uses for borax

[homealone]

I was under the impression that borax was extremely dangerous and should be avoided. Recently I have found out that borax is a naturally occuring substance and has many uses around the house. Borax is relatively environmentally friendly and is also cheap. Of course borax must be handled with care as are all chemicals. Borax should not be ingested and be kept out of the reach of children and pets. Other names for borax are sodium tetraborate and sodium borate. It is mined from places in Chile, Tibet and the United States. The mining side of borax isnt all really earth friendly but when compared to other chemical compounds found today, borax is the lesser of the evils and a greener choice. Borax is used in many different products such as pesticides, insulation, cleaners , detergents and even makeup. Another positive use for borax is that it will discourage vermin from nesting in your home and will kill insects. Though borax has some level of toxicity and should be handled with care.
Here are some good uses for Borax.

Urine stains and odors- add one cup of borax to your wash to remove smells and stains. can also be used on mattresses, carpets and other funiture, just dampen the effected area and sprinkle with borax. Allow to dry and vaccuum.

Bugs- sprinkle borax around stove and refrigerator, it will become a roach deterrant. If you mix borax with sugar or honey it will attract silverfish and ants and kill them.

pre-soaking laundry-add one tablespoon per gallon of water and soak 30 minutes. It is also safe to use on colors and will help to brighten your laundry.

Deodorizer- mix one tablespoon borax in a quart of water and use to clean and deodorize your refrigerator.


Pots and pans- sprinkle on some borax and rub with sponge. This will remove all that build up and various stains, and it wont scratch your cookware.



Please remember that borax does have some level of toxicity and must be used properly. I personally would not recommend cleaning your entire home with this product. Though some of its uses are great.