Borax Uses Around the Home

Today's parents may be familiar with borax as an ingredient that's often used in the making of DIY slime for their child's creative entertainment, but borax has been around and used as a popular cleaning product for far longer. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines borax as "a white crystalline compound that consists of a hydrated sodium borate...that occurs as a mineral or is prepared from other minerals, and that is used especially as a flux, cleansing agent and water softener, as a preservative, and as a fireproofing agent." This boron compound is also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate and disodium tetraborate. While it is related to boric acid, it is a natural mineral that is either mined or collected from natural evaporated deposit areas and is a salt of boric acid. It was first discovered in Tibetan dry lake beds and became a trade product of Asia in the 8th century. By the late 19th century, it was commonly used and the popular brand of borax, 20 Mule Team Borax, was named for the mules used to haul it from California and Nevada deserts. It's sold by numerous large retailers as a multi-purpose cleaner that can help remove tough stains, deodorize and freshen your laundry. Adding a half-cup of borax to the washing machine with dirty clothes can boost the cleaning power of laundry detergent. It can also be used as a pre-soak to remove stains and odors or can be combined with baking soda, soap flakes and washing soda in homemade laundry detergent. Additionally, borax is marketed for use as a cleanser on countertops and appliances to remove grease, as well as for washing dishes. Borax is said to remove soap scum, hard water deposits, and dirt from bathroom sinks, tubs and toilets. Sprinkle a half-cup in the bottom of the dishwasher before running to get sparkling-clean dishes or mix a cup of borax with a quarter-cup lemon juice or distilled white vinegar to make a paste for scrubbing stains on counters or sinks. Pour a cup into the toilet bowl and let sit overnight before scrubbing for a fresh bowl. Add a quarter-cup to warm water in a spray bottle and spray the solution onto mildew in the shower. Let sit 15 minutes and scrub to remove. Let sit on clean areas without scrubbing to prevent future mildew growth. Three tablespoons of borax added to a garbage disposal to sit for 15 minutes can freshen a smelly sink drain. After sitting, turn on the disposal and flush with hot water for one minute. Or to unclog a kitchen drain, pour a half-cup of borax and two cups of boiling water into the drain and let sit for 15 to 30 minutes before flushing with warm water. In addition to its cleansing properties, other household uses for borax include flower preservation and craft projects, such as the previously mentioned slime. Borax can be found in enamel glazes and as a product for making ceramics and pottery. Borax is also an effective means of pest control and is commonly used to kill insects, especially roaches, and to prevent moth infestations. It will also repel ants and kill bedbugs. It is a flame retardant and is sometimes an ingredient in teeth whiteners used by dentists. While inhalation of large amounts of borax dust can be attributed to respiratory irritation, it is considered a relatively safe product in the U.S. because it would take very large amounts of ingested borax to cause negative health effects on people. For this reason, the small amounts used in making children's slime (usually around a teaspoon) are considered a safe level of skin exposure. In other countries, however, exposure to borax and boric acid is considered more of a potential health risk because of its prevalence in many products and the risks from ingestion. Although findings are controversial, overexposure could possibly increase cancer and fertility risks. To alleviate any concerns, wear rubber gloves when handling borax powder for cleaning and wash skin if it comes in direct contact with borax to avoid irritation. As with all cleaning products, it should be kept out of reach of young children and pets to prevent ingestion. While housecleaning is rarely an enjoyable task, adding a little borax to the boredom could make the process a whole lot more productive and satisfying.