30 Surprising Uses for Borax You Can Take Away from 2022

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You might be familiar with the uses of borax and how to use borax for cleaning and laundry to get cleaner clothes or, more recently, for using borax powder in making slime. But did you know that the uses of borax go way beyond that, especially in cleaning?

From unclogging a drain to cleaning the toilet bowl, borax powder has found its use as a versatile cleaner, along with its active use in many cleaning products and homemade cooking recipes. Adding to it, the uses of borax can be extended to sweeten that smelly garbage disposal and even keep ants and pests away.

With a wide variety of uses of borax around the house, you can make your life easy and your house clean!

So, here’s a list of some amazing Uses of Borax that you can take with you in 2023!

30 Surprising Uses for Borax You Can Take Away from 2022

1. Unclogging the drain

Unclogging the drain can be a big headache. Not anymore! Here’s how you can use borax powder to clean your clogged drain in just three simple steps!

Just empty half a cup of borax powder into the drain and pour one tablespoon of lemon juice over it. After 2 minutes, pour 1-quarter of the boiling water into the drain. Leave it for around 15 minutes.

Borax powder reacts with the gunk and dirt inside the drain to loosen it. Hot water further loosens it and carries it away. Lemon adds up to the further disinfection process and sanitizes the drain.

This can be the cheapest and easiest way to unclog your sink.

2. Clean the dirty mold or mildew

A mold infestation or even minor mildew can ruin the aesthetics of your home, making it important for you to get rid of them as soon as possible. Borax powder acts as a natural mold inhibitor and is the perfect solution to get rid of that dirty mold.

Check out below, how to remove mold and mildew in the easiest way possible!

Firstly, brush off as much excess mold as possible with a soft-bristled brush or a microfiber cloth. Now, make a solution with half a cup of borax powder, 1/2 cup of vinegar, and 1 cup of warm water.

Fill it in an empty spray bottle and spray it on the mold and mildew until the area gets sufficiently wet. Leave the surface to dry completely.

3. Get Your Old China Dish Set to Shine

Feeling sad because your china dish doesn’t look the same?

Make your china dishes look new using borax powder. Using borax powder can help you remove the dullness and dirt on the dishes and make them shiny again.

Just soak them in the sink with warm water and add half a cup of borax powder to it. Leave them for at least 30 minutes and later, wash them off as usual.

Note: Don’t scrub the dishes as it may cause scratches.

4. Grout Cleaner

Here’s the easiest borax-cleaning solution recipe you can use to clean grout. All you need to do is make a thick borax paste by using 1 part borax, 2 parts baking soda, and then adding enough vinegar.

Apply this borax cleaner on the grout using a soft brush and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Then, just rinse it off and if possible, scrub lightly using a microfiber cloth for a better clean.

5. Make an All-purpose Cleaner

Thanks to its cleaning properties, Borax makes a great all-purpose cleaner. All you need to do is to mix 3 Tbsp. of borax and 1 cup of vinegar with 3 cups of warm water to make an all-purpose cleaner.

Now, you might wonder, can you mix borax and vinegar?

Yes! Of course. Cleaning with borax and vinegar has amazing results and the mixture eases the process of cleaning especially in kitchens, stoves, countertops, tables, and many other surfaces of the house.

6. Effective Against Rust (on pans, appliances, tiles, or almost anything)

Borax is an amazing rust remover. So, you can use borax to remove rust stains from your pans, tiles, or almost any other thing that has caught rust. Just follow these simple steps!

Mix 1 cup of warm water and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice with 1 cup of borax. Apply the paste to the rusted area and leave it for 15-20 minutes.

Rinse and then scrub away the rust with a dish sponge. Easy!

7. Clean Brushes and Combs Easily

Are you still cleaning your brushes and combs the hard way using detergent and scrubs?
Not anymore!

We have got the best borax hacks for you to clean easier and better.

Just fill a mug with water and add two tablespoons of borax and some dish soap to it. Soak in the brushes and combs to be cleaned and wet them properly. Leave them to soak for at least 30-45 minutes. Rinse.

Your combs and brushes will be shiny and clean without scrubbing.

8. Cleaning the Fridge

Here’s an astounding borax-cleaning solution recipe for you to clean your fridge faster!

Take 4-5 cups of lukewarm water and add a little borax to it. Stir the solution so that borax gets dissolved in the water properly. Dip a clean cloth or sponge in this solution and wipe the shelves of the fridge. It removes any dried-up food stains or any leftovers easily.

So whether you want to clean the spilled food in the refrigerator or just give it a good clean, this solution is worth trying.

