35 Surprising and Amazing Uses for Borax

35 Surprising and Amazing Uses for Borax Introduction 

35 Surprising and Amazing Uses for Borax. Did you know that Borax had so many uses around your home? I’ve always used it to make my own laundry soap, but that was where it stopped. I was even surprised when I started researching it to learn that it has so many more uses than I realized. 

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What is Borax? Borax is known as sodium borate and is a naturally occurring mineral found in soil, plants, and even your body. Borax is a powdery white substance, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate. It is a combination of boron, sodium, and oxygen. 

As a prepper, I am a big fan of multi-use products. Because it cuts down on the number of things I’m trying to stockpile, while increasing the value of the items I do have on hand. That is what inspired me to research and create this list of 35 Surprising and Amazing Uses for Borax.

Are you ready to learn about the 35 Surprising and Amazing Uses for Borax? Come on in and let me tell you about it! 

35 Surprising and Amazing Uses for Borax 

Clean Bathtub and Shower 

Sprinkle some Borax on a sponge or damp cloth, just like you would a powdered cleaner like Ajax, and scrub the bathtub and shower. When you’re done, thoroughly rinse every surface with water. 

Clean Hairbrush and Combs 

Fill the sink with warm water, add ¼ cup of Borax and a squirt of dish soap. I use Dawn in my house for everything. 

Let them sit in the mixture for 30 minutes, and then thoroughly rinse. 

Clean Toilets 

To clean your toilet with Borax, simply pour 1 cup of Borax into the water, stir it up, and let it sit overnight. 

The next day, scrub it with a toilet brush, and your toilet will be sparkly clean and fresh. 

Unclog Toilets 

Scoop as much water as you can out of the toilet, then add ½ cup of Borax. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes, but I always let it go closer to 30 minutes. 

Add 2 cups of hot water and flush. Repeat if necessary. Note that the original suggestion I read said to use boiling water, but that may crack the seals on your toilet, and that will create an even bigger problem. Hot water out of the tap should be plenty hot. 

Unclog Drains 

Use a funnel to pour ½ a cup of Borax down the drain. Then slowly add 2 cups of boiling water. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes, then flush it out with hot water. 

Repeat if necessary for really tough clogs. If this doesn’t work the first time, let the Borax and water sit for longer. I always let things like this sit longer than the directions or advice tell me, because that gives the Borax and water more time to eat through the clog and remove it. 

Sometimes patience with clogs is the answer. 

Clean Sinks and Counters 

Put 1 tablespoon of Borax and 2 tablespoons of vinegar into a spray bottle, then add hot water, and a few drops of dish soap. 

This makes a great all-purpose cleaner that costs you pennies to make yourself! This is at the top of my favorites from these 35 Surprising and Amazing Uses for Borax.

Clean the Refrigerator 

The all-purpose cleaner from above works wonders on the outside of the refrigerator. 

For food spills on the inside, all you need is 1 tablespoon of Borax and a quart of warm water. 

Clean Mold and Mildew 

Mix 1 cup of Borax with 1 quart of hot water and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray the mold and mildew until it is completely saturated. Then let it sit for a couple of hours, I like to just kind of forget about it for part of the day. Then rinse thoroughly. 

Wash DIshes 

Mix 1 tablespoon of Borax with 1 tablespoon of finely grated soap, then add 2 cups of boiling water and whisk it until it is completely blended together. 

Let it sit until it cools completely, and you have homemade dish soap! 

Clean Cast Iron Cookware 

You never want to use soap on cast iron because the taste of it can get into your food and nobody wants that. 

Instead, mix 1 teaspoon of Borax with 1 teaspoon of salt, spread it on your cast iron pan and scrub it. 

Remove Rust 

Mix 1 part Borax with 1 part lemon juice, spread the mixture onto the rust and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. 

Finally, just wipe it clean. Repeat if necessary to remove all of the rust. 

