I dated a girl who one day asked me what I used when washing clothes. I told her I add a little laundry detergent and 1/4 cup of borax. She told me that my clothes feel soft and smell fresh then asked more about borax and where I came up with the idea of using in my laundry. Fast forward 22 years after marriage with that same girl and borax still goes in our every wash. Thanks mom!
Sweet story!! My mom was sensitive to strong artificial fragrances, borax was one of her go-tos! I use it in my wash as well - love Melissa's tip on dissolving some and adding it as a liquid!
I spent $100's on chemicals to get rid of fleas in a house I moved into, which didn't work, and I was probably exposing myself something to toxic. I removed the pets for a few days, sprinkled borax on the carpet overnight, vacuumed and cleaned everything. Never had problems with fleas again. The pets didn't get sick as this was many years ago and they all lived a healthy happy life.
I have 3 dogs who love to spend time in the yard. Oklahoma got very hot, very early this year and I am bathing my guys more than usual. I'm going to use your idea for fleas on the carpet for additional protection.
Borax, a foundational old fashioned product. Advertized for extra dirtyy laundry. Add ammonia to use to clean dirty oily cement. My great grandmother used it instead of bleach because is doesnt destroy the environment like bleach. Does not destroy the natural bacterial in a septic tank. Works great on grout etc. If you want to recycle washing machine water most plants tolerate borax and castille soap well.
Note I used to have a restoration business and was trained and bonded for mold removal. Also I am a chemist who graduated in 1982 from Virginia Tech. Mixing vinegar & Baking soda neutralizes the acid of the vinegar (Acetic Acid becomes Sodium Acetate, Sodium Bicarbonate becomes CO2 gas -- yes the complete reaction is a bit more complex). It is the acidity that kills the mold, so mixing them would be silly. Mold is killed by acids and strong bases, Also oxidizers kill mold. BLEACH, like hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizer (basic perchlorate ions for the win) and will kill mold organisms and destroy spores -- as do most oxidizers. However bleach does not soak into porous materials such as drywall well, it mainly kills the surface mold, leaving the imbedded mold, which is why it is no longer recommended for restoration work. Bleach is excellent for tiled areas though. Also, the acids (of which vinegar/acetic acid is the safest) are generally much more effective. Mixing distilled vinegar (acetic acid 5% acidity) and hydrogen peroxide is much more effective, but is damaging to skin and eyes. If you use the mix, make it up fresh and use immediately. Borax, is a basic oxidizer, but generally works best in hot water, whereas vinegar works fine in cold water.
I enjoyed reading your comment. It is fascinating. I appreciate you sharing the tip about mixing vinegar and peroxide and using it immediately, it’s very helpful. Thank you for taking the time to share.
I'm so glad you mentioned vinegar and baking soda neutralize each other. I have known this for years, but people are fascinated with the bubbling result and think it is eating the dirt. Nobody would believe me, so I stopped even trying to tell them.
I have never heard of Borax until I watched one of your videos. Last week, I added Borax for the first time to my laundry. OMG! The clothes came out visibly brighter, insanely softer, smelling fresher, and less wrinkled. Same washing machine, same cycle, same detergent, just added the Borax. Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge with us. A big fan from Toronto 🇨🇦
Old school gal here, back in the day it was called 20 mule team borax and was a sponsor for Wagon Train. Yes, used it many times in laundry but never knew to dissolve it in hot water since everything is washed in cold water these days. We also used to use Dutch Blueing for brighter whiter close, I never understood how adding something dark blue to whites makes them whiter. 😊
Blue counteracts yellow as they're opposite on the color wheel. Since white clothes tend to get more yellow over time bluing lightly stains the fabric and opposes the yellows. The dark blue dissipates in the water and turns into a very light blue solution :) Think about it with lighting, regular incandescent bulbs vs Bright white LED, LED lights look whiter because they have a blue tone instead of yellow.
Borax, a few drops of dish soap, and water are my go-tos when it’s time to clean the dirt and mold from my patio cushions and outdoor rugs. That solution with a scrub brush and the jet setting on my hose do a bang-up job to freshen my outdoor space for spring and summer.
@@ruthstagnitta274 I use the same solution for my outdoor cushions and rugs. I just follow the 20 Mule suggestion of a half cup per gallon of water. Just make sure the water is piping hot to properly dissolve the borax for best results.
I think its amazing how no one ever thinks of using hydrogen peroxide for anything. It whitens whites, brightens colors, oxygenates the body, so much better than chlorine in a swimming pool, and has lots of other things going for it that you just would not believe.
I'm 74 and Borax was used by my mother for years in her laundry, and I have used Borax for at least 56 years as a laundry booster. It is an old time product, but it is as useful today as it was decades ago.
This is a great and useful video, and it's very well done... No loud yelling. No crazy music. Simple and useful instructions that are easily followed by anyone. Well done!.
You give us good, sound advice, I appreciate that. Also, you are fun to listen to because you are so realistic about what life hands us. My favorite thing you said was that you could spend time scrubbing that cookie sheet but your quality of life would not be enhanced by doing that. We have all spent too much of our lives cleaning things that are not really important. If I had a "do over" with my kids being young again, the one thing I would definitely change would be to spend less time cleaning and more time sitting on the floor with them playing a game or reading a book to them! 😊 ❤
Absolutely! I do the same, but I also add about 1/4c of vinegar as well! Makes those whites so much brighter than bleach does, & it also removes any mildew/body odor, in addition to making them a lot softer! For collar & armpit stains, I make a paste of borax & a little vinegar, scrub the effected area with paste, leave it for about 15min, then throw in the washer! 😊
@@scottpegggoldenberg9736 I’ve been doing this for 15yrs & I’ve NEVER had a problem, including spotting or fading of material! I might would not wash my best silk Dior dress with it, but if I could afford one of those, I’d take it to a dry cleaner! 🤣 If the odor is VERY strong, I’ll start washing the items for about 5 min to get the cleaning products (tide w oxi, vinegar, & borax) soaked in the material well, then I stop the wash & let it sit 30min (but I’ve forgotten it many times & left it overnight with no problems) then re-start the wash. I had 3 kids (2 boys & a girl), with lots of grease, blood, grass stains, makeup, not to mention sweaty soccer clothes left in a bag in their car for a week, & this method never failed me YET! Good Luck!😊
I’ve used Borax for 7 years since we got a new porcelain bathtub. I just sprinkle it on the wet surface and use a non scratching sponge. Great for soap scum and it rinses so well, doesn’t suds up much and so I use less water for rinsing away the product. Love the shiny results! Thanks Melissa.
