Mighty 20 Mule Team Borax
In my quest for earth-friendly and inexpensive cleaning supplies I have found another favorite product… 20 Mule Team Borax.
I might be tempted to like it just for it’s name. It really sounds like it “pulls it’s weight” in the cleaning department. It’s not new-fangled… my grandmother used it and loved it (and probably her mother too.)
Did I mention it is a naturally occurring mineral composed of sodium, boron, oxygen and water? Very cool. And it won’t hurt the environment. Here are a few ways I have used it:
- Cleaning toilets– Just sprinkle 1/4 cup into the bowl and let it sit for 30 minutes or overnight (I can’t leave it overnight, someone always gets up to go the bathroom!) Scrub with a toilet brush. It does a great job getting rid of stains and making the toilet smell fresh.
- Getting rid of ants: My mom had an invasion of ants this Spring. An exterminator wanted $60 to come get rid of them. She “Made it Do” by using Borax instead– No chemicals and no waste of money! Mix equal parts of Borax and jam. Cut an index card into 4 pieces. Place a small amount of the Borax/jam solution on the index cards and place cards everywhere you are seeing the ants. It took just a few days and the ants were totally GONE. My Mom felt like superwoman… then she went out and spent that $60 she saved on fabric! (Just a note if you have pets… Borax can be toxic if ingested, so don’t leave those little cards around where your pet might eat them.)
- Cleaning my tile floors– It worked awesome for cleaning my bathroom tile floors. Mix together one to two gallons of warm water with 1/3rd cup borax, a teaspoon of liquid dish soap. For serious grout cleaning: Combine 1/2-cup baking soda, 1/4-cup borax and hot water to form a thin paste. Pour over the tile, scrub and rinse. If it leaves a residue on the grout after rinsing, dip a clean cloth in white vinegar and wipe the tile down again. It even removed a few stains in the grout that had been there for a while.
- As a laundry booster– I have used it in loads of stinky laundry (ie. my husbands workout clothes) and it worked great at removing odors. I just added 1/2 cup in with my regular detergent.
- Deodorizing mattresses– I sprinkled Borax on the kid’s mattresses and rubbed it with a damp towel. I let it dry and vacuumed it up.
- Cleaning the garbage can– I poured about 1/4 cup of borax into the garbage can and then used a sponge dipped in warm water and scrubbed. It cleaned nicely and really removed odors. Once the can is dry, you can leave a little Borax at the bottom to absorb odors.
- Cleaning floor boards- I sprinkled a little Borax on a soft damp cloth and wiped the floor boards down.
These are just a few of the many uses of Borax. I feel like I have just scratched the surface of what it can do. Have you ever been excited to clean? I am right now. Is that Spring Fever talking or what… I just need about 5 more hours in the day to do it!
I’ve never used this but I have heard about it’s many uses. Similar to baking soda, I guess.
I’ve been trying to go more “natural” with my cleaning supplies also. I have found Green Works spray cleaner… love it! It’s made from lemon and coconut so it smells wonderful and works just as good as chemical cleaners.
I also try to use baking soda as much as i can for day to day cleaning.
I haven’t used the Green Works cleaners yet… but I think I will pick some up next time I go to the store. Thanks for the recommendation! -Calli
Awesome! I bought a box of Borax a while ago, knowing it was a good thing, but haven’t used it much other than laundry. I’m so excited. Esp if those yearly ants show up! Thanks, Calli.
The reason I have Borax in my cupboard is to make “Gak” a really fun science project you can play with. e have made it every New Years Eve for years.
If you’re ever feeling super-thrifty & have a big chunk of free time, you can use Borax to make your own laundry detergent. I’ve never done it, but I have the recipe & am dying to at least try it once!
I used this to make the laundry detergent. & I soooo love it. Very cost effective & it really does work. If you want smell good then add essential oils.
I make the laundry detergent with 1 bar of Fels Naptha soap (finely grated), 1 cup of Borax and 1 cup of Washing soda. All were found at my local grocery store. I only put 2 tbsp into each load and the clothes come out clean. I pretreat any stains and add fabric softener so the clothes smell great. It is even safe for HE machines.
Isn’t it funny how the old tried and true ways are best. We have to come full circle sometimes. My mom used Borax and I use it from time to time. My one daughter loves it and swears by it. She can get any stain out of anything. She has lots of tricks. I read an article today that said lard is back! I know that sounds icky but they are now saying it is better than the “unnatural”oils out there and people should start using lard again. Funny how things change and then come back.
great ant killer
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Got fleas? Sprinkle it on the carpet, work it in with a broom, let it set for a while, and vaccuum! Worked like a charm for us!