Clean Floors 

Mix ¼ cup of Borax with ½ cup of vinegar into a bucket and then fill it with hot water. Add in a squirt of dish soap. 

Use this solution to mop your floors. 

Get Rid of Goo 

Mix ½ cup Borax and ¼ cup of water to make a solution that can be used to scrub away things like gum, tar, grease, and other sticky residues. 

Remove Laundry Stains 

Mix 1 tablespoon of Borax with 2 tablespoons of water, and spread it on the stain. Let it sit for 30 minutes, then scrub away and wash as usual. 

Remove Carpet Stains 

Mix ½ a cup Borax with 2 cups of warm water, then use the solution and a sponge to saturate the stained area. Scrub it thoroughly and then let it sit for 30 minutes. 

Once it has had time to sit, vacuum the area and let it dry completely. 

Deodorize Carpets 

Mix 1 part Borax with 1 part baking soda and then sprinkle on the carpet. Let it sit for 30 minutes, and then vacuum it up. This will neutralize odors in the carpet. 

This is also in my top favorites from these 35 Surprising and Amazing Uses for Borax. I much prefer this method to buying overly scented commercial products. Those strong scents trigger migraines for me, and don’t actually remove nasty smells. They just mask them with overwhelming fake scents. This method works so well for me. 

Deodorize Fabrics 

Mix ½ a cup of Borax with a pint of water and pour it into a spray bottle. The solution can be sprayed on any fabric surface like curtains, couches, padded chairs, or anywhere else you would use something like Febreeze. 

This is a much cheaper alternative, and if you’re like me and can’t handle strong fake chemical smells, this is a pretty amazing alternative to make at home. 

Clean the Mattress 

You can remove stains and deodorize your mattress with the same methods that are used for carpets. 

To make your mattress smell even better and help you sleep at night, add in a few drops of lavender essential oil. 

Deodorize Trash Cans 

Fill your trash can with water and add in ½ a cup of Borax, then stir it. Let it soak for 30 minutes, rinse it, and let it dry. Then sprinkle a little more Borax inside the trash can. 

Deodorize the Litter Box 

Mix in ¼ cup of Borax into your cat’s litter box and it will significantly reduce unpleasant odors. As long as your cat doesn’t ingest it, it is safe. 

Out of everything I’ve researched and read when creating this list of 35 Surprising and Amazing Uses for Borax, this is the really questionable one.

If you have tried this and it works, please let me know! This is one use that I really question, because I’m not sure my cat wouldn’t end up ingesting it when he licks his feet after a trip to the litter box. I would love to hear your experiences. 

Make Candle Wicks

Mix 1 tablespoon of salt and 3 tablespoons of Borax into 1 cup of boiling water. Soak a length of twine in the solution for 24 hours, then hang it up to dry for 48 hours. You now have a candle wick. 

I haven’t tried this one yet, but if you have, please let me know how it works for you! I would love to hear your opinions about it. It is on my list to try very soon.

Put Out Fires 

Baking soda is normally recommended for grease fires, but Borax will work just as well. 

You can also use it to put out a campfire or any other type of small fire. 

Kill Ants 

Mix equal parts of Borax and sugar together, and sprinkle anywhere you see ants. Not only will the ants die when they eat it, they will also carry it back to their colony to share with the other ants. 

Borax and sugar are the same size granules, and ants can’t tell the difference, so they eat both. 

You should note that if you have pets, to keep this away from them. Pets should not be consuming Borax, nor should it be anywhere that is easily accessible to them. 

Keep Bugs Away 

For cockroaches, sprinkle Borax on the shelves around your food. 

For bedbugs and fleas, sprinkle it on the mattress and carpet and let it sit for at least 30 minutes and then vacuum it up. 

Keep Mice Away 

Sprinkle Borax along pathways and anywhere you see signs of mice. This will help to deter them. You can also sprinkle bait with Borax. Hopefully they will bring it back to the nest and share it with other mice. 