Love your video! I’m in need of cleaning inspiration (actually motivation too) and I’ve been a Borax fan in laundry for years. We recently replaced foyer and front hall with tile, but instead of going with a smooth finished tile went with a coarser finished porcelain like one would use for slip prevention in the shower. It’s very safe, but a magnet for all the fine sand since we live in snow country, So I filled a spray bottle with rather warm water and a half cup borax and shook it into solution. I used an orbiter first with a brush to clean all the micro-crevices, then with a soft fleece bonnet to wipe up and finished it up with a straight steam clean. I was showing off my floors for weeks. They were GORGEOUS, no odor, thoroughly clean. I now use borax spray for showers and tubs as well as bathroom floors with a few dots of Dawn dish soap. No challenge at all for sensitive airways and so freshly sanitized. Borax it is! May try a bit of lemon juice in the spray for a fresh scent, but frankly clean with no scent is awesome too.
I've used borax and washing soda (with a little bit of glycerin soap shaved in) as my laundry detergent for many years. I've worked construction almost all my life and I've never been disappointed about having clean clothes. It works and it's pennies on the dollar compared to those goofy, over-hyped bottles of smelly bubbles. Oh, and I've never worn gloves using it. Of course, my hands are kind of rough (like 80 grit sandpaper) despite lotion. Cement and a lot of other materials on jobs jobsites, are much more caustic than most household chemicals. I guess if I had nails like yours, gloves probably would be necessary. Interesting video. Thanks for sharing.
I'm a nurse, and after years of spending $$ on laundry detergents, boosters and sanitisers I discovered borax and never looked back. Not only does it clean really well but it's also a water softener (therefore fabric softener). I just use those laundry wafers and borax on my uniforms (I add in bicarb soda + vinegar when doing whites)
We moved due to a mold problem. We were advised to throw everything away that was fabric or paper and sanitize everything else. I read about Borax as a mold killer. So I used a cup of laundry detergent and a cup of Borax and a cup of vinegar and hot water on my clothes, and dried them as hot a safe or dried them in the sun if I couldn't use a hot dryer. You need hot water to get the vinegar and Borax to do its best on mold. I even used this method on my dry clean only formal wear, but I washed them in the bath tub and dried them inside out on a hanger on a screened porch (nothing like bird droppings on a freshly laundered formal). It has been four months and no mold has appeared.
Borax is my favorite!!! I use to unclog drains even the worst clogs works better than any expensive drain cleaner, I use as insecticide, I use in laundry, I put in toilet tank water over night and toilet bowl, cleans mold mildew fungi from anywhere, gets stains out of carpets grout showers clothes keeps bugs out of outdoor garbage bins. I soak pillows and bedding in it before washing to make sure they clean all the way through. And when one of my bathrooms was leaking water EVERYWHERE and roommate never said anything just closed the door. I sprayed with borax 3 times a week for 2 months and all mold was gone. Deeply embedded mold in all the wood and I was able to get rid of all of it. Ceiling to floor. Clean my grouts add to mopping water and use outside to prevent mildew mold and insects. Use in my carpet cleaning machine and used in foot soak for Gramps raging athletes foot.
I am a 79-year-old woman who has used borax all of my life. My grandmother (Who was born during the reign of Victoria) always cleaned the garbage cans with it. These were the days before the convenience of “plastic”. Those cans were really gross, but after my grandmother cleaned with borax, it was amazing. BTW I still use borax in my garbage cans every time I change The plastic lining. For cleaning tubs and sinks it can’t be beat. Of course borax is no longer advertised. So, most people don’t know about non-toxic cleaning.
I find when I fill a container, I have to hold my breath bc if you breathe it in, you can irritate the nose and throat. I start coughing and I feel like I can’t clear my nose and throat.
I don't ever remember using it for cleaning, but I've dried flowers with it. Using a plastic tub, add a layer of Borax, flowers spread out in a single layer, cover with more Borax, and let it sit for about 2 weeks covered where kids and animals can't get in it. Dust the Borax back carefully with a soft brush. Reusable many times over.
@@TheSouthIsHot Not a whole lot, but they don't droop from gravity with the borax method. Flatter flowers will have a more realistic look. You just have to be a little careful with some because petals could fall off something like a spider mum. Broad petaled ones or leaves work best. Good question!
We use Borax in our Detox soak. 1 cup each of 20 Mule Team Borax, Pink Himalaya Salt, Epsom Salt, and Bob's Red Hill Baking Soda. (A & H is not real baking soda...great for cleaning tho.) The soak really raises our energy levels and makes us feel healthier. At 70 and 65, we also soak only in Epsom Salt after a hard day of yard work, detailing the cars, etc. We spring right back .
A & H is REAL baking soda. However, they also sell washing soda in a similar box and I think this confuses many people. The baking soda is in the baking aisle and the washing soda is in the cleaning aisle, usually near the Borax.
I do use borax. If you left the borax overnight on the baking sheet or even cookware everything will lift off just beautifully without a scrub. That’s been my experience.
When I worked at pizza hut, they wanted the pans seasoned like that and we were told to not spend too much time scrubbing or using soap. At home I find food does not stick to the seasoned pan. I do use borax for cleaning the toilet, bathtub, and kitchen sink. It works great 👍
I have been using Borax for years. I’m 73. I think it helps freshen your laundry. I was impressed how it was cleaning up your cookie sheet, but I’m with you, if my cookie sheet is cooking just fine, I’ll spend my time cleaning more important things. Thanks for sharing.❤
Love Borax. I use it for cleaning, stain removal, and deodorizing. I also live in an area where outdoor bugs like to make a home in window seals so I use it in my window seals as a form of insect control.
I used a solution 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1/2 cup Borax, 1 cup water to scrub a white stone ring around a tree on our patio that was continually covered in mold. That was two years ago. Hasn’t grown back yet. Finally success!
If your skin is sensitive I would highly recommend to make sure the Borax is completely dissolved . (I use hot water and mix it in a cup before I add it into my wash with the detergent . Doesn’t need that much of the Borax . I use to put it in the wash with Luke warm water , it didn’t dissolve and I found my skin completely irritated / burning even after rinses. After I got my skin to normal I started mixing Borax /hot water completely and no skin irritation( but I don’t use much ). Took me a while to figure this all out and misery . We had a new water heater and the water was not set that hot , so this is how I figured it all out it was the Borax . Just wasn’t dissolving . So Please Dissolve it good first . …..it does make the clothes cleaner /softer
@@carom7960 depending on the size of the of your load honestly you really don’t need that much. , you can do a tablespoon and mix it in 1-2 cups water , whatever amt you want to mix it with, it just needs to be dissolved and then just add it in your water washing ……. If your clothes are not the dirty you don’t even need it . I actually switched now to using 5 % white vinegar Heinz At the riense cycle. My skin is so sensitive that i do a few extra rinses after. I don’t even use much of that . Even soap .. HE soap you should never see suds , that means you are using to much . I also use Seventh Generation Detergent unscented . I only use Borax now if I really need it .
