teaspoon dish detergent and use a sponge to soak it onto patio furniture. It should be sparkling clean after!
8. Window Washer
   Use Borax to wash your windows! Mix 3 cups of warm water with 2 tablespoons of Borax and use a washcloth to apply. Best if you use a vinegar solution to rinse.
9. Fire Extinguisher
   It is well-known that baking soda or salt can put out a fire. But did you know that Borax has the same effect? Small fires such as campfires or grease fires work best with this trick.
10. Mattress Cleaner
    Cleaning your mattress can be really simple using Borax! Borax can remove stains and get rid of any stench (like urine) that could be sticking to the fabric. Dampen the soiled area, lightly sprinkle with your Borax, scrub area in a circular motion with a damp sponge; allow it to dry for 30 minute and then vacuum the area.
    Can borax kill bed bugs? Well I’ve never tried it personally but check out PestKilled.com for more information on Borax for Bed Bugs.
11. Fabric Deodorizer
    Mix Borax with water and apply using a spray bottle. Similar to Febreze, this mixture can be used on almost any fabric. To make mix 1/4 cup borax into 16 ounces of warm water in a clean spray bottle. BONUS you can add 10 – 12 drops of your favorite essential oil for an all natural scent.
12. Carpet Deodorizer
    Not only can this mixture deodorize fabrics, it can also work on carpets! Having pets means occasional or even frequent accidents. Borax can help balance out the odors in your carpet. After applying, vacuum to clean it up.
13. Tile and Hardwood Floor Cleaner
    In addition to carpets, Borax can also be used as a floor cleaner. It is safe to use on both tile and wood floors. Mix borax with vinegar and water to create this mixture to mop your floor with.
    I do suggest trying a small test area first!
14. Removing Floor Stains
    For hard stains that just won’t come out, Borax will remove both hard floor and carpet stains.
15. Tub and Sink Cleaner
    Borax is a great and easy way to clean your tub and bathroom or kitchen sinks. Similar to another powder-base cleaner such as Ajax, scrub it and rinse thoroughly.
16. Toilet Cleaner
    One of my favorite uses for Borax is keeping my toilet sparkling! Scoop some borax into your toilet and allow it to soak overnight. Then clean it as you normally would. Great way to clean for sparkling clean results!
17. Cleaning Hair Tools
    Hair tools like brushes and combs need to be cleaned often. Using a combination of Borax and dish soup can be an easy routine way of getting the job done.
18. Washing Dishes
    Mix borax, soap and water and stir for a homemade dish soap. Great for pots and pans too.
19. Cast Iron Pan Cleaner
    You should never use soap on any cast iron cookware because your food may end up tasting like soap! Instead, try using a mixture of borax and salt for a super clean result!
    Check out my CAST IRON GINGERBREAD RECIPE!
20. Residue Cleaner
    Remove gum, grease or other sticky and hard to get rid of substances using Borax! Combine a 1/2 cup Borax with a 1/4 cup of warm water. Rub this mixture onto the sticky residue and it will clean off in a jiff!
21. Cleaning Countertops
    Your kitchen and bathroom countertops and sinks can be cleaned with borax and vinegar! Put into a spray bottle similar to other cleaning supplies.
22. Clean Out Your Fridge
    Borax can be used to clean the outside of the fridge, but it also can be used to remove stains from food or drinks on the inside.
23. Mold and Mildew
    Borax can remove the stains or stench that can come from mold and mildew! Make a spray or paste depending on the area you are cleaning
24. Removing Rust
    Rust can be extremely hard to remove off surfaces! But using borax can successfully remove it. Just allow it to sit on and soak for awhile before rinsing off.
25. Unclogging Agent for Toilets
    More bathroom uses for Borax! It can unclog toilets! Use it with boiling water and let it sit. Then flush and repeat if needed.
26. Unclogging Agent for Drains
    Just a half cup of Borax can be used for unclogging drains in showers or sinks as well.
27. Trash Can Deodorizer
    Trash cans can start to smell after awhile, even after taking the trash out. Letting it soak in water and Borax can help the stench!
28. Litter Box Deodorizer
    If you’re a cat person, you are bound to have a little box! Use Borax to help neutralize the smell.
29. Laundry Stains
    Hard to remove stains in laundry can be frustrating, but using borax can remove the stain simply by scrubbing it and washing as usual.
30. Instrument Cleaner
    Musicians can clean their instrument strings using borax. Just make sure the Borax doesn’t come in contact with the body of the instrument!
31. Grow Fruit Trees
    Sprinkle roughly a cup of borax onto any full-sized fruit tree every 4 years. Similar to plants or flowers, it adds mineral boron to the soil in fruit trees, allowing good cell wall growth.
32. Car Upholstery
    This is a homemade cleaning solution using borax that is affordable and easy! Best way to remove dirt and grime from car floor mats.
33. Sanitize Garbage Disposal
    If there’s a strange smell coming from the kitchen but you can’t seem to figure out where it is coming from, it is most likely your garbage disposal. Using borax and warm water will sanitize and neutralize the scent.
34. Restore Yellowed Pillows
    Overtime, bedroom pillows can tend to take on a yellow tint from your body’s natural oils. Using Borax is a simple way to re-whiten and brighten up your pillows again!
35. Blacksmith Flux
    My son-in-law is a welder and he gave me this tip!
    Welders use borax as flux during forge welding to keep surfaces from oxidizing, which would create a low-quality weld. Simple flux is used from Borax and is sometimes mixed with additional powdered fillings.

Well there you have, 35 fantastic ways you can use Borax. I know this isn’t an exhaustive list. How have YOU used Borax in and around your home?