30 Reasons Every Home Should Have a Box of Borax on Hand

Borax, also known as sodium borate, is a mineral salt of boric acid. Commonly used in powder form, borax has a variety of uses. While it’s most common use is as a laundry detergent booster, borax can also work as an antifungal cleaning agent and is a common component of many cosmetics and paint products.

Only recently have I fully begun to appreciate the true versatility of borax in the home as a cleaner, deodorizer, and even a base for some fun things for the kids to play with! Following are 30 household uses for borax. Read through them and I’m sure like me, you’ll wonder how you ever got along without keeping a box handy.

Toilet Cleaner:

For a sparkling clean toilet, just pour a cup of borax into the water, stir it thoroughly, and let it sit overnight. In the morning, scrub it with a brush and flush away stains.

Window Wash:

For exceptionally dirty windows, try soaking a wash cloth in a mixture of 2 tablespoons of borax and 3 cups of water then wipe your windows. Repeat with a mix of water and vinegar before drying.

Floor Cleaner:

Mix 1/4 cup of borax and 1/2 cup of vinegar in a bucket, then fill with hot water and add a squirt of dish soap. The resulting solution is a great cleaner for mopping your floors.

Tub & Shower Cleanser:

Simply sprinkle borax on a damp sponge or cloth and use it to scrub tubs and showers. When you’re done, rinse away soap scum, hard water, and rust stains.

Sanitize Brushes and Combs:

Just fill your bathroom sink with warm water, add 1/4 cup of borax and a squirt of dish soap, then stir it up with your brushes and combs. Let them soak in the mixture for 30 minutes then rinse clean.

Sink and Counter Cleaner: In a spray bottle, mix 1 tablespoon of borax and 2 tablespoons of vinegar with a few drops of dish soap then fill with hot water. This makes a great all-purpose cleaner.

Fridge Cleaner:

On the outside of the fridge, use the all-purpose cleaner mentioned above, but to clean food spills and messes inside the fridge, just mix one tablespoon of borax with a quart of warm water.

Mold and Mildew Eliminator:

Mix a cup of borax with a quart of hot water and pour into a spray bottle. Spray the mixture on mold and mildew until the spots are thoroughly soaked, then just rinse away after a few hours.

Homemade Dish Soap:

Mix a tablespoon of borax and a tablespoon of soap powder and add 2 cups of boiling water. Whisk the mixture until well blended and let stand until cool.

Cast Iron Cleaner:

Using soap on cast iron cookware can taint the flavor of food. A better solution is a teaspoon each of borax and salt. Spread on cookware and scrub it clean!

Rust Remover:

Mix equal parts of borax and lemon juice, then simply spread the mixture onto the rust. After 30 minutes, just wipe your metal clean! Repeat as needed.

Gum Remover:

By mixing 1/2 cup of borax with 1/4 cup of water, you will have a solution that is effective at scrubbing away sticky substances like gum, tar, grease, and tape residue.

Laundry Stain Remover:

Mix a tablespoon of borax with 2 tablespoons of water, and spread it on the stain. After 30 minutes, scrub away the stain and wash laundry as usual.

Carpet Stain Remover:

Just mix 1/2 cup of borax with 2 cups of warm water, and sponge the stain until it is saturated. Scrub thoroughly, then let sit for 30 minutes before vacuuming the area clean.