9. Remove Pencil and Crayon Marks from the Wall

So, your kid got creative on the wall again? Don’t worry, you can easily get back the old shine of your wall using just borax. All you need to do is just mix 1 Tbsp. borax with a cup of warm water and apply it on the wall to remove pencil and crayon marks.

Note: Before using it on the stain, make sure that the paint doesn’t come off by testing it on some regions of the wall.

10. Make Your Sink Sparkle

Make a borax paste by mixing 2 Tbsp. of lemon juice with 2 tbsp. of powdered borax. Scrub the stains on the sink using a cloth or sponge dipped in this paste. Rinse with water and get a clean and shining sink in no time.

11. Use Borax to Clean the Windows

Mix 1 Tbsp. borax in a cup of water. Transfer the mixture to a spray bottle and spray on the windows. Wipe it with a microfiber cloth or a damp rag.

You can also clean and wipe the windows with a rag or sponge dipped in this solution. Repeat the process with a solution of equal parts of vinegar and water. Wipe it dry and you will have clean windows in no time.

12. Clean the Toilet bowl

Cleaning the toilet can be a daunting task. But you will be surprised to know that a borax cleaner makes it so easy to clean the toilet. All you need to do is to sprinkle borax powder in the pot and add half a cup of vinegar to it.

Let the solution sit overnight. Then, scrub the toilet and flush!

Borax acts on the grime and the dirt accumulated in the toilet. It deals with all of the dirt layers and the yellowish stains. Vinegar assists borax in the cleaning process and improves its efficiency.

You may also like 31 all-time best house-cleaning tips that work like magic.

13. Clean Showers and Tubs

Here’s how you can make a borax shower cleaner at home! Take some borax powder in a damp cloth and scrub it on the tubs and showers. Rinse them with clean water.

To clean the interior of a shower, make a borax cleaning solution by mixing 2-3 Tbsp. borax powder in 4-5 cups of water. Fill it in a polythene bag and tie it around the shower such that it remains submerged in the solution. Leave it for around an hour and then switch on the shower to rinse it.

If you need a clean bathroom, these bathroom cleaning hacks will make cleaning easy.

14. Carpet Cleaner

If your expensive carpet is attacked by a stain, no need to worry. Use Borax- the stain remover. Mix 4 Tbsp. borax powder in 1 cup of warm water. Dip a sponge or clean cloth in the solution and dab it on the stain.

Leave the stain in that condition for 25-30 minutes. Then vacuum that area to clean the residue and allow it to dry to get a clean and stain-free carpet.

15. Make A Borax Floor Cleaner

Borax makes a great natural floor cleaner for your home.

All you need is to mix 2 Tbsp. borax with 4-5 Tbsp. vinegar in your mop bucket. Add a pinch of dawn dish soap to it and fill the bucket with warm water. Your cleaner is ready! Use this to clean your house floor.

You can also make it in good quantity and store it in a container for everyday use. Just mix 2 cups borax with 4 cups vinegar and add around 1 Tbsp. of dish soap to it.

Store it in a container. Add some of this solution to your mop bucket water for everyday cleaning.

16. Clean Outdoor Furniture

Borax can also clean furniture easily. Just mix 2 teaspoons of borax and 1 teaspoon of dishwashing soap in 1 quart of water. Fill it in a spray bottle so it’s more convenient to use.

Spray it on the patio furniture and wipe it to clean all the dust, dirt, or any grime.

17. Homemade Dish Soap

You can make dish soap at home using these low-cost ingredients and save the money spent on readymade dish soap. Mix ½ cup borax, ½ cup finely grated soap, and 10 cups of boiling water.
Stir to mix it properly and allow it to cool before use.

It is as efficient as the market-bought dish soap, if not more.

18. Get Rid of Soap Scum

Soap scum on shower doors, glass, and faucets can be easily cleaned using borax. Make a borax paste by mixing 2-3 Tbsp. borax powder in half a cup of water.

Scrub this paste with a cloth on the area to be cleaned. Rinse with water and wipe with a clean dry cloth. You would also love these clever bathroom cleaning hacks.

19. Clean Sticky Residue

Borax makes it easy to get rid of sticky and gooey adhesive residue. Just mix borax powder and water in a 2-to-1 ratio, and rub the mixture on the residue to clean it. Easy!

20. Clean and Deodorize Mattresses

Deodorize your mattresses by rubbing borax over them using a damp cloth or sprinkling borax powder evenly across the mattress. But make sure to wet the mattress surface before rubbing borax on it. It will also eliminate any foul smell like that of urine from your baby’s mattress.

