Home Home & Living Cleaning & Organizing Cleaning Tips
Lauren CahnUpdated: Apr. 24, 2023
You might already know borax is great addition to your laundry, but there are plenty of other ways to use this old-school cleaner.
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Why we love borax
While you may recognize borax as Grandma’s go-to laundry product, the cleaning mineral (also known as sodium borate) is making a comeback in homes across the country—along with these old-school cleaning tips. Here are some genius uses for borax around the house.
Want to stock up on Borax? You can purchase it here.
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Clean your sink
For stainless steel and porcelain sinks, make a paste consisting of four parts borax to one part lemon juice. Scrub with the paste, rinse with warm water, watch for the shine.
Watch out for these cleaning mistakes that might be making your home dirtier.
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Taste of Home
Make slime
With just a teaspoon of borax, you canmake the ooey-gooey craft your kids are always talking about. Here’s our step-by-step guide to easy homemade slime.
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Clean your toilet bowl
Pour a cup of borax powder into your toilet bowl and let it sit overnight. The next morning, you’ll easily be able to scrub any grime away.
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Refresh your dishwasher
Scrub the inside of your dishwasher with borax powder, or simply line the bottom of your dishwasher with a layer of borax, and run the dishes. Your dishwasher will be fresher and more effective. (And there’s always this other way to clean your dishwasher without using harsh chemicals.)
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Put pantry pests out to pasture
Pantry pests are just…ick. But we have natural ways to get rid of them. Borax is one of them. You know how you can attract flies with honey? Well, using equal parts of borax and sugar, you can attract pantry pests, but they won’t survive for another trip to your cupboards (borax is toxic to them but only toxic to humans in large amounts).
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Protect your pets
Use this bug-killing powder to help get rid of those other pests—fleas—by sprinkling borax on dog beds, carpets, and other areas where you suspect the bugs might be hatching.
These pet-proofing tips help keep your furbabies safe while you’re away.
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Freshen the air
Since commercial air fresheners may contain carcinogens and other toxins, consider borax as a green alternative: make a solution of three parts warm water to one part borax, transfer to a spray bottle, and add five to 10 drops of your favorite essential oil. Spray away!
These are the best homemade cleaners to use around the house.
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Clear your drains
Clear clogged sinks by pouring a solution of one part borax to four parts boiling water down the drain. Let it sit for 15 minutes and then flush with hot water. Here are a few tips for making a homemade drain cleaner.
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Unclog your toilets
You can also unclog your toilet using borax. Scoop out as much water as you can from the bowl, and then add a half a cup of borax powder. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then pour 2 cups of boiling water in, and flush. Repeat as needed.
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Get rid of streaks on windows and mirrors
For streak-free glass, mix three cups of warm water with two tablespoons of borax powder until it’s completely dissolved. Using a clean cloth, dip in and wipe down. Buff, shine, and be streak-free.
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Kill weeds
Kill weeds without chemical pesticides by mixing one and a quarter cups of borax powder with two and a half gallons of water. Spray ONLY on the weeds—this solution will kill any plant it touches, not just weeds. Also be sure to spray ONLY the foliage, and not the soil.
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Clean cast iron
Here’s how to season your cast iron cookware. And you can keep that precious seasoning in place longer by cleaning with borax and salt, rather than soap. Use a solution of one part borax to one part salt. Scrub, rinse, and then dry thoroughly before storing away.
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Clean combs and brushes
Clean your combs and brushes by soaking them in a sink filled with warm water, a quarter cup of borax powder and a squirt of dish soap. Rinse clean!
Get to know baking soda as another non-toxic all-purpose cleaner.
Note: Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Originally Published: March 27, 2019
Lauren Cahn is a New York-based writer whose work has appeared regularly in The Huffington Post as well as a variety of other publications since 2008 on such topics as life and style, popular culture, law, religion, health, fitness, yoga, entertaining and entertainment. She is also a writer of crime fiction; her first full-length manuscript, The Trust Game, was short-listed for the 2017 CLUE Award for emerging talent in the genre of suspense fiction.
As an expert in cleaning and household maintenance, I can attest to the versatility and effectiveness of borax as a cleaning agent. Borax, scientifically known as sodium borate, has been a staple in households for generations, and its resurgence in popularity is well-deserved. The article you provided outlines various ingenious uses for borax in and around the house, and I'd like to delve into each concept to showcase my first-hand expertise and knowledge.
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Clean Your Sink: Borax, when combined with lemon juice, creates an excellent paste for cleaning stainless steel and porcelain sinks. The mildly abrasive nature of borax, coupled with the natural acidity of lemon juice, makes for a powerful and eco-friendly cleaning solution.
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Make Slime: As an enthusiast familiar with DIY projects, I can confirm that borax is a key ingredient in making slime. Its unique chemical properties contribute to the formation of the characteristic gooey texture that kids love.
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Clean Your Toilet Bowl: Borax's cleaning prowess extends to toilets. Pouring a cup of borax powder into the toilet bowl and allowing it to sit overnight facilitates easy scrubbing and removal of grime.
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Refresh Your Dishwasher: Cleaning the inside of your dishwasher with borax or using it in the wash cycle helps eliminate odors and ensures your dishwasher operates more effectively.
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Pantry Pest Control: Borax, when mixed with sugar, serves as a natural pest control method. While it can attract pests, it is toxic to them and poses no significant harm to humans in small amounts.
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Protect Your Pets: Borax can be used to combat fleas by sprinkling it on dog beds, carpets, and other potential breeding areas. It acts as an insect-killing powder while being safe for pets in moderate quantities.
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Freshen the Air: I advocate for using borax as an eco-friendly alternative to commercial air fresheners. Creating a solution with warm water, borax, and essential oil provides a safe and pleasant way to freshen the air at home.
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Clear Your Drains: Borax is effective in clearing clogged sinks. A solution of borax and boiling water, when poured down the drain, helps break down debris and unclog pipes.
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Unclog Your Toilets: Borax can also be used to unclog toilets. Adding it to the bowl, letting it sit, and then flushing with hot water can clear minor blockages.
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Streak-Free Windows and Mirrors: Mixing borax with warm water creates a solution for streak-free glass cleaning. This solution ensures a clear and polished finish on windows and mirrors.
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Weed Killer: Borax, when mixed with water, can be used as a non-chemical weed killer. It's essential to spray only on the weeds and foliage, as it can harm any plant it touches.
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Clean Cast Iron: Cleaning cast iron cookware with a borax and salt solution helps maintain the seasoning. This method is preferable to using soap, ensuring the longevity of the seasoning.
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Clean Combs and Brushes: Soaking combs and brushes in a solution of warm water, borax, and dish soap effectively removes residues and keeps personal grooming tools clean.
As an expert in this field, I can confidently endorse the practicality and efficiency of borax in various household applications. These tips align with best practices in cleaning and organizing, making borax a valuable addition to any home.
