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10 Ways to Help Clean your Home Using Borax

August 8, 2017

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BoostWithBorax #CollectiveBias

Top 10 Ways to clean your home with Borax - Within the Grove

It’s time to talk about the not so pretty side of maintaining your home: cleaning. Although most of us don’t like to do it, the results when you’re done leave a feeling like no other. But the truth is, sometimes it takes forever. I remember having all the time in the world to clean my home. Did I want it to take long? Absolutely not. But my point is, I had unlimited time to clean until little Oliver came along. We now find ourselves cleaning a lot during nap times and at night which gives us limited time. I needed to find a solution that would allow me to clean my home, make the transition to all natural products, and to be able to clean quickly. Don’t worry I’m spilling all my secrets today with you. 

Top 10 Ways to Clean with Borax

One of my go to cleaning products is 20 Mule Team® Borax. This product has endless possibilities when used in your home due to it being all natural and a multi-purpose household cleaner. You’ve probably heard about Borax being used in the laundry room, which we will talk about, but I’m excited to show you other ways it’s beneficial for most of your cleaning needs. I promise my top 10 are quick, especially when they all involve the same thing: Borax. There are plenty of images you can pin to save for later and even a free printable to add to your cleaning bucket as a quick resource guide.  

My Top 10 Ways to Use Borax

1. Laundry Softener

Laundry softener using Borax - Within the GroveSometimes laundry needs an extra boost to help soften the water, remove any left over soap residue, to neutralize odors, and to enhance detergent performance. Yes, Borax can do all this! Just add 1 cup of Borax to your wash load.

Using Borax with your Laundry - Within the Grove

2. Sink Cleaner

Clean your sink with Borax - Within the Grove

Combine 1 cup of Borax and 1/4 cup of lemon juice to create a paste. Use a sponge to scrub out the stains and tough spots. Rinse well with warm water. Now it’s even easier to go to bed with a clean sink.

Ways to use Borax in Your Home - www.withinthegrove.com

3. Window Cleaner

Cleaning windows with Borax - Within the Grove

Use the cleaning powers of Borax to help clean your windows. In one spray bottle, mix 2 tablespoons of Borax and 3 cups of water. Clean your windows using a cloth with this solution. Repeat with another spray bottle with equal parts water and vinegar. Hello clear windows!

Cleaning with Borax - Within the Grove

4. Patio Furniture Cleaner

Using Borax to clean patio furniture - Within the Grove

We can’t forget the patio furniture that quickly gets dirty if we don’t pay it any attention. You’ll need a gallon of hot water with 1 tablespoon of Borax and 1 tablespoon dish detergent mixed in. Soak a sponge in the solution and wipe down your patio furniture. 

Cleaning your Patio Furniture with Borax - Within the Grove

5. Floor Cleaner

Clean Your Floor with Borax - Within the Grove

Did you know that Borax can also help clean floors? Surprise! No more streaks and harsh chemicals being wiped all over your floor. Mix 1/4 cup Borax, 1/2 cup vinegar, and 1 squirt of dish detergent into a bucket full of hot water. 

Cleaning with Borax - Within the Grove

6. All Purpose Cleaner

All Purpose cleaner using Borax - Within the Grove

We all need an all purpose cleaner to help clean counter tops, spills, sinks, and anything else that might need a quick clean. Mix 2 tablespoons of Borax with hot water in a spray bottle. You now have an instant all purpose cleaner.

Cleaning with Borax - Within the Grove

7. Cast Iron Cleaner

Cast Iron Cleaner using Borax - Within the Grove

We have a few cast iron skillets we use daily. The trick with these is that you can’t use dish soap or you’re going to leave the taste of soap behind. Yuck! Instead, help clean your cast iron by mixing 1 teaspoon of Borax with 1 teaspoon of salt. Spread on your cookware and scrub with a sponge. 

Cleaning the kitchen using Borax - Within the Grove

8. Deodorize Your Trash Can

Deodorize Your Trash Can with Borax - Within the Grove

My least favorite thing to clean is the trash can but it has to be done. Borax helps clean it tremendously while keeping it smelling fresh. This one can be a little messy so take it outside. Fill your trash can with water and 1/2 cup of Borax. Give it a good stir and let it soak for 30 minutes. Rinse the trash can out, let it dry, then sprinkle Borax inside.

Cleaning with Borax - Within the Grove

9. Deodorize Your Fridge

Deodorize Your Fridge with Borax - Within the Grove

Borax also helps clean and deodorize your fridge. This can be done weekly, monthly, or however often you’d like. Mix 1 tablespoon of Borax with 1 quart of warm water. Using a damp cloth that was dipped in the Borax solution, wipe your shelves clean. Rinse any remnant residue using a cloth and cold water.

Cleaning with Borax - Within the Grove

10. Soap Scum Eraser

Get rid of soap scum with Borax - Within the Grove

You can find soap scum and hard water marks on just about every faucet. Erase the scum marks with the help of Borax. Pour 1 tablespoon of Borax on a damp sponge and scrub. Rinse with water when done. 

Cleaning with Borax in the Kitchen - Within in the Grove

These were a lot of ways to use Borax, so here’s a cheat sheet that you can print to leave on your fridge, in your cleaning bucket, or pin for future reference. Click the image below to download your copy. 

Top 10 Ways to Use Borax Guide

Now, it’s time to grab yourself a box of Borax. You can purchase the product on Amazon or if you’re out and about, you can find Borax at your local Target on the laundry aisle with “additives”. Here’s a photo to help you out because I know we don’t have time wander around the store.

Borax in Target

What’s your new (or old) favorite way to help clean with Borax? Hopefully I showed you a few new ways to use this all natural product within your home for a quick clean. It has seriously come to my rescue on more than one occasion. Need more inspiration? Check out how others have used Borax and even more uses by visiting Borax. Still not sure? Discover even more about Borax by watching this video. 

Ways to Use Borax

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Filed Under: Free Printable, Home of the Rishels, Home Project

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Comments

  1. Danielle says

    August 27, 2017 at 7:12 pm

    I have been wondering for awhile now what the trurh is about how safe Borax is. I know it has been used for years in cleaning applications. When references are made to using it as a laundry detergent or fabric softener Im curious as to how that can be. I thought the box said no contact with your skin. Just looking for some clarification. Thanks

    Reply
    • ElizabethRishel says

      September 1, 2017 at 11:24 pm

      Hi Danielle! Great concerns! I personally can’t answer how safe it truly is besides what I shared in the post. I know there are several websites and blog posts that review this particular concern. When using borax to clean, it’s recommended that you wear gloves so that it doesn’t come into contact with your skin. As far as adding it to laundry detergent, I would assume it’s dissolved in the water and rinsed clean. It would probably be best to get in touch with Borax to see!

      Reply
  2. Stephanie says

    August 13, 2017 at 11:51 pm

    So many awesome cleaning solutions! Can’t wait to try these out!

    Reply
    • ElizabethRishel says

      August 14, 2017 at 12:22 am

      So glad you stopped by and checked them out! Let me know what you think!

      Reply
  3. Carrie @ourpotluckfamily says

    August 9, 2017 at 7:49 am

    Wow, thank you SO much for sharing all of these cleaning ideas! The photos are super helpful, too. Your house looks awesome now! #client

    Reply
    • ElizabethRishel says

      August 14, 2017 at 12:23 am

      Thank you so much! Hopefully you’ll be able to use a few of them too!

      Reply

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