You are the coolest cleaning lady on the internet :-) if you wanted or needed another confirmation. That’s a sweet yellow pineapple 🍍 btw! $6 Walmart Nonstick 17" x 11" Cookie Sheet Baking Pan… after using a few times and exceeding smoke-point temperatures of cooking oils, that etched good is near impossible to remove. Leaves me puzzled as well. Maybe it’s the pfoa smoke that’s in the air… hah
I have not used Borax, but Im going to try it. I am with you on the baking pans. I have my Moms. They are very old. I remember my Mom using them when I was a little girl! It makes me happy to use them. I dont care how they look!! 😊
I use Borax for my laundry when there is a particularly bad stain. I loved when you said your cookie sheet has "Patina", lol! Every cooky/baking pan I have ever owned, ended up looking just like yours, no matter how many brillo pads I went thru and it has never affected my food. I predominately used an enamelware baking pan now, which is the easiest one to clean. If there is baked-on cheese say and I don't want to gum up my scrub sponge, I pour hot water into the pan and let it sit while I do the rest of the dishes. By then whatever was stuck on it comes right off with no scrubbing.
Apparently it’s really good for cooking. There’s another video on yt somewhere about how to clean and why you shouldn’t clean them. The lady said cooks and bakeries would actually buy baking pans like these already burnt bc they bake more better/evenly than new or cleaner pans.
@deedrole5296 Wow, that sounds sexy, lol. I honestly feel awkward about my baking sheets having those stains, but now I have a reason not to get new ones. I guess I'm just a hardcore cook sometimes 😁
I am so impressed with people like you who are cleaning experts. I love a clean space but I don't actually like to clean. I do it because I have to but since I have a ton of other things to do I'm not cleaning as often as I would like so when I do it feels overwhelming. How often to do you clean? Is it a daily thing? Do you have a schedule? How do I make it routine. The kitchen is the only space I routinely clean because I do that as I go, while making dinner & afterwards but when I'm in other rooms I'm doing other things & some rooms I'm not in all the time.
I can't claim to be an expert or speak for Melissa, but I like a clean home and, like you, would rather be doing 2973982 other things! It does require cleaning every day, but rather than exhaustive, gross-sweaty elbow-grease cleaning, it becomes a light maintenance job. The important thing is to find your "standard" and get every room in your home up to that point; marathon it in one day, or spread it throughout the week, whatever works best. For best results, get in deep. Organise the closet, under the bed; kitchen cabinets, pantry, fridge, etc. Then it's a matter of maintaining that standard throughout the week, sticking to a set routine. Big Number One: make your bed, every day. If you have a partner who sleeps in later, tidying up your half is sufficient. It sets the mood for your day and gets you in the mindset of completing tasks! If I don't make my bed in the morning, I don't feel like doing *anything* other than sit on the couch. Big Number Two: Find and maintain your "most important zone", or the thing that bothers you the most when it's dirty. You mentioned cleaning the kitchen regularly, which is good! A clean kitchen is the centrepiece of a clean home! I like to have tea every morning, and so like Melissa I'll take the time to put dishes away, wipe down the counters, tidy up etc while the kettle boils; and since it's a modest galley-type kitchen I typically do the floor every morning as well. All that takes about 15 minutes. Wipe down kitchen appliances after every meal (don't forget the top of the fridge / microwave / vent hood), even if they don't necessarily look dirty, just to prevent greasy build-up. Same goes for the bathroom; rinse out the shower or bath when you're done. Clean the toilet every day or so. Wipe off the counter and put things away after getting ready / brushing teeth / shaving etc. That way it takes just 5 minutes and one quick swipe. Try to do a load of laundry every other day or so, depending on how many people are in your family. You don't have to necessarily fold / hang + put away every single day, but if you're like me, letting any of them pile up will probably make you want to avoid them. c': (Though with that being said, I hope your family is helping out with their share!) Make up a list of all the cleaning tasks in your home and divvy them up throughout the week either by room or by task, depending on how large or small your home is. I.e. maybe a day for the bedroom, or a day for dusting all the surfaces and furniture, or a day for mopping all the floors. Just be sure to space the tasks out evenly, or in a way that works best with your Life schedule (such as slotting fewer tasks on work days), and be sure to take at least one day off every week; i.e. every Sunday the most cleaning I'll do is the kitchen, just to keep it from getting out of hand. To make it routine, you'll have to establish a schedule and stick with it. If you decide every Wednesday shall be window day, then clean them every Wednesday, even if they don't look dirty. It'll take less time the more often you do it, not only because of your own muscle memory but also because they don't get a chance to get super dirty; and you get to enjoy sparkling windows all the time! TL;DR make a schedule, stick with it, do scheduled tasks every day even if they don't look like they 'need' to be done. It takes 21 days to form a habit, so in less than a month it will become like second nature to clean as you go throughout your day. Sorry for the wall of text, sometimes it's difficult for me to articulate thoughts succinctly lol. Best of luck! :D
@@vaellyth Thank for sharing! My childhood home was not well maintained in this area. Cleaning was always stressful marathons or sprints for when company would come over. I'm learning organization as an adult.
My house is super organized but I hate to dust. Rarely do. No kids or pets. Bathroom sink gets wiped after every use; learned that from my mom. Whole bathroom cleaned once a week. Kitchen is cleaned each day; counters, stove, microwave, sink. Always looks tidy. But I don’t dust. Only rarely. And hate to vacuum. Do that more often cause I hate dirty looking floors.
Borax As a laundry additive… As humans our sweat is acidic and fatty. We all are, and we all do it. As we sweat we emit these “fatty acids”. You see them as ring around the collar and cuffs of dress shirts. Borax is a base and neutralizes the acid we emit, so does baking soda. Mixing borax with your whites will then make them whiter by allowing the detergent to work more affective. Another good thing to remove ring around the collar is dish soap as it is a degreaser. Put it directly on collars and cuffs and anywhere clothing gets dirty from rubbing against your skin. Let it sit for a few minutes and it will lift the fatty acids from clothing. If you dry the clothing in the dryer, the heat can set in the stains around collars and cuffs. So be sure to re-wash if it is still dirty before drying in dryer. Once it has gone through the dryer it will be permanent. Spray starch, even if the clothes are no iron, will help prevent stains of all kinds from forming. Spray the front of your white shirt, as well as collar and cuffs.
I have been using borax in with my laundry for years now and not only does is brighten the laundry, it also helps my washing machine from having hard water deposit build up. Result ! I have not had to have my washing machine serviced for years.
Have been using this in my laundry washes for years. Also pour 1/4 cup around the bottom in the dishwasher in addition to my unscented powder dishwasher detergent. It keeps the filter clean even after a year. .
I love Borax! It makes stinky clothes smell so fresh...and I'm talking about my husband's terrible stinky sweat-laden clothes after doing one of his engine repairs or yard work. I also appreciate how it makes a toilet or a sink smell so fresh. It's a great product -- just wear gloves so you don't get it on your hands because your hands will feel like they've been scrubbed by a heavy abrasive.
