Borax has a pH of 9.3, making it extremely alkaline. Borax's remarkable capacity for cleaning, disinfecting, deodorizing, and freshening is attributed to its alkalinity. The pH range of residential water is 6.5 to 8.5; adding detergents to the washing machine indicates that the water's pH isn't neutral.
Highly alkaline or acidic water can’t clean clothes well, and it may even damage the fabric. Adding a cup of borax to the washing cycle helps a lot. Your clothes will become soft.
Avoid using bleach, and replace it with borax. It’s natural, green and safe for use.
15 ways to use borax
1. Remove stains
Use a half cup of borax for each gallon of warm water. Soak your stained laundry for half an hour, and wash your laundry as you normally do. This method will help you remove grease, oil and protein stains.
2. All-purpose cleaner
Sprinkle some borax on your dirty tiles, sinks, faucets, countertops, tubs, toilets, cookware and appliances. Scrub well and rinse. Use borax to scrub your toilet bowl to clean and disinfect it.
3. Dishwasher detergent
Enhance the power of your dishwasher detergent. Add a cup or two of
borax into the basin of the dishwasher, add in your regular detergent,
and run he cycle as usual.
Use borax to make your own powdered dishwasher detergent. Borax is the
right solution to your cloudy glasses, hard water spots or soap stains.
4. Neutralize odors
Dissolve a half cup of borax in 1 ½ cup of warm water. You can add 5-10 drops of an essential oil, too. Use the solution to neutralize odors. You no longer have to use Febreze and similar products.
5. Boron deficiency in the garden
If your plants turn brown or don’t bloom, they may lack boron. Apples, broccoli, cabbage, onions, pears, carrots, alfalfa and corn need boron to thrive well.
Prevent any browning of the leaf tips by using a foliar spray. Add 5 tablespoons of borax o 5 gallons of water and a few drops of dish soap. Spray the leaves and stems of every affected plant.
6. Pest control
Ants, fleas, cockroaches, silverfish and beetles are helpless when exposed to boron. Dust affected areas with borax to keep them away. You can also mix it with honey or corn syrup to make insect bait past.
7. Remove rust
Combine borax and lemon juice into a paste. Apply the paste on rusty surfaces, and let it work for 30 minutes. Scrub with a brush and repeat if necessary. Rinse well.
8. Unclog drains
Pour a half cup of borax down your clogged drain and two cups of boiling water. Flush with hot water after 15 minutes.
9. Windows and mirrors
Dissolve two tablespoons of borax in three cups of warm water. Use the solution to wipe clean windows, mirrors and glass doors. Elbow grease adds more shine to these surfaces.
10. Weeds
Add 1 ¼ cups of borax to 2 ½ gallons of water. Spray any weeds, but be careful, borax may kill your flowers and plants, too. Spray the leaves of unwanted plants, and avoid the soil.
11. Black mold and mildew
Add a cup of borax to a gallon of water. Spray affected areas and scrub using an old toothbrush. You don’t have to rinse the surface, because the borax solution will act as a disinfectant and it will also inhibit fungal growth.
12. Adhesive residue
Use borax instead of Goo Gone. Dissolve a half cup of borax in 1//4 cup of warm water, and use the solution to remove glue, gum, tar and other sticky residue.
13, Carpets
Dissolve a half cup of borax to a gallon of hot water and run your steam cleaner on your carpets. If you don’t have one of these, you can sprinkle borax on your rugs or carpets and let it work for 30 minutes. Vacuum as you usually do.
If the stains are still here, add a half cup of borax to two cups of warm water, and blot the stain using a cloth.
14. Fresh flowers
You can make the most beautiful dried flowers using borax and cornmeal. You need one part of borax and two parts cornmeal.
Add some of the mixture to the container, put fresh flowers of your choice in the container, and add the rest of the dry mixture. Cover and store the flowers in a dry and cool place for 14 days.
15. Candle wicks
First, make a solution using two tablespoons of borax, one tablespoons of salt, and one cup of boiling water. Soak heavy twine in the solution for 24 hours. Hang the wicks and let them dry for at least two days before every use.
Borax is so versatile and you can use it for almost anything around the household. You can use it to clean outdoor furniture, remove urine smell (dampen the stain, sprinkle borax and vacuum once dried), keep mice away, clean floors, etc.
The best part? You can use it to make crystals! Combine borax with hot water, and the heat will form crystals.
Sources:
www.healthandhealthyliving.com
www.naturallivingideas.com
preparednessmama.com
