I LOVE BORAX

By Mary Pereira

Hello Beloved...I find Old Fashioned products used back in the day as being so romantic and so simplistic. How did we get so far away from the basics? Borax has become one of my favorite cleaning solutions. Borax is a powerful deodorizer, Bleach alternative for brightening and for disinfecting. I LOVE BORAX!!

THE BASICS

So let's start with the basics. Borax is composed of tiny crystals, that come in a variety of colors. Mostly Borax comes in white but also in yellow, green and brown. The Scientific names for Borax is Sodium Borate,  Disodium Tetraborate and Sodium Tetraborate. The Basic name for Borax is Borate Salts. Borax is a Boron compound, a mineral and a salt of Boric Acid. It is an all natural safe product to use BUT it can not be consumed. You heard it here, Folks....DON'T EAT BORAX Lol

Vintage Commercials

Death Valley and The 20 Mule Team

Death Valley is known for having volcanic eruptions, supposedly millions of years ago. However long ago it was, there was also flash flooding that covered the land.  Rains washed the volcanic eruptions into the lakes creating layers on the bottom floor. The ash deposits from the volcano contained Boron, which I mentioned previously. Boron is in the Borate Crystals which are one for four colors....QUICK QUIZ? Without looking...what were those colors?? Anyway...The lakes evaporated and created the salty mixture of Death Valley's Borate Crystals.

The 20 Mule Team Wagons were the largest pulled by animals. They carried 10 short ton boxes of Borax Ore at a time. The Wagon beds made of solid oak, were 16ft. long and 6ft. deep. When they were empty, they weighed 7,800 pounds. Loaded with Ore, they actually weighed 73,200 pounds equal to 36.6 short tons. I find that facinating. During the 6 years of hauling Borax out of Death Valley, the 20 Mule Team hauled more than 20 million pounds (9,000 metric tons). Trains took over shipping in 1896. Just a brief History for you. I wouldn't want to kill you with boredom. Truly is romantic, at least to me it is...I love American History.

What Good Is It?

Besides being excellent in your laundry, Borax has a number of fantastic uses around your home. What's that? You're not sure what it does for your laundry? It is so good, that I will never do another load of my laundry without it. My clothes and family are so happy to hear it. A half a cup of Borax added to your regular laundry detergent gives a boost that blasts all the nasty sweat and body gunk. Borax deodorizes rank smells caught in the fibers because it sanitizes everything. Borax has anti-septic, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. That's not all Sweetheart...Borax brightens your whites, your colors, removes stains, softens the water and in turn, softens your clothes!

Borax is excellent on metals, so get ready to make your pots and pans shine. Borax also has the ability to remove rust when combined with lemon juice. When you clean your refrigerator use the all-purpose cleaner recipe below for maximum odor removal and disinfecting.  Borax is the best cleaner for your toilet because it removes odors, germs and stains. I LOVE BORAX!!

All - Purpose Cleaner

Mix together the following: 

1 tablespoon Borax
3 tablespoons white distilled vinegar
1/2 tablespoon washing soda
2 cups hot water
1 tablespoon castille soap

put this into a spray bottle, shake it up and go!

Dishwasher Detergent

Mix together and store in a dry, air tight container:

2 cups Borax
2 cups washing soda

*Ladies, this is better than anything you can buy & much cheaper

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

mix together to make a thick paste:

1/2 cup Borax
1 to 2 tablespoons castille soap

Scrub with a toilet bowl brush

Pot and Pan Cleaner

1 teaspoon Borax
1/2 cup warm water

use a scrubbing sponge and gloves...don't forget a little elbow grease always helps

Floor and Wall Cleaner

1/3 cup Borax
1 tablespoon castille soap
1 gallon very hot water

make sure the borax completely dissolves and wear gloves. This is excellent for not stripping paint from walls. But I would always test a small area, just in case someone used water soluble paint. You never know!

Mold Remover

1/4 cup Borax
2 cups hot water

*for really stubborn mold, use a higher concentration of Borax until you get the results you're looking for or make a paste, let it dry then come back and vacuum or brush away the excess.

Borax is helpful to remove rust stains from the toilet by combining Borax with lemon juice to make a paste. Smear the paste onto the rust stain and leave it over night. In the morning scrub the stain right off and flush. This tip is also very good for getting rid of that nasty ring around the tub, but you won't have to let it sit overnight, just scrub.

To clean china, even hand painted china, fill a dish pan or sink with warm water and add half a cup of Borax, swish it around. Soak your china for a least an hour, then rinse really well. Your china will look marvelous for the upcoming Holidays.

Clean your comb or brush by filling your bathroom sink with hot water, a quarter cup of Borax and one tablespoon of castille soap. Soak it until it's clean. 

Garbage disposals need to be deodorized often, so put three tablespoons of Borax into the disposal and leave it there for a half an hour. Then run very hot water and turn it on for freshness.

Dishwashers need periodic cleanings as well. Place a quarter cup of Borax at the bottom of the dishwasher (be sure to remove any food or trash at the strainer on the bottom) and run the dishwasher on an empty cycle. This will remove detergent residue and hard water stains.

If you have pets, no matter how well trained, sometimes they have accidents. To remove pet urine out of carpets, dampen the spot with warm water. Be sure not to saturate your carpet too much. Rub in a half a cup of Borax or more if need be. Allow this to completely dry, then vacuum. This can also be used for sour milk stains or any foul odorous stain in your carpet. 

Do you remember that commercial...Ancient Chinese Secret, huh??? It was for Calgon water softener but Borax is soooo much better. Borax works as hard as the 20 Mule Team used to do to transport the stuff. Borax to me is a wonderful solution to Bleach and a secret I think everyone should know about. I Love Borax!!! Fare thee well my friends and please stop by again next time. 

Remember, Cleanliness is next to Godliness.