Wash Windows 

For extremely dirty windows, soak a washcloth in a mixture of 2 tablespoons of Borax and 3 cups of water, and use that to wipe your windows. 

Repeat this with equal parts water and vinegar before drying. 

Wash Patio Furniture 

Add 1 tablespoon of Borax with 1 tablespoon dish soap and 1 gallon of hot water. Mix it up, then soak a sponge in the solution and wipe down your patio furniture. 

Kill Weeds 

Sprinkle it on weeks that show up in the cracks and walkways. 

For weeds in the garden, you need to be much more careful, because you can accidentally kill other plants that you want to keep. But it is perfect for walkways, cracks in cement, and places like that. 

Don’t use it on windy days or when there is rain in the forecast. 

Fertilize Plants 

Large amounts of Borax will kill plants, as we discussed just a paragraph ago. But tiny amounts can increase the boron level in the soil. What is boron? A mineral essential for cell wall growth. 

Only do this if your soil is boron deficient. 

Preserve Flowers 

I’ve never tried this myself, nor did I know this was even part of flower drying until I started research for this post. So I have no opinion on it. But the concept has me curious about it. 

If you’re looking for detailed instructions, definitely do your research on this. If you’ve tried it, please comment and let me know more information about it. 

Entertain Kids

Borax can be used to make green slime, snowflakes, bouncy balls, and similar things. 

In the event of an emergency like a power outage, the internet craps out on you, or your kids just need some time away from screens, these projects could be a lot of fun to try together. In an emergency or disaster, morale and distractions can be everything.

It could also be a great memory you make with the kids during a time when they need that. 

Make Trees Healthy 

One lesser-known fact about Borax is that it can be used to make trees healthier. This is an especially important fact for preppers and homesteaders who grow fruit trees or any tree for the purpose of food. 

Take 1 cup of Borax and pour it around the base of the tree. This will provide higher boron levels to the tree, making it healthier and more productive. 

Stop Regrowth of Tree Stumps 

You can use Borax to stop growth from tree stumps. If you’ve ever cut down a pine tree, you will be familiar with the fact that little shoots and growths start to extend out of the stump. 

It is a critical issue, by any stretch of the imagination. But if you want an aesthetically pleasing look to your tree stumps, or even to maintain a flat surface, 

Simply sprinkle Borax over the stump, and repeat the process periodically over a couple of weeks. This should stop any shoots and growths from spreading. 

Clean Stringed Instruments 

Do you have a guitar, violin, or any other stringed instruments? If you do, you can use Borax to keep them in good condition and extend their overall lifespan. These instruments are an investment, so why not keep them in great condition? 

Just make sure that you allow the strings to dry completely before you play them again. 

Remove Fleas and Ticks 

Mix water and Borax in a spray bottle. Spray it directly over your pet’s bedding or wherever they sleep, and it will have the same effect as a chemical flea killer does. 

 Allow their bedding to dry, or otherwise vacuum it up, and the chances of your pet catching any fleas will be greatly reduced. 

35 Surprising and Amazing Uses for Borax Notes 

35 Surprising and Amazing Uses for Borax. As you can see, Borax is an amazing multipurpose household ingredient that all preppers should have stocked up. It is perfect because it is an inexpensive and readily-available item. Those are my favorite types of products to add to my preps, and you should be doing so as well. 

I love products like this because it is more efficient than having multiple products. Storage space is a hot commodity in my house, so products that can go a long way are huge. Prepping is all about skills and efficiency, and being able to use what you have on hand. That is what inspired these 35 Surprising and Amazing Uses for Borax.

Using one product for multiple uses also saves money. I feel like I am a great wife and homemaker when I can save some extra money by learning how to use products like this in a variety of ways. 

35 Surprising and Amazing Uses for Borax Discussion 

Have these 35 Surprising and Amazing Uses for Borax helped you? If you have any other suggestions, please let me know your thoughts in the comments! I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions. 

What are your favorite household products that are multipurpose? Let me know your favorites and what works the best in your home!

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