Well if you don't like the idea of having that the chemical in your house now if you have pets kids yet vinegar does really well for getting rid of odors and it does help to clean a bit but it doesn't eliminates if you got to smoke her in the house spray or grapes and whatever with no it's not some dinner you can delete down a bit and it'll get rid of that second hand smoke smell
Actually, when you ARE doing heavy dirty or greasy work and you don't wear gloves, BORAX is the perfect solution to get your hands clean. I keep a sprinkle bottle by the sink for just such purposes. Some of us don't mind getting our hands dirty! 😉
@@marnaehrech1223 Also note, that people take the mineral boron for health benefits. I sprinkle it in my vegetable garden to strengthen the root systems.
So w th at do you do if you have a bunch of ants. I accidentally opened an ant hill and knelt in it while cleaning my sidewalk to cut away overgrown grass on edge of lawn. We have people that walk dogs and our neighbor has a dog. Would dogs be a attracted to borax? Don't want to harm any pets. But want the little buggers gone. I think salt also works with ants as I saw a lot of ants near a crack and sprinkled salt. There is a lot less activities today. But I also have Borax at home that I bought to get rid of bugs? Wonder if it would work on moths as Billings MT seems to have a moth infestation this year of moths
@@Ke-qv3md I Think it is so great that you worry about other people who walk their dogs and your neighbors dog! If we had more people who thought that way I think it would be a much better world! 💕🐾🐾🐾
@@Ke-qv3md I mix 1:1 with water & carefully pour over ant hill but generously so soaks down into ants underground labyrinth of tunnels. Can kill surrounding grass weeds & plants.
@@Ke-qv3md No - borax doesn't work like a general insect killer, nor are dogs or pets attracted to it. only ants that go for sweet stuff will ingest borax mixed with sugar, and die. AMDRO is a good remedy for most outdoor ants - and the moth problem you'll have to find another way to solve.
@@susieq8924 I just want to point out how refreshing it is to read through these comments and not see someone stirring the pot over every small thing. Your comment simply complementing Ke totally made my day!
My husband mined borax out of the ground in Boron, CA at the U.S. Borax Mine there. Now Rio Tino. It was a good place to work back in the day. It takes some mighty big equipment to get that stuff out of the ground, but it is used in almost everything we use on a daily basis. Pretty amazing.
Yep, been using it for over 30 years. I clean my shower and tub the way you described cleaning your kitchen sink. Better and cheaper than any other method I've ever tried.
Thanks for this! I’ve been looking for an alternative to the bathroom bleach cleaners that are so prevalent in the stores. I can’t stand the heavy bleach smell.
Borax cleans a coffee pot very well. I used Borax and hot water in a stainless steel coffee pot that was about 20 years old and stained brown. I just used a sponge to clean it and it looked like new. My Mother noticed that the coffee no longer tasted bitter. It also worked well on a glass carafe for a coffee maker. That's probably what Nick needed to do on "Barney Miller" to make the coffee taste better.
I have used Borax. During a very lean time my cat brought home fleas and infested our home. I did some research as I could not afford an exterminator. I came across a suggestion to sprinkle Borax all over the carpet (this is before the hard wood floor rage), leave it for 2 weeks and then vacuum. So I did this, what did I have to lose? Although it was a long 2 weeks. Anyway, they said that the Borax takes the moisture out of the carpet so the flea eggs won't hatch. Well it worked!! It was unbelievable!! No fleas what so ever and I had multiple indoor/outdoor cats! Not only did it work, the one time of doing this worked for years!! No fleas, and I live in humid Houston, TX!! I didn't have to do it again for many years! It worked great! I love Borax!!!
How did you keep your pets off the carpet for 2 weeks? We are getting a bad flea infestation. I wonder if it would work on the yard. Fleas are coming from all of the rabbits, I think
@@joanlong4183 Do not use it in your yard, only inside. It is like shards of glass to an insect... that's how it kills them. Insects, salamanders, and other amphibians and toads are wonderful for the environment and birds eat them and feed them to their babies. Also, it says on the box it is not safe for pets, so I'm not sure what she did with her cat?
You can make a completely nontoxic ant (and other insect) killer making a syrup of borax, sugar and water. It wipes them out in days and no toxic, carcinogenic pesticides in your house. My great-grandmother taught me this and it works incredibly well.
Ha! That's what I did today. We've got the ants here in the midwest and they really are sooooo annoying! Borax works outside, until it rains. Since we're in for a stretch of HOT weather, I'll treat the north side of my house and hopefully that will be the end of the ants. I especially hate it when I see them in my bathroom around my cosmetics. Gah!!!!
I remember people using this in the 50 - 60's. Now that I know how to use it properly, I'm going to try it. I'm so sick of detergents that come in large, single use plastics, that I've been looking for better ways to clean without them. Thank you
My mom who was paralyzed (because of this she read Encyclopedia from A-Z) was born in 1908 told me about Borax been using it in my laundry for 74 years now. I love this video I found it extremely helpful.
Thank you for sharing your tips with Borax. I’ve used it to sanitize and boost my laundry. Now, I’m buying more to use for other places as told in your video and in some comments. A new pair of gloves are in my future.
9:38 I think you are explaining why it is a booster for detergent here. Soap works better if water is a little bit alkaline. It suds up better in slightly alkaline water compared to neutral or slightly acidic water.
@@MegDesignsCA Your welcome that came from a boiler engineer explaining one of the benefits of adding caustic to boiler water. It makes the phosphates work better. He said have your ever been out west and taken a shower but the water doesn't suds up very well? I immediately remembered being in Arizona and New Mexico and showers were not great because of slightly acidic water.
@@joeshmo5399 ....I thought it was more because of all the minerals in the water....Arizona has mostly well water with a lot of minerals in it....that is why water filters that remove most of the minerals help with cleaning.
@@joeshmo5399 Not acidic water in NM and AZ - it's hard from minerals and alkaline - but laundry water and shower water are two different things. You put soap in the laundry water, and you rinse the soap off your body with shower water - two entirely different things.
@@MrGarymolaFilters don't remove minerals. You can soften the water, or you can use reverse osmosis. Both come with their own downsides, but you can't filter out minerals.
I'm 70 yrs old. I recall, as a little girl, neighborhood mothers got cloth diapers perfectly fresh using Borax. Besides laundry and keeping bugs at bay, a mixture of Borax and water works great on capets with the use of a small one gallon dry/wet vac for pet vomit. Sprinkle some Borax behind the fridge, stove, washer and drier. I still pull out these appliances to clean those areas.
I've used it on moldy wood as a soak for tge cut ends. Worked great for me. Dried it in the sun, then painted it after3 days woth latex paint with with mold retardent additive. Never had a problem with these shelves again, & live in a high humidity area. 😀
For cleanest laundry ever (tennis shoes too), I also use Borax & add about 1/4c of vinegar as well! Makes whites so much brighter than bleach does! It also removes any mildew/body odor, in addition to making them a lot softer! For collar & armpit stains, I make a paste of borax & a little vinegar, scrub the effected area with the paste, leave it for about 15min, then throw in the washer! No need to use nasty chemicals that take our breath away &/or remove color! I don’t use fabric softener in my wash. These tips have made my life a lot easier, hopefully they will help others too! 😊 THANK YOU for another GREAT video filled with tried & tested wisdom! 🥰
Just used Borax first time this last Sunday. Used for cleaning flip flops. Went on a trip used flip flops in hotel Made a mixture of Dawn antibacterial dish soap , baking soda , and the borax. Left for about an hour in a plastic tub and scrubbed with a brush rinsed clean. And feel like it did the job. 👍🏻. Usually use baking soda for stuff but added the borax in. No bad chemical Reactions happened.
