Borax also has amazing uses around the home, here we will offer you 20 impressive cleaning hacks with Borax you’ll be happy you learnt and be glad to share. But first, here are the answers to some questions you may have about Borax.

Borax, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid.

Powdered borax is white, consisting of soft colorless crystals that dissolve in water. In cosmetic products, borax is sometimes used as an emulsifier, buffering agent, or preservative for moisturizing products, creams, shampoos, gels, lotions, bath bombs, scrubs, and bath salts. Some wonderful uses are as follows:

1. Unclog the Drain

If you’re having a tough time clearing your drain or you don’t have a drain snake, just empty ½ a cup of borax in the drain and pour one tablespoon lemon juice over it. After 2 minutes, pour about 1 quart of boiling water.

Let it soak for approximately 15 minutes then rinse with tap water. In no time, you’ll have a clear drain as the Borax will work to break up hair and soap scum that builds up over time to cause a blockage.

2. Mold or Mildew

It’s very unsightly to have mold and mildew on surfaces and clothing. Borax provides an effective solution for this issue, firstly, brush off as much excess mold as possible with a soft-bristled brush.

Now, make a solution of ½ cup borax, 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. Deodorize your garbage can

Get rid of stubborn odors in your garbage can by giving it a rinse with Borax. Create a mixture of 1 cup Borax and 2 cups of water, pour it into the garbage pail, swishing around to cover the circumference.

Let the Borax sit for a few minutes for the best results. After you rinse, sprinkle some borax in the bottom to keep bugs away and absorb any excess moisture that may cause odors. For larger receptacles, use more of the mixture.

4. Cleaning porcelain sinks

Porcelain can easily become soiled with frequent use. With the right tools, cleaning will be a breeze.

One easy-breezy method to remove stains from stainless steel or porcelain sinks is to make a paste with 1 cup borax and 1/4 cup lemon juice.

Using a sponge or cloth, rub the stain with the paste. Rinse with warm water. This way, you can enjoy a cleaner sink, faster.

5. Remove Sticker Residue

With children around the home, you’ll frequently find sticky messes that seem to ruin your furniture. From scratch and sniff stickers to glue and paste, children can find infinite ways to make a gooey mess.

  Create your very own Goo Gone and get rid of sticky, gooey, and gummy adhesive residue. Simply mix together borax and water in a 2-to-1 ratio, then rub the mixture onto the residue. For tougher residue give a gentle scrub to lift it away clearly.

6. Deodorize your Refrigerator

If you ever run out of baking soda and need another way to quickly clean the refrigerator, use Borax to wash away spilled food for a fresher refrigerator. 

With 1 cup of warm water and a tablespoon of Borax, create a solution to wipe down the interior of your fridge by itself or as a supplementary solvent to soap and water.

7. Insect repellent

One of the most annoying things about warm weather is the degree of insects that come around. If you’re from the south or experience warm weather for most of the year, then you’re constantly going ham on insect repellent.

You may even run out at some point, if you do, keep your environment disinfected by using Borax as an insect repellent. Sprinkle equal parts Borax and powdered sugar where you suspect they may be entering. This will create a barrier the creepy crawlies will dare not cross.

8. Cleaning pots and pans

Sometimes it can be difficult to get pots and pans totally clean, you may end up leaving them to soak for hours. Which might not work as effectively as it should to lift the stuck-on food. A simpler way is finally here. Just rub a cup of Borax all over the wet pot or pan.

The water along with the Borax will create a paste-like consistency which will allow the Borax to stay put and work. Allow it sit for 10 minutes and wipe it clean with only a little pressure/elbow grease. Easy does it.

9. Laundry Booster

If your detergent is too harsh or not powerful enough, you may need a booster to contain it and prevent burns on your fabrics while delivering a good clean. Such boosters may be expensive or may not deliver these results in the most favorable way.

Get whiter whites and brighter colors by adding a cup to a load of laundry, the Borax will boost the power of your detergent, giving your clothes a deeper clean. It will also guard against the harshness of soap and prevent color burn.

10. Clean your grout

One of the areas that will give your home a facelift once cleaned is the grout between the tiles. We don’t often notice how dirty it’s getting until it becomes an eyesore. At that point, it seems almost impossible to clean it all.

There’s a powerful solution that will definitely help.  Mix equal parts Borax, baking soda, and water, with a toothbrush, apply it to the areas between the tiles, let sit for 20 minutes and scrubbing will become as easy as 123. Ensure to rinse with fresh water after scrubbing.

