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12 Borax Uses for All Parts of Your Home

Pool Chemical Icon Blogs
Calendar Icon September 28, 2022

What are the different uses of borax in my home?

  1. All-purpose cleaning spray
  2. Cleaning tiles
  3. Brightening laundry
  4. Getting rid of bug problems
  5. Stain-removing paste
  6. Preventing mildew growth
  7. Killing weeds
  8. Preserving and drying flowers
  9. Removing smell from shoes
  10. Polishing water fixtures
  11. Unclogging drains and pipes
  12. Deodorizing carpets

Stocking up on dozens of cleaning supplies for every area of your home is more than just pricey — it can also introduce ingredients that can be toxic for your family and the environment. 

Lucky an old household staple, borax, is here to help. It’s a primary ingredient in many common household products and can act as a stain remover, sanitizer, and even bug repellant, amongst other things.

To help you get started in your DIY cleaning solutions, here are the many uses of borax in your home: 

All-purpose cleaning spray

All-purpose cleaning spray

Borax can be used to make an all-purpose cleaning spray that you can use to clear up your countertops, appliances, windows, and much more!

To make one, dissolve 2 teaspoons of borax in 4 cups of hot water. Mix until dissolved, then add in 1 teaspoon of dish soap and 4 tablespoons of vinegar. Use this to wipe away any persistent dirt and grime on a variety of surfaces! 

Cleaning tiles

Borax can also be used to clean up your tiles. Just combine 2 tablespoons of borax in a gallon of warm water. Use a rag or a mop to scrub this cleaning solution into your tiles! 

Brightening laundry

Borax also makes an excellent laundry booster! This powder can whiten stains, brighten colors, and neutralize odors on your clothes. 

To use borax on your clothes, add a ½ cup of borax for every gallon of water in your laundry machine before you start your wash cycle. Let your dirty laundry soak here for about 30 minutes. Then, drain the solution and continue your laundry routine as usual.

Getting rid of bug problems

If you have a pest problem, borax can help. It’s a powerful insecticide, so be sure to use it where kids and pets can’t get to it.

Sprinkle borax powder where you’ve seen cockroaches. This will dehydrate and poison them. Borax can also be mixed with sugar to create an ant repellant. Just mix one part borax with three parts sugar, and place this mixture near where ants tend to gather in your home.

Stain-removing paste

Stain-removing paste

This chemical can also be used to remove stains from a variety of things, such as stainless steel surfaces, porcelain, outdoor furniture, and more.

To create a multi-use stain-remover, mix one cup of borax with ¼ cup of lemon juice or white vinegar. When fully mixed, it should create a paste. Use a sponge to spread this paste on the stained surface, and gently scrub. Rinse it afterward with warm water. 

Preventing mildew growth

If you have a mildew problem, use borax to kill it off! Mix ¼ cup of borax for every ¼ cup of warm water in a spray bottle. Mix well, and spray this solution onto mildew growth. After 15 minutes, use a nylon brush to scrub away the mildew.

Rinse well, and use this mildew solution again if there are any persistent patches. Once the area is completely cleaned and rinsed off, wait for it to dry. Then, lightly spray the solution again on any mildew-prone areas, and allow it to air dry — this will prevent future growth. 

Killing weeds

Killing weeds

Like mildew, borax can also be used to kill weeds. Mix 1 cup of borax with 2 gallons of water. Load this solution up on a sprayer, or pour the solution directly onto the weeds. But, make sure to avoid any plants you don’t want to kill! 

Preserving and drying flowers

If you have any flowers you want to preserve or dry, then grab a box of borax. Combine 1 cup of borax with 2 cups of cornmeal, and place in an airtight container.

In a separate container, spread this mixture — place enough just to cover the bottom. Trim your flowers below the bud, and put them upright in this container. Sprinkle some more of the borax mixture on top, covering the buds. 

Cover this container and let it sit in a warm and dry room. After about two weeks, your flower buds should be completely dried out. 

Removing smell from shoes

Borax cleaning solutions can neutralize odor in your shoes, too! Combine 2 tablespoons of borax with a liter of warm water. Mix well and place in a spray bottle. Make sure to shake well before spraying this solution on your shoes. Spray the inside of your shoes, and let them sit for about 20 minutes. Then, scrub the inside thoroughly. Rinse out with warm water, and let dry — your shoes should smell a lot fresher! 

Polishing water fixtures

The minerals in water can leave spots on your water fixtures — which we usually call scale. This can be hard to scrub off with water and cleaner.

To remove these spots, sprinkle a damp sponge with borax, and use this to scrub water fixtures. This should help remove stubborn stains and spots! to remove water spots and grime.

Unclogging drains and pipes

Clogged drains can be difficult to get rid of. To remove this problem from your bathroom or kitchen, add 3 tablespoons of borax to the drain, and let it sit there for at least 15 minutes. After, flush it down with hot water, and try to pour water for at least one minute. 

If your drain is still slow and greasy, then pour another ½ cup of borax and two cups of hot water into the drain. After 15 to 30 minutes, flush again with hot water. 

Deodorizing carpets

Deodorizing carpets

Carpets can pick up a lot of grime, stains, and odors — and unfortunately, your pet can also pee on them. With their fibrous texture, this can be a pain to clean up.

Luckily, you can mix ¼ cup of borax, ¼ cup of salt, and ¼ cup of vinegar together to create a carpet cleaning solution. Use this on the dirty spots on your carpet, and scrub lightly with a soft-bristled brush.

Then, let the solution sit on the carpet for about 45 minutes before vacuuming it or wiping it up. You can use a damp sponge to remove any remaining cleaning solution on your carpet. 

Key Takeaway

There are tons of uses of borax for your home! It’s a powerful product that you can buy in bulk from Oktakem — the reputable chemical supplier in the Philippines. Click here to buy it today, and be sure to follow the recipes above to get all that extra mileage from this handy cleaning agent!

If you’re looking for other raw materials or swimming pool chemicals, you can check Oktakem’s online shop here, on Shopee, or at Lazada. We offer these products in 1kg packs at affordable prices. For other inquiries, you may contact us here