9 Things You Didn't Know You Could Clean with Borax
Have you ever heard of Borax? Yes? Perfect! No? Not a problem.
If you’re a whiz at chemistry, Borax probably sounds familiar. If you’re thinking of the naturally occurring element boron, you’d be right on the money. Fortunately, you don’t have to take raw boron and create a natural cleaner with it. You may have seen 20 Mule Team Borax at your local grocery or home improvement store. At Merry Maids®, we’re fans of Borax because it’s natural and easy to find. Still, did you also know it’s multipurpose and can be used to clean various appliances and household items? Well, stay tuned! We’re about to discuss the things around your home that you probably didn’t know you could clean with Borax right now!
1. Laundry
Whether you need to pretreat, soften, or remove years of dirt from fabrics, Borax will be your saving grace, trust us. On the 20 Mule Team Borax box, it tells you it’s a “laundry booster.” This means you can safely use it in your laundry loads to remove foul odors and strip clothing of left-behind detergent, dirt, and fabric softener.
Pretreat fabrics
Most clothing absorbs a small amount of detergent and fabric softener over time, which makes them harder to clean. Pretreat fabrics with tough stains by using 1/2 cup of Borax and a gallon of warm water. Use a separate tub to soak your clothing in this mixture for at least an hour. Once the stain has soaked, wash it as normal.
Boost laundry cleaning
Use a 1/2 cup of Borax in every load and your favorite laundry detergent to boost laundry cleaning abilities. Sprinkle the Borax into the water first, adding the laundry detergent, and then include the clothes you need to wash. You’ll notice a difference in how your clothes feel and smell.
2. Cookware
Have you got tough stains on plasticware? No prob! Ready to wave goodbye to rust? For sure! Borax is a natural cure-all for renewing your dishware. You’ll want to make a paste by combining one part Borax, two parts warm water, and add 1/2 tablespoon of white vinegar. Let the mixture sit for an hour or two, and use steel wool to gently scrub away rust on baking sheets and other dishware. We don’t recommend using this technique on cast iron skillets or pots.
3. Outdoor Furniture
Cleaning outdoor furniture can become a hassle when using harsh cleaners that require wearing PPE (personal protective equipment). Ditch the hazmat suit and the chemical spray for Borax. Mix a teaspoon of Borax and warm water in a spray bottle and scrub the solution with a soft-bristle brush or a microfiber cloth. This tip works best on plastic furniture. Still, if you have outdoor fabric cushions, remove the cover and throw it into the laundry with our trusty friend Borax (follow the laundering instructions above).
4. Drains
Drain clogs are the absolute worst, but you don’t have to call an expensive plumber or purchase complicated tools to do the job. All you’ll need is 1/3 cup of Borax. Pour this green cleaner down the drain and wait 30 minutes before running hot water down the drain. If you’re unclogging a kitchen sink, turn on your garbage disposal while running the hot water.
5. Dishwasher
Your dishwasher is probably one of the most-used appliances in your home. It helps you save time hand-washing your dishes, but your dishwasher could also use some TLC every once in a while to maintain efficient and effective operation. Borax can be used to clean the door, dish racks, and the machine itself.
Clean the door and racks
Mix one part Borax, two parts water, and use a sponge or microfiber cloth to remove hard water stains. To get rid of stuck-on food particles on the racks, remove them from the dishwasher and soak them for 30 minutes in a mixture of 1/2 cup of Borax and a gallon of warm water.
Disinfect the dishwasher
Sprinkle 1/2 cup of Borax on the bottom of your dishwasher to disinfect it during a cycle. Avoid using the dispenser, as your Borax may get cakey and stuck. Set the dishwasher to “sanitize” or a normal cycle (if your dishwasher doesn’t have a sanitizing feature).
6. Bedding
Washing your bedding once a week is extremely important to eliminate bacteria, sweat, dead skin, and dust mites. (We know. It’s kind of gross.) You’ll want to wash sheets and bedding in Borax just as you would a load of laundry. You can even make your own detergent by taking two cups of Borax, two cups of Arm & Hammer washing soda, and one cup of Pure soap flakes. This natural powder detergent will be your favorite laundry companion. Trust us.
7. Toilet
Remember when we talked about the items you should clean every day…without question? We didn’t specifically mention the toilet, but it certainly is an item you should be cleaning regularly. The toilet bowl has around 3.2 million bacteria per square inch, while the toilet seat contains only 50 bacteria per square inch. Regardless of the number of germs lying in wait in your bathroom, a sprinkle of Borax can help kill them. You need one cup of Borax in and on the toilet daily to eliminate life-threatening pathogens.
8. Carpet
If you’re an animal lover or a doting pet parent, your carpet likely has some suspect stains that you’ve tried to remove. Little did you know that carpet cleaning with Borax makes life so much easier. Mixing 1/4 cup of Borax, salt, and vinegar can do the trick and leave zero chemical smells behind. You’ll end up with a paste that you can dab on pet and food carpet stains. Let the mixture dry on the carpet for 24 hours, then vacuum it thoroughly. If there’s any residue left behind, use a cloth with warm water to remove it.
9. Laminate Countertops
Nonporous laminate countertops give the illusion of real stone without all the upkeep. You might think that water and soap are sufficient cleaners, and you’d be correct. However, Borax can be the natural countertop cleaner you’ve been searching for. 1/4 cup of Borax plus lemon juice will create the perfect green cleaner for your countertops.
Whether you’re removing carpet stains or stripping fabrics of dirt and detergent residue, cleaning with Borax is an effective product that is indeed multipurpose. Still, you can combine the cleaning power of Borax with the expertise of cleaning experts at Merry Maids! We use various natural and eco-friendly cleaning supplies that disinfect your home and minimize allergic reactions.
Trust our team with your family’s comfort and safety by calling (888) 490-4227 or requesting a free estimate online.