21. Deodorize the Smelly Garbage Can

Borax can also deodorize smelly trash cans easily. Sprinkle at least 4-5 Tbsp. of borax powder in the garbage can and add water to it.

The amount of borax to be added depends on the condition of the bin. If it has not been cleaned for a long time and is smelling bad, then empty around half a cup of borax in it.

Let the borax do its work by leaving it in for at least 15-20 minutes. Rinse clean and leave to dry.

You can also sprinkle some borax in the can before using it again, to minimize odor when in use.

22. Keep Your Humidifier Odorless

Humidifiers need to be deodorized from time to time. To keep the humidifier free of any door, dissolve 5-6 tablespoons of borax in 3-4 quarts of water and add it to the tank.

Run the humidifier for 10-15 minutes and then empty the tank. Don’t forget to rinse the tank with clean water.

Need to make your home smell good? These simple hacks will make your home smell good naturally.

23. Dealing with Pests

Borax powder effectively deals with cockroaches, ants, bugs, mice, and other pests. The process is very simple.

Mix equal parts of borax and sugar. Sprinkle a thin layer of this borax mixture in the corners, under the sink, behind the pieces of furniture, and in the areas infested with pests.

When the pests are drawn towards the sugar cubes, borax deals with them. Make sure that this mixture does not reach the hands of small children or even your pet. So use it in areas that are away from the reach of children and pets.

To get rid of bed bugs, sprinkle a generous amount of borax on the mattress and in the storage hold of the bed (if any).

24. Effective Laundry Cleaner

Add 4-5 Tbsp. of Borax to your laundry to get cleaner and stain-free clothes along with making the clothes smell better. It gives a natural scent to the clothes. Borax can even be used to wash delicate fabrics.

Borax is a successful stain remover too. Stubborn stains like that of coffee can be treated using borax. Pre-treat the stain by soaking it in a borax solution made by dissolving 7-8 Tbsp of borax in water.

Allow the cloth to soak for at least 30-40 minutes before laundering. Repeat if the stain does not vanish completely.

Even hard water stains on your clothes and washing machines can be removed successfully using borax powder.

Quick Tip: Need an organized laundry, check out these laundry organization hacks.

25. Preserve Your Favorite Flowers

Do you hate the withering away of your favorite flowers? Borax is the solution.

Borax helps in removing moisture from freshly cut flowers and leaves which in turn helps them to prevent from wilting.

Here’s how to do it!

Mix one part of white sand and two parts of borax powder to make a mixture. Fill some of this mixture into a box and place the flower in it.

Sprinkle some mixture on the flower as well so it is properly covered with the mixture. Leave the box for seven days after sealing it with tape. The flower will lose all of its moisture and dry out.

Note: This method may not work on flowers bought from florists as they use a special water solution to preserve them.

26. Help in the Growth of Fruit Trees

Borax is not only useful for cleaning purposes but also beneficial for growing fruit trees. Boron, a mineral contained in borax is required by plants for healthy growth.

If you sprinkle half a cup of borax powder every 2-3 years around the base of a mature fruit tree (such as an apple tree) or 2-3 Tbsp for a younger one, you can see faster growth of your fruit trees.

Boron is a good fertilizer, so adding borax in the right quantities to the soil helps nourish fruit trees and keep fruit trees healthy.

27. Improve Your Homemade Candles

If you make candles at home, treat the wicks by soaking them in a solution of borax and salt. To make this solution, mix equal parts of borax and salt in water. This solution reduces ash and smoke.

Related: How to easily remove candle wax off any surface?

28. Make Your Clothes Fireproof

Clothes catch fire easily. To make them resistant to flames, mix 1 cup of borax and half a cup of boric acid in a gallon of water and soak the rinsed clothes in it. Then, the dry cycle.

If the clothes are not washable, then spray that solution on the clothes instead of soaking the clothes in them. Repeat the process every time you wash or dry clean your clothes.

29. Instruments’ String Saver

The bow hairs of musical instruments get bad as they get gummed up with rosin. Clean it by rubbing the strings with damp toothpaste dipped in borax. Then wipe the bow hairs and re-rosin them again.

Need borax? Buy it here.

30. Homemade Laundry detergent

Making your own laundry detergent is a great way to save money. Borax is an inexpensive and effective cleansing agent, making it the perfect choice for this project. This recipe makes enough detergent for approximately 64 loads of laundry.

Combine a cup of borax, 1 cup of washing soda, 1 bar of soap, and half a cup of white vinegar in a large bowl. Mix Well.

Store the detergent in an airtight container.

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