11. Deodorize your mattress

After a while, your mattress becomes funky from absorbing all the sweat that seeps through your bedding. Now and then, it’s important to deodorize your mattress for a fresher home.

A quick way to create an amazing disinfectant freshener is to add 2 parts warm water and one part Borax to a spray bottle, shake well and you will have your very own homemade deodorizer.

Simply give your mattress a light spritz and allow it to air dry for a fresher bed every time.

12. Remove hard water

If you don’t have a filter, chances are,.you have hard water creating a gunky build up around your faucet and sinks.

Instead of buying a shiney new sink for hundreds of dollars, use Borax to remove hard water marks from your sink by creating a mixture of 1 tablespoon of Borax and the juice of a lemon.

Apply this to the sink, scrub lightly and rinse. Your sink will appear brand new with a beautiful sparkle.

13. Cleaning Carpets

When cleaning carpets, we don’t always lift all the dirt beneath the surface. The thicker the carpet, the harder it will be to clean. For a deeper, more powerful clean, follow up method can be employed.

After cleaning, sprinkle Borax into your carpet generously, then simply vacuum away. This will help all the dust and dander to lift away.

14. Clean your oven

Over time, your oven gets dirty with stuck-on food that’s created from anything from cake batter to gravy. Use warm water and Borax to create a paste, wipe down the inside of your oven for a quicker clean.

Follow this with fresh cool water and leave the oven open for a few minutes. This will also get rid of stubborn odors and make your oven sparkle.

15. Shine old China and Dish sets

If you were raised like me then you probably have a whole chest filled with crockery and dish sets. Some of these may be aged and yellowing.

Restore old dish sets to their former glory by soaking them in a container with 2 cups of water to a half a cup of Borax for 30 minutes. When the time has lapsed wash and dry them as you usually would.

Your dishes will be sparkle like new. This will create a delightful display.

16. Cleaning Brushes and Combs

Brushes and combs can clean be a pain to clean. It may be difficult to get between the teeth and bristles. Clean brushes and Combs filled with hair, makeup and dirt by creating a mixture of one part Borax and one part warm water.

Submerge the brushes and combs, leave them to soak for 45 minutes swishing occasionally to loosen up the dirt. The Borax will break down the existing build-up, making it easier to remove.

Once complete, tease the comb or brush to get the remaining dirt out, rinse with warm water and place to dry.

17. Remove crayon marks

If your toddler is at the age where they write on everything, then this one is for you. When you come across little amateur drawings on the wall, you’ll have more time for oo’s and ahh’s and less time for anger if you bare this tip in mind.

Just add one tablespoon of Borax to one cup of water and use this to wipe away the crayon marks from your wall.

This is so easy, you might end up letting them run amuck; knowing that you have a simple and effective solution for clean up.

18. String Instrument Saver

This one is for the musicians who would like a quick tip to save them time and money. If you play stringed instruments then you know very well that rosin builds up more quickly than it breaks down and too much can cause the strings to become brittle and shred or break.

This tampers with the sound quality you can produce and it costs an arm and a leg to replace strings, especially on violins.

When the bow hairs of your musical instruments get gunked up with rosin, clear this easily by using a damp toothbrush dipped in Borax to scrub the strings wipe the bow hairs clean and re-rosin them.

This prevents build-up and will allow you to keep your strings for a longer period.

19. Remove Rust

Rust has it’s part to play in giving your home an unappealing look and odor. At the first sign, remedy. The situation by applying a paste of Borax and water, apply to any metal surface and let sit for 10 minutes.

This will remove all the rust and grime. Giving your gate, kitchen sink, stove, burners, and any other metal surface a brand new shine.

20. Make a floor cleaner

Another way to save money each month is to make your own floor cleaner as this is used frequently and can be expensive to replace.

Note this recipe, mix 1/3 cup of Borax, dish soap and 1 tablespoon of ammonia or lime juice to a gallon of warm water to create a powerful floor cleaner. This can be used to remove tough stains from tile, linoleum, and hardwood flooring.

The Borax will also help to remove scuff marks. Simply splash onto floors or add to your mop bucket and get to mopping. The cleaning power of Borax will remove any stuck-on stain, even the oldest ones.

Whether it’s cleaning your bathroom, kitchen or living room, or removing rust and mold. Borax has proven to be nature’s best-kept secret for a more effortless cleaning day. As a bonus, Borax can be used to make slime to occupy the kids or yourself on lazy days. Keep this versatile cleaner handy and you will never regret it.