I use it to make laundry detergent. I add 1/2 Borax, 1/2cup washing soda, and 1/2 cup Dawn dishwashing liquid. Add dry ingredients to a pot, add several cups of water and simmer until Borax is dissolved and water is clear. Remove from heat, add more water to cool and then pour into a large 1 gallon size empty orange juice bottle. I use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry. Works great!
I use borax with laundry boosting baking soda and ALL free and clear detergent. I find that my clothes and towels come out softer and smell cleaner which is huge for me in a humid climate. Also, I used to be addicted to bleach and when washing whites all I have to do is add a bit of oxiclean. I do mix the powders in a bowl while my washer is filling with water ( I have a top loader ) and use hot water to dissolve them together and then add them to my laundry water and let that mix before I put the laundry in I also found using a little on a soapy sponge and using it on my stainless steel fridge , removed rust spots .
I’ve never discovered anything better than Borax for getting mustiness out of laundry. You do have to use a lot and Borax is no longer cheap but it can save clothing and/or towels which were left damp for too long.
@@scottpegggoldenberg9736 Absolutely. Before I discovered it I used to have to throw out towels which I found that my kids had wadded up and left in a bag…
Adding straight ammonia to a load of musty laundry works well too. It may smell a little pungent when you first add it, but by the time it's all rinsed out, the towels and other musty things will smell fresh again. And the smell doesn't linger in the air.
I found a floor cleaning recipe years ago that I still use. 1/4 cup borax, 1 tablespoon regular Dawn dishwashing liquid, 1 tablespoon ammonia in a bucket, fill with hot water. in a second bucket I put hot water plus white vinegar for rinsing
It's not toxic in small quantities. It is mined out of the ground, just like salt. It is a wonderful source of Boron 1/8 to 1/4 tsp daily in juice even according to the FDA.
I’ve used Borax in my wash a lot, loved it. Most of these uses are new to me and I’m going to try them! Borax is SO much cheaper and I’m sure better for the environment than anything I can think of to buy. New subscriber here!
For the past three years I have added 1/8 teaspoon of 120 mule borax to a glass of water every morning. I had sever arthritis in my hands for years, and my feet would hurt for an hour every morning. Since starting this treatment I no longer have any pain in my joints. When I first started I did everyday for about a month. The pain was gone after the first week. Now I drink it for a week every couple of months, and I am staying pain free.
@@beverlyannshepard9691 very safe. It will detox your body of all the crap that settles in our joints which cause inflammation which causes our pain. I have been doing it for three years and I am pain free and still alive.
I think both of those have been around for 100 years but baking soda is my choice. Baking soda in the clothes washer and the bathtub softens greatly. Also baking soda with a little water as a face scrub is fantastic!
Yeah, there are people who use borax scrub if they have Demadex mites they say a lot of people have Demadex because it hangs around and make up I don’t know
It's been used as a basic household cleaner for at least three generations. My mother used it, always with gloves on, to scrub her "sanitary sink" or washtub which was made of concrete-over-iron and located in our Baltimore County townhouse basement, next to the washing machine. The water discharge for the washer drained in there and since it gets very hot and humid in Summer, that sink was scrubbed out weekly using Borax, after weekly laundry. We cleaned mostly with baking soda, Borax, white vinegar, and bleach, but rarely used the bleach! If she used bleach it was diluted and during cold, flu season, and in bathroom, especially if someone was sick as disinfectant (5:1 water:bleach spray after cleaning, let air dry)
I use it for wellness too. (It’s a natural source of essential mineral boron which is often deficient in growing soil & the body). It’s used / required by every plant. 1/8-1/4teaspoon amount mixed with glass a water/day Take up to 5 days / week, if you are treating a health condition, or less often to maintain wellness mineral balance. Scientifically Borax is studied/ measured to be less toxic than table salt yet it’s able to remove neurotoxic sodium fluoride, that is added to all conventional toothpaste & some countries drinking water. So it helps to reverse common fluoride damages on the brain. It also helps the body to move hardened calcium deposits from soft tissues like arteries & joints : this is a big help & natural prevention for arthritis type conditions. Sufficient boron also lowers the body’s yeast levels naturally. Thank you for highlighting borax - & the other powerful natural cleaning solutions. I Love your videos & style of giving advice ! ☺️✌️👌
Really???? Never heard of this before. How long have you been using it for wellness? What are the side effects? Where can you get that type of Borax? Sounds very interesting, especially since I have arthritis.
I have done a lot of research and read similar things you mentioned. And yet there is this skepticism to try it out. I know there are many many natural remedies out there that get bad-mouthed by those who profit from people being sick, although these remedies have been used for centuries. I personally use Borax topically for athlete's foot. It works really great for that. Check out the TH-cam channel of "Old Alabama Gardener" in case you're interested! There are so many comments from people who successfully got rid of their athlete's foot with Borax!
Have been using Borax in DIY 4 ingredient laundry detergent for yrs: 1 bx Borax, 4 lb bag Baking Soda, 3.5 lb Oxyclean, 2 bars ZOTE (or 3 bars Fels-Naptha soap, or 4 bars Irish Spring. Grate soap. Mix with everything else. Yield 2 gallons. Use 1-2 T per laundry load. For convenience, I store qt jar of this mixture top of washing machine. Attach a metal tablespoon under the top rim of jar with a rubber band through the spoon handle.
Wow, this youtuber just dissed this DIY in another video. Am puzzled by such strong negative reaction. I've been using this for 10?15? years. It works great. Zero problems. Got recipe from a friend that's been using longer. Her daughter & other friends have been using it as well for a very long time. I also DIY my own 2 ingredient deoderant (50/50 cornstarch/baking soda), that am pretty sure, if reviewed by a commercial deoderant company, they'd poke holes at (why wouldn't they?), but this stuff is fantastic too.
@@H4me7215 The deoderant? I don't remember. I DIY experiment with lot of cleaning/personal care/food. Homemade vinegars, infused oils, ferments, vanillas, medicinal herbs in salves & body butters... Keep what works. Would not mention it to anybody if it didn't work for me. There are many books on these topics & online peeps. I am fortunate to have 2 shaman friends as well. I would encourage peeps to listen & read from multiple sources & try things out yourself to see what is true for you.
20 Mule Team Borax was handed down through both grandmothers and was under the sink as well as on the laundry shelf. Garbage cans were cleaned, dried and a goodly sprinkle left on the bottom under the can liner. Borax also works well for cleaning outdoor machines.
