Natural Cleaning With Borax

Twenty mule teams were teams of eighteen mules and
two horses attached to large wagons that ferried borax
out of Death Valley from 1883 to 1889.

Borax, a natural mineral compound has a wide range of uses in the home. Borax (Sodium Tetraborate Decahydrate) has a pH of around 9, which is higher than baking soda (which is 8.1; 7 being neutral). It is a good deodorizer and mold inhibitor, as well as a successful way to kill cockroaches, fleas, and other insects. 

Some Popular Household Uses For Borax:

1. Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Pour 8 oz (1 cup) of borax into the toilet bowl at night before you go to sleep. The next morning clean out the toilet bowl with a brush. Borax loosens the grime buildup. This method of toilet cleaning works very well for rust rings.

2. Flea Killer

Sprinkle borax on dog beds, carpets, and other areas where you suspect that fleas are hatching. Borax releases boric acid, which is a poison to insects (note that very high doses would need to be ingested to harm a pet or human). 

3. Mold Inhibitor

This method of inhibiting mold works well on areas where mold and mildew is growing and that you don’t need to worry about paint being damaged. Make a thick borax and water paste. Smear it on the moldy area. Let set until dry (overnight or longer). Sweep up the powder, and rinse off the rest. 

4. Rodent Deterrent

Sprinkle borax on the floor along the walls (mice like to run along the side of walls). They don’t like getting the borax on their feet, so they are less likely to return to that area of the house. 

5. All Purpose Cleaner

Put 2 teaspoons of borax in a spray bottle with 2 cups of very hot water. Shake to blend.

Remember that any ingredient can be toxic if used incorrectly. Don't use borax around food, keep it out of reach of children and pets, and make sure you rinse borax out of clothes and off of surfaces before using them. That being said, Borax is an effective natural cleanser which when used properly can help to effectively clean your household without using lab-created chemical compounds.

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com