Add 1/2 cup of borax to each load to boost the cleaning power of your detergent. The dry powder should be added directly to the washer drum in a front or top-loading washer before adding the dirty laundry.
If you have run out of laundry detergent you can use borax, or you can use borax and baking soda. Borax is a detergent booster and works best when added to laundry detergent, but in a pinch of can be used alone.
To create a simple and effective laundry solution, dissolve a teaspoon of borax in a quart of warm water and use it as a pre-soak for heavily soiled clothes. The borax helps to break down tough stains and dirt, leaving your clothes looking and smelling fresh.
Also, start running borax with your laundry. It'll not only get your laundry cleaner, it will inhibit mold and mildew buildup and keep the machine cleaner. It has potent fungicidal activity.
I would put some towels and a cup of borax in the machine, then run a hot water heavy wash load. Borax is a great deodorizer for laundry - it may help.
Add 1/2 cup of borax to each load to boost the cleaning power of your detergent. The dry powder should be added directly to the washer drum in a front or top-loading washer before adding the dirty laundry.
In the battle of borax vs. washing soda, the winner depends on your specific needs. Borax is an excellent all-around laundry booster with odor control and whitening properties, while washing soda is the go-to choice for tackling tough stains and grease.
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.
Borax is a powerful stain remover, capable of tackling even the toughest stains. Whether you're dealing with wine, blood, or grease, a borax paste can make a big difference. Mix borax with water to create a thick paste, then apply it directly to the stain.
(But don't ever mix it with vinegar. That combination is potentially toxic and corrosive.)
For a bathtub, add ¼ cup borax, ¼ cup washing soda and ½ cup laundry detergent. Stir until all three ingredients dissolve completely. Submerge your "clean" towels or sheets in the mixture and soak until the water has cooled, which usually takes at least four hours.
Start a normal cycle. Let the washing machine run for one minute to combine the vinegar and Borax. When you mix borax and vinegar, they create a solution that helps remove any mold or mildew that may be developing. Borax is also a natural deodorizer.
Your best bet is to give your socks a soak in a warm sink filled with a liberal sprinkling of baking soda for several hours. Then, after wringing them dry, wash them in your machine by adding 150-200 ml of baking soda to the detergent drawer, along with your normal powder or liquid.
Though borax and washing soda are chemically quite similar, they each have their own specialties. Because of the shape of their molecules, they have slightly different properties that make them useful in a number of different ways.
Baking Soda + Lemon Juice
Many people know that baking soda and lemon juice are the go-to combinations for many cookies, cocktails, and cakes. However, these two powerful ingredients are also the greenest replacement for laundry detergents.
Add ½ cup of Borax for every gallon of water and allow to completely dissolve in the water. Add ½ cup of washing soda for every gallon of water. Add ¾ cup of laundry detergent for every gallon of water. Add your laundry to the tub or sink.
Firstly, consider incorporating borax into your regular wash cycle. Add half a cup of borax to your laundry load immediately. Combining it with your detergent can create a potent cleaning duo, effectively removing those stubborn stains. A more profound treatment might be necessary for tough, ground-in dirt and stains.
Treat powdered borax the same way as dry baking soda. Sprinkle 1/2 cup borax into the empty washer tub before adding the dirty laundry. Be sure there are no lumps in the borax powder if you are using cold water because they may not dissolve properly. Borax works as a water softener and deodorizer.
Borax is a basic compound, while vinegar is acidic. When you mix an acid and a base, they partially neutralize each other, resulting in a solution with a more neutral pH. This mixture won't be toxic or release harmful fumes, but it also won't have the enhanced cleaning power of each ingredient on its own.
For a front-load washer, put 2 tablespoons of borax or oxygen bleach and 2 tablespoons of washing soda in the tub of the washing machine. For a top-loading machine, put 1/2 cup of each of the powders into the wash tub. Run at the hottest temperature or use the “clean tub” setting on the washer.
Kill pests and weeds – Sprinkle borax wherever ants or roaches are coming into your home to eliminate them. Sprinkle borax on weeds, but make sure that you don't get it on your flowers or grass.
Both baking soda and Borax are effective because they are alkaline and abrasive. But Borax has a higher PH than baking soda, making it a slightly harsher but arguably more effective cleaning agent. It inhibits fungi, mold, and bacteria. Have a pile of clothing from your kid's sports that has taken on a stink?
Sodium sesquicarbonate, marketed as "borax substitute," is a non-toxic mineral compound with a pH similar to borax, making it ideal for cleaning and laundry. It is more potent than baking soda. You can find it sold online as sodium sesquicarbonate or alkali washing soda in the United States.
By adding vinegar to your laundry, you can remove tough stains, eliminate odors, and even soften your clothes. It's a safe and effective way to boost the cleaning power of your detergent while also being eco-friendly. So go ahead and add some vinegar to your next load of laundry for cleaner, fresher-smelling clothes.
Is OxiClean the same as washing soda? No, OxiClean is a brand name for a range of cleaning products that contain various ingredients, including sodium carbonate. Washing soda itself is pure sodium carbonate and does not contain any additional additives.