Yes, your whites are going to be extra white, fresh and soft. This is because the water in borax converts water into hydrogen peroxide, a natural whitening agent. No more will your white clothing have that horrible grey tone to them, and no more will you have to rely on bleach to whiten your clothes.
In your washing machine, borax helps absorb dirt. In your kitchen and bathroom, it's great for cleaning rust, grout, and even mold and mildew. Borax helps laundry smell better and is also extremely effective at fighting pet urine odor because it combats the ammonia.
While the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies borax as being noncarcinogenic, it does pose some risks, including: skin, eye, and respiratory irritation. digestive problems. infertility.
Unlike bleach, borax is safe to use on colored fabrics without fear of dye removal or other damage. This general rule applies whether borax is used as a laundry booster in the washing machine, as part of a pre-soak solution, as a spot treatment for stains or as an ingredient in homemade laundry detergent.
Sodium Borate (Borax)
A naturally occurring mineral, borax helps remove stains, and it deodorizes and brightens clothes. Borax ($6, Target) also breaks down the minerals in the water, so the detergent can work better.
To whiten dingy washable items, add one-half cup of borax for every gallon of water.
Pour ½ cup of borax powder to every gallon you used. Stir to agitate the borax and dissolve it. Soak your clothes for 30 minutes. Transfer clothes to your washing machine and wash them like normal.
Oxiclean powder is essentially washing soda with sodium percarbonate, which turns into hydrogen peroxide. It's color safe and works great to get rid of stains and keeps whites white and colors bright. It's also much safer / less toxic than Borax. Borax works well too, helps get rid of stains, and whitens clothes.
Add your clothes to the bucket, making sure that they are submerged in the water. You want the whole garment to be wet with the Borax and water mixture. Leave the laundry items to soak for about 30 minutes in the solution. For tougher stains, soak for 45 minutes to an hour.
Kill Boxelder Beetles and Other Pests
Ants aren't the only thing borax will kill. In fact, many companies make borax insecticides designed to get rid of household pests. Sprinkle borax powder along the edges of your sidewalk, foundation, and driveway to get rid of boxelder beetles and cockroaches.
Instead of sprinkling borax in the bottom of your trash can, try baking soda or used (or fresh) coffee grinds, which all work wonders. You can also use baking soda and water to clean your trash can. Throw in some vinegar for extra odor-fighting action.
Borax: Helps to clean and deodorize. Use on wallpaper, painted walls and floors. Use it with your detergent to remove stains and boost cleaning power. Vinegar: Helps remove stains, wax build-up and mildew.
Borax is a basic compound, so that means that when it is added to water the pH level of the water would move from a neutral 7 to a slightly more basic 8. The combination of water and Borax allows detergent to work even better as it is easier for it to clean with a more basic water pH.
Vinegar and Borax Are Safe to Use In HE Washers.
Baking soda won't strip your laundry as well as borax or washing soda (more on that shortly), but it's also gentler on fabrics, and you're more likely to have it on hand!
Borax helps remove stains, is a color-safe bleach alternative, and deodorizer. To whiten whites, add a 1/2 cup Borax to your laundry directly in with the clothes – not in the detergent dispenser on a front loader.
Borax. Although you shouldn't use it on delicate fabrics, borax is an effective product that can help remove sweat stains. All you need is one tablespoon of this powder mixed with a little water to turn it into a paste.
This naturally occurring mineral is a powerful stain remover, disinfectant and deodorizer, and it's safe for all surfaces as well as septic systems. Borax works well on tougher stains, including mineral residue from hard water. It's also handy for regular cleaning of the toilet bowl and exterior toilet surfaces.
Borax can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea if you ingest it by itself, and large amounts can lead to shock and kidney failure. It's banned in U.S. food products. It also can irritate your skin and eyes, and it can hurt your nose, throat, and lungs if you breathe it in.
As long as the products are stored in properly sealed original containers, the storage life (shelf life) is theoretically indefinite since borates will not break down or decompose.
Baking Soda
One of the best ways to whiten and freshen your fabrics is with baking soda. It's especially useful for spot-cleaning those yellow armpit. For stains, make a paste of 4 tablespoons baking soda with enough water to make a paste.
Remove Old Stains
Add borax to a bucket of water and soak the stained item for at least 30 minutes before turning on the washing machine. Borax has a pH level of 9.5, so it naturally breaks down stains and buildup without damaging fabric.