I do use borax. But now will try it on the trash and recycle bins, which I already had plans to scrub this coming weekend. Thanks for all the great cleaning ideas!
I used Borax to get rid of fleas in carpet by sprinkling it over carpet and then use a broom to agitate it in deep. (In the evening) I leave it overnight, not allowing kids or pets on carpet. Then I deep slow vacuum twice in the morning. Helped quite a bit!
I have 4 dogs. Diatamaceous Earth is a miracle. I put a a couple of teaspoons in their large ( 9 cup ) water dishes . But do make sure that you have bathed off any fleas they may have on them first. I DID try using diatamceous earth on my carpets and on the dogs. I do NOT recommend that . My livingroom was a dust cloud and so were they.FYI 3 of my dogs are double coated long hair. I do NOT use and flea collars nor flea drops as those are all toxic
I never thought to use Borax for anything other than laundry booster AND I never thought to disolve it in water before adding the laundry, thanks for this tip especially. I will now use it to clean my sinks and tubs and sweeten the smells of those rooms, (sometimes the drain stinks.)
I call those "brown" baking-cookie sheets "seasoned." And a seasoned pan makes the food taste better. At least, "That's my story and I'm sticking to it." Speaking of "sticking," seasoned pans don't stick as much, either. :) And I probably overdue the Borax-Baking Soda thing. I use about a quarter cup of each in my laundry along with my detergent. Thanks for all your advise. I love your channel. :)
One thing I didn't see mentioned was how invaluable Borax is to swimming pools. I worked at a hotel and it was used to maintain alkalinity balance so when I got my own pool I started using it
I would like to hear more about Borax in swimming pools. Chlorine is expensive beyond belief since the major chlorine factory burned down some years ago in America. Can you give measures and use it as a chlorine substitute?
Borax is alkaline with a ph of about 9.5; it is not a disinfectant and will not disinfect pool water & does not replace chlorine tablets or powder. Borax is often added to a swimming pool to make the water feel more slick and flying insects (like wasps) generally drown in the pool water instead of landing on the water surface and then flying away. Keep using chlorine to kill the microorganisms. 😉
Borax is awesome to sprinkle outside your doors to repel fleas. Sprinkle on carpet, Use with dawn and vinegar to make the best soap scum remover in the shower and bathtub. Been using it for years!!
I add borax with my dishwashing liquid when I’m washing greasy pots and pans. It decreases the re-wash I have to do because of stubborn grease left behind from first washing.
Try using table salt and dishwashing soap. Cover with paper towels or a use a rag and asplash or two of hydrogen peroxid. Let sit. later use the rag to scrub.
I use borax to keep my towels from not smelling after years of use. It works. I add in w the laundry soap & hot water for towels. I’ve used it to kill ants outside. I’ve used it for garbage disposal deodorizer.
I like your ideas and will try them. I can tell by the pan demonstration, the clothes you were when wearing and the fact you’re demonstrating on an already clean spotless house that this is more more show
I use Borax in my laundry when washing really soiled items like grease, mud. Also husband's clothes after working on the car or other machinery. It boosts the detergent & gets rid of the odors. Have used it similar to baking soda to make a paste and clean stains off surfaces.
I have been using borax as a floor cleaner. 1 TBS to a gallon of water. Well, the other day I didn't read my jugs under my sink and I grabbed the borax cleaner thinking it was my plant food water. I didn't realize this until all of them were well watered. OH NO! I thought, I've killed them all! Much to my dismay they not only survived but actually perked up and began to look vibrant again. Who knew? I sure didn't and I will most definitely put this into practice in the future.
I’ve been adding to my laundry tub for the last year. Now I’ll try a few more of your suggestions. I like it in the laundry instead of Clorox no bleach product I used to add to darks and mixed loads.
@@jeanetteh.9240 I've been using it in dark colors loads for years and haven't had a problem. I do use a little less, like 1/4 cup instead of the full cup I use with whites and light colors.
been using it for 50 years never had a problem, always achieved correct results, laundry gets body odors and pet odors out promptly. works great inside cleaning machines, power washers, power cleaning driveways. cleaning mattresses come out perfect like new and sanitary.
I have been using borax in my washer for a few years but you gave me some new uses as well now, also at least once a week I use a paste of dial antibacterial liquid soap and baking soda as a face cleanser. I also mix a thin paste of body wash and baking soda to exfoliate my body, it leaves my skin feeling like silk.
I put Borax in our dishwasher. I never stopped to think about many of these uses though. I always use it in our laundry. It's friendly on septic tanks! I love the idea of putting it on windows for mold removal, which is often an issue here in Southern FL.
@@SuperFlaGal No, but I do that in my washing machine to clean that. I do run the dishwasher full with dishes. I suppose I could run it with just Borax. It would probably work even better at cleaning the dishwasher.
Borax is fantastic for eliminating mold. Had a skylight leak and soaked the wall. Mold developed. Soaked the area really good with saturated borax solution. Mold gone. Never came back.
Borax is also great for getting rid of fleas or any other little pests that take up residence in your carpet. I put it into a Shaker and sprinkle it around the carpets. (Keep pets away from the area being treated) leave it sit for 15 to 20 minutes and then vacuum it all up really well. Borax eats the insects exoskeleton. The following day I will vacuum again just to get up all the dead insects. I have also done this to my fabric couch. I have also read that you can mix Borax, sugar and hot water, once dissolved dip cotton balls in it and leave them in areas where ants are. They will take that back to the colony and it will kill them all. I have not tried the cotton balls yet what I did was took a Ziploc baggie left it open a little bit with a equal mixture of sugar and borax inside and left it under my sink and the ants will go in get what they can carry and take it back to the colony. Just make sure no pets or children are able to get into the cabinet while you have this poisonous chemical there.
Awesome grease cleaner from dollar store will clean that pan. The brand is Awesome! Great on greasy grill ! My Dear BORAX WAS AROUND LONG BEFORE YOU AND TH-cam WERE THOUGHT OF. My grandmother used it all the time and her Toilet was spotless and so was her laundry ! IM 71 I’ve been savvy to it for 71 years ever since I was a baby, I’ve been using it ever since I got married at 21!
Thanks for some very good info! I’m going to try it for the grout, trash cans and to brighten my stainless sink! I’ve used Borax in my laundry for years !
Never used Borax because of the safety concerns with children and animals. Although I may now start using it in the washing machine and toilet. Thanks for showing the different uses of it.
My dog ate Borax twice no adverse effects. Just threw it up it was at least a cup full. I had it sprinkled around the edges of the house inside for bugs, spiders. Its safe, natural and effective
Thank you! I use borax in the laundry when washing pet bedding… great deodorizer! I’m going to try it on my grout. THANK YOU for embracing the cookie sheet! Mine is the same. However…. Occasionally I will put a cup of white vinegar into my electric tea kettle to clean out the hard water scale… I always use the boiling vinegar for some random cleaning task. Perhaps use it for the cookie sheet..? I may try it. You’re the best!!
