Top 5 Uses for Borax

You can find Borax in the laundry aisle of just about any retail store. Borax, also known as sodium borate, is packaged by the 20 Mule Team Company as a laundry booster but it has many other uses as well. Borax can be used as a drain cleaner, toilet cleaner, weed and ant repellant and to sanitize your garbage disposal. Additionally, you can sprinkle Borax anywhere you want to get rid of odors and keep them away. Follows are some simple recipes for the many uses of Borax

Laundry Booster

As stated earlier the most common use for Borax is as a laundry booster to make clothes come out cleaner and to get rid of stains and odors that normal laundry detergents leave behind. All you need to do is add a �½ cup to your washing machine at the beginning of the wash cycle. For large loads use �¾ cup instead.

Drain Cleaner

Is your drain clogged? Or worse, there’s a stinky smell wafting from your pipes? Borax will unclog your drain and leave it smelling nice and fresh. Just pour 1 cup of dry Borax down your drain, let it sit for 15 minutes and follow with 4 cups of boiling water. Repeat every month or as the drain gets clogged.

Toilet Cleaner

Since Borax has deodorizing and disinfecting properties as well as being an effective cleanser, it makes a perfect toilet bowl cleaner. Just sprinkle a decent amount of Borax directly into the bowl, let it work its magic for about 10 to 15 minutes and then scrub with a toilet brush until the bowl is clean. Flush to rinse.

Garbage Pail Sanitizer

A simple way to keep those nasty garbage pails clean and odor-free is with Borax. Start by cleaning the whole pain inside and out with a cup of Borax per gallon of hot water. Use the hottest water you can stand. Rinse with cold water and let dry. Once the pail is dry, sprinkle a small amount of Borax on the bottom of the garbage pail before putting in a new garbage bag. Do this each time you replace the bag to keep germs and odors away.

Weed And Ant Repellant

Borax can also be used to keep away weeds and ants. To kill existing weeds and prevent future weeds from growing, sprinkle borax powder into any cracks on your property where weeds are a problem. Avoid getting Borax on plant you want to keep as it is fatal to them as well. To get rid of pests like ants from your home, apply Borax powder around the foundation of your home. Ants will avoid the Borax and your home but you will have to repeat this procedure roughly twice a year to ensure continued protection.

There are many more uses for Borax than the ones listed here. You can find plenty of uses online and in magazines specializing in green cleaning. And while Borax is safer and less toxic than bleach it is still important to remember than some people have skin sensitivity to Borax and gloves should be worn while using. Also keep the area well ventilated to avoid any respiratory problems.