In this article we reveal everything about Borax, a home cleaning star product. We explain its different applications, and how and when to use it so you can forget about constantly buying new cleaning products.
O simplemente llevas tiempo viéndolo en la sección de limpieza del hogar del supermercado, pero desconoces sus múltiples usos.
No te preocupes, a continuación hablamos sobre este producto estrella en la limpieza del hogar, y te desvelamos todos sus usos.
You are probably reading this because you may have been recommended to use Borax to clean at home, but you don’t know what it is or how to use it. Or probably because you have been seeing it for a long time in the household cleaning section of the supermarket but still not sure about its many benefits.
Don’t worry, in the next paragraphs you are reading about this star product in home cleaning and all its uses.
What is borax?
Borax (sodium tetraborate), is a mineral that has been used as a cleaning product for several decades. A white powder crystal, very smooth and easy to dilute with water.
It is found in food, plants, water, soil, and even the human body. Although it can also be obtained artificially with industrial processes.
Borax is the trademark for boron salt. A product with multiple and beneficial uses. It stands out for being a great ally in home cleaning, thanks to its antiseptic power that manages to keep bacteria and germs away.
In fact, you will find sodium borate among the compounds in your cleaning products but also in others such as: fungicides and herbicides, fabric softeners and laundry enhancers.
How can I use borax for cleaning?
Sodium borate can be a great ally in home cleaning because of its multiple uses, as we already stated. Let’s find out how to use it properly.
Borax to boost laundry detergent
You already know that sodium borate is present in many washing clothes enhancing products. But you don’t have to buy a specific product based on borax. You can continue using your detergent as usual, but just add half a cup of Borax to the washing machine to enhance its effectiveness when cleaning.
It is very useful for whitening clothes, enhancing detergent’s stain-fighting action and neutralizing bad odors. Why? Because it maintains water pH levels above 8, which is ideal for cleaning, and it also converts water molecules into hydrogen peroxide, enhancing the anti-stain power.
Borax to remove mold and rust stains
Borax can help you if you want to get rid of accumulated mold or rust on common surfaces such as showers or oven racks.
You just have to make a mixture of lemon juice with a few tablespoons of the product to achieve this. Apply it on the surface you want to clean and let it work for a while to take effect. Then rub and you will see how rust or mold comes out easily.
Borax when cleaning your kitchen
This product is perfect for cleaning dishes, both porcelain and aluminum. You just have to sprinkle a little of the cleaner on cutlery, pots, pans and all the dishes in general. Rub with a damp cloth and rinse.
If you use a dishwasher, we recommend adding a quarter cup of Borax. Your plates and cutlery will come out sparkling. And that’s not all, you can also use it to clean and disinfect the inside of the dishwasher in order to prevent the appearance bad odors and bacteria.
Cleaning the bathroom with borax
The bathroom is one of the spaces that needs to be cleaned more frequently at home. Sometimes it can be exhausting just thinking about the amount of different products that exist to clean it.
What if we told you that you can use borax as a powdered cleanser to clean your bathroom surfaces? You just have to sprinkle it on the damp sponge or cloth that you are going to use, rub as usual and rinse.
Borax for cleaning carpets and mattresses
This product is very practical when cleaning carpets and mattresses. It also works for sofa upholstery but, in this case, we recommend using it first in a small area to check that the product is not harmful to this material.
To remove stains and forget about bad odors, we recommend making a mixture of Borax with baking soda. If you do it this way you will also eliminate the mites that live in these areas.
Mix two cups of Borax with one of baking soda and sprinkle on top of your rugs and mattresses. Let it act for an hour and then vacuum constantly. All set!
It is suitable to carry out this cleaning during summer and winter seasons, when mattresses are usually turned over. You will keep them free of mites and in better conditions for longer.
Borax to eliminate bad odors
As you already know, you can use Borax to eliminate bad odors, not only from textiles but in many home spaces. It is usually used to clean the refrigerator, freezer and garbage cans, as well as those areas affected by the smell of urine from pets in the house.
Whenever you clean these places, mix a liter of warm water with a couple of Borax tablespoons and use it as a cleaner.
Borax to scrub the floor and leave it sparkling
If you want to get the most shine out of your floor and leave it shiny when scrubbing, we recommend making a mixture with detergent, ammonia – vinegar or lemon (whatever you prefer), and a third of a cup of Borax. Then, pour into a bucket with warm water.
Your floor will look impeccable without having to buy several specific products for cleaning with this mixture, in addition to neutralizing odors,
Borax as a multipurpose cleanser
After seeing the many uses of Borax when cleaning the home and if you have decided to use it, you should know that you can even make your own multipurpose cleaner! You just have to mix two teaspoons of this product with two cups of warm water to dissolve it, pour into a spray bottle, and it is ready to apply!
We hope that our post about this great product to clean your home has helped you. Did you know that Borax you could use it to clean so many things? It is a perfect ally when cleaning and should always be at home!