HUGE E-Book Sale: cleanmyspace.com/shop
I dated a girl who one day asked me what I used when washing clothes. I told her I add a little laundry detergent and 1/4 cup of borax. She told me that my clothes feel soft and smell fresh then asked more about borax and where I came up with the idea of using in my laundry. Fast forward 22 years after marriage with that same girl and borax still goes in our every wash. Thanks mom!
Awwwwww ❤
Chicks dig guys who use Borax? Now I know what I've been doing wrong.....
@@jaypickett3552 For the soft feel, yes. Use Downy Spray as the real pheromone! 😁
Sweet story!!
My mom was sensitive to strong artificial fragrances, borax was one of her go-tos! I use it in my wash as well - love Melissa's tip on dissolving some and adding it as a liquid!
Does it leave white marks on your laundry? It does on mine. 😢
For grout, transfer the paste to a Ziploc bag, cut a small hole at the corner, then pipe it onto the grout lines.
Wow, so smart! What a great suggestion!
That’s such a great idea!
Great idea - thanks!
Love this!!!
Thank you!
Ooh good one!
I spent $100's on chemicals to get rid of fleas in a house I moved into, which didn't work, and I was probably exposing myself something to toxic. I removed the pets for a few days, sprinkled borax on the carpet overnight, vacuumed and cleaned everything. Never had problems with fleas again. The pets didn't get sick as this was many years ago and they all lived a healthy happy life.
Diatomaceous earth food grade also works
Yes we did this in corporate apartments when we did move puts tp make sure they were bug free. Works great 👍
I have 3 dogs who love to spend time in the yard. Oklahoma got very hot, very early this year and I am bathing my guys more than usual. I'm going to use your idea for fleas on the carpet for additional protection.
I did the same thing but with salt! Lol
Borax, a foundational old fashioned product. Advertized for extra dirtyy laundry. Add ammonia to use to clean dirty oily cement. My great grandmother used it instead of bleach because is doesnt destroy the environment like bleach. Does not destroy the natural bacterial in a septic tank. Works great on grout etc. If you want to recycle washing machine water most plants tolerate borax and castille soap well.
Note I used to have a restoration business and was trained and bonded for mold removal. Also I am a chemist who graduated in 1982 from Virginia Tech. Mixing vinegar & Baking soda neutralizes the acid of the vinegar (Acetic Acid becomes Sodium Acetate, Sodium Bicarbonate becomes CO2 gas -- yes the complete reaction is a bit more complex). It is the acidity that kills the mold, so mixing them would be silly. Mold is killed by acids and strong bases, Also oxidizers kill mold. BLEACH, like hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizer (basic perchlorate ions for the win) and will kill mold organisms and destroy spores -- as do most oxidizers. However bleach does not soak into porous materials such as drywall well, it mainly kills the surface mold, leaving the imbedded mold, which is why it is no longer recommended for restoration work. Bleach is excellent for tiled areas though. Also, the acids (of which vinegar/acetic acid is the safest) are generally much more effective. Mixing distilled vinegar (acetic acid 5% acidity) and hydrogen peroxide is much more effective, but is damaging to skin and eyes. If you use the mix, make it up fresh and use immediately. Borax, is a basic oxidizer, but generally works best in hot water, whereas vinegar works fine in cold water.
I enjoyed reading your comment. It is fascinating. I appreciate you sharing the tip about mixing vinegar and peroxide and using it immediately, it’s very helpful. Thank you for taking the time to share.
Interesting!
I'm so glad you mentioned vinegar and baking soda neutralize each other. I have known this for years, but people are fascinated with the bubbling result and think it is eating the dirt. Nobody would believe me, so I stopped even trying to tell them.
Making a paste of baking soda and bleach works the best on grout, especially on tiles in showers and around bathtubs. Mold rarely returns.
bleach will eat up the grout!!!!
I have never heard of Borax until I watched one of your videos.
Last week, I added Borax for the first time to my laundry.
OMG! The clothes came out visibly brighter, insanely softer, smelling fresher, and less wrinkled. Same washing machine, same cycle, same detergent, just added the Borax. Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge with us.
A big fan from Toronto 🇨🇦
Did you use it on bright and dark clothes?
Old school gal here, back in the day it was called 20 mule team borax and was a sponsor for Wagon Train. Yes, used it many times in laundry but never knew to dissolve it in hot water since everything is washed in cold water these days. We also used to use Dutch Blueing for brighter whiter close, I never understood how adding something dark blue to whites makes them whiter. 😊
Blue counteracts yellow as they're opposite on the color wheel. Since white clothes tend to get more yellow over time bluing lightly stains the fabric and opposes the yellows. The dark blue dissipates in the water and turns into a very light blue solution :) Think about it with lighting, regular incandescent bulbs vs Bright white LED, LED lights look whiter because they have a blue tone instead of yellow.
That's how I remember borax. Remember the 20 mule team moving the borax out of the desert? I also loved watching Wagon Train!!
Death Valley Days
That solves the mystery of why mature women had blue hair 😉 now they counteract blond brassiness with purple 🤔
It is still 20 Mule Team in my region (southeast US). I literally have never seen another brand.
Borax, a few drops of dish soap, and water are my go-tos when it’s time to clean the dirt and mold from my patio cushions and outdoor rugs. That solution with a scrub brush and the jet setting on my hose do a bang-up job to freshen my outdoor space for spring and summer.
Oh how amazing!!!! Thank you so much for this idea.
How much borax?
@@ruthstagnitta274 I use the same solution for my outdoor cushions and rugs. I just follow the 20 Mule suggestion of a half cup per gallon of water. Just make sure the water is piping hot to properly dissolve the borax for best results.
I think its amazing how no one ever thinks of using hydrogen peroxide for anything. It whitens whites, brightens colors, oxygenates the body, so much better than chlorine in a swimming pool, and has lots of other things going for it that you just would not believe.
You used way, way too much water on that cookie sheet.
I'm 74 and Borax was used by my mother for years in her laundry, and I have used Borax for at least 56 years as a laundry booster. It is an old time product, but it is as useful today as it was decades ago.
Heck a hundred years ago
This is a great and useful video, and it's very well done... No loud yelling. No crazy music. Simple and useful instructions that are easily followed by anyone. Well done!.
You give us good, sound advice, I appreciate that. Also, you are fun to listen to because you are so realistic about what life hands us. My favorite thing you said was that you could spend time scrubbing that cookie sheet but your quality of life would not be enhanced by doing that. We have all spent too much of our lives cleaning things that are not really important. If I had a "do over" with my kids being young again, the one thing I would definitely change would be to spend less time cleaning and more time sitting on the floor with them playing a game or reading a book to them! 😊 ❤
That was well written, and appreciate the candid side of your reply as well.
Feeling the same. We'll said.
I use borax in my laundry when doing white clothes and towels, sheets, etc. It does a great job of stain removal and brightening.
Do you also use bleach with your white clothes?
@@cutenobi No, I never use bleach on my clothes.
Absolutely! I do the same, but I also add about 1/4c of vinegar as well! Makes those whites so much brighter than bleach does, & it also removes any mildew/body odor, in addition to making them a lot softer! For collar & armpit stains, I make a paste of borax & a little vinegar, scrub the effected area with paste, leave it for about 15min, then throw in the washer! 😊
Does it damage colored clothes? I need to get strong odor of fabric softener out of some clothing. Nothing seems to work!
@@scottpegggoldenberg9736 I’ve been doing this for 15yrs & I’ve NEVER had a problem, including spotting or fading of material! I might would not wash my best silk Dior dress with it, but if I could afford one of those, I’d take it to a dry cleaner! 🤣 If the odor is VERY strong, I’ll start washing the items for about 5 min to get the cleaning products (tide w oxi, vinegar, & borax) soaked in the material well, then I stop the wash & let it sit 30min (but I’ve forgotten it many times & left it overnight with no problems) then re-start the wash. I had 3 kids (2 boys & a girl), with lots of grease, blood, grass stains, makeup, not to mention sweaty soccer clothes left in a bag in their car for a week, & this method never failed me YET! Good Luck!😊
I’ve used Borax for 7 years since we got a new porcelain bathtub. I just sprinkle it on the wet surface and use a non scratching sponge. Great for soap scum and it rinses so well, doesn’t suds up much and so I use less water for rinsing away the product. Love the shiny results! Thanks Melissa.
I used borax for years in my diaper pails-yes, I am THAT old! It made my babies’ diapers fresh and soft.
Love your video! I’m in need of cleaning inspiration (actually motivation too) and I’ve been a Borax fan in laundry for years. We recently replaced foyer and front hall with tile, but instead of going with a smooth finished tile went with a coarser finished porcelain like one would use for slip prevention in the shower. It’s very safe, but a magnet for all the fine sand since we live in snow country, So I filled a spray bottle with rather warm water and a half cup borax and shook it into solution. I used an orbiter first with a brush to clean all the micro-crevices, then with a soft fleece bonnet to wipe up and finished it up with a straight steam clean. I was showing off my floors for weeks. They were GORGEOUS, no odor, thoroughly clean. I now use borax spray for showers and tubs as well as bathroom floors with a few dots of Dawn dish soap. No challenge at all for sensitive airways and so freshly sanitized. Borax it is! May try a bit of lemon juice in the spray for a fresh scent, but frankly clean with no scent is awesome too.
Iam no expert but 1/2 cup of Borax seems like a bit much.
@@guacnroll6661 So use less. As I said, no expert here.
@@56sleepy just saying. Use all you want. Just seems, seems like you could cut it down a bit.
Great tip. Thanks for sharing and in such detail. Much appreciated!
Great comment, thank you. ~ Lisa
I've used borax and washing soda (with a little bit of glycerin soap shaved in) as my laundry detergent for many years. I've worked construction almost all my life and I've never been disappointed about having clean clothes. It works and it's pennies on the dollar compared to those goofy, over-hyped bottles of smelly bubbles. Oh, and I've never worn gloves using it. Of course, my hands are kind of rough (like 80 grit sandpaper) despite lotion. Cement and a lot of other materials on jobs jobsites, are much more caustic than most household chemicals. I guess if I had nails like yours, gloves probably would be necessary.
Interesting video. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing your laundry 'recipe' I like fragrance free as well -
Always use Borax! 👍✨💫🌟⭐️♥️
I'm a nurse, and after years of spending $$ on laundry detergents, boosters and sanitisers I discovered borax and never looked back. Not only does it clean really well but it's also a water softener (therefore fabric softener). I just use those laundry wafers and borax on my uniforms (I add in bicarb soda + vinegar when doing whites)
What is "washing soda"? Would you mind giving the amounts of the ingredients for a load? Thank you!
Borax is great stuff. Just a side note if you drink coffee ☕ take a little coffee grinds and rub in your hands. Natural exfoliate. Softer hands.
I love stuff like this. No more expensive cleaners…different bills for every place in the house…I’ll definitely try these tips!
Thanks for helping young people who never have learned to clean properly
Good idea for young people to learn to use more natural friendlier products, well done. 👍
I guess that makes me 63 years "YOUNG". I never learned a darn thing.
8:20 awesome! Quality of my life....... Knowing when to throw in the cleaning towel/sponge ! Love it.
We moved due to a mold problem. We were advised to throw everything away that was fabric or paper and sanitize everything else. I read about Borax as a mold killer. So I used a cup of laundry detergent and a cup of Borax and a cup of vinegar and hot water on my clothes, and dried them as hot a safe or dried them in the sun if I couldn't use a hot dryer. You need hot water to get the vinegar and Borax to do its best on mold. I even used this method on my dry clean only formal wear, but I washed them in the bath tub and dried them inside out on a hanger on a screened porch (nothing like bird droppings on a freshly laundered formal). It has been four months and no mold has appeared.
Thx❤
Borax is my favorite!!! I use to unclog drains even the worst clogs works better than any expensive drain cleaner, I use as insecticide, I use in laundry, I put in toilet tank water over night and toilet bowl, cleans mold mildew fungi from anywhere, gets stains out of carpets grout showers clothes keeps bugs out of outdoor garbage bins. I soak pillows and bedding in it before washing to make sure they clean all the way through. And when one of my bathrooms was leaking water EVERYWHERE and roommate never said anything just closed the door. I sprayed with borax 3 times a week for 2 months and all mold was gone. Deeply embedded mold in all the wood and I was able to get rid of all of it. Ceiling to floor. Clean my grouts add to mopping water and use outside to prevent mildew mold and insects. Use in my carpet cleaning machine and used in foot soak for Gramps raging athletes foot.
Plus it's only 6 bucks for 4 in pound box. Or buy in bulk for even cheaper
I am a 79-year-old woman who has used borax all of my life. My grandmother (Who was born during the reign of Victoria) always cleaned the garbage cans with it. These were the days before the convenience of “plastic”. Those cans were really gross, but after my grandmother cleaned with borax, it was amazing. BTW I still use borax in my garbage cans every time I change The plastic lining. For cleaning tubs and sinks it can’t be beat. Of course borax is no longer advertised. So, most people don’t know about non-toxic cleaning.
Where to get the stuff borax
I find when I fill a container, I have to hold my breath bc if you breathe it in, you can irritate the nose and throat.
I start coughing and I feel like I can’t clear my nose and throat.
@@ngahuiacarroll8354Walmart has borax
@@ngahuiacarroll8354 find Borax in the laundry aisle at your supermarket
Borax definitely now popular after kids making slime
I don't ever remember using it for cleaning, but I've dried flowers with it. Using a plastic tub, add a layer of Borax, flowers spread out in a single layer, cover with more Borax, and let it sit for about 2 weeks covered where kids and animals can't get in it. Dust the Borax back carefully with a soft brush. Reusable many times over.
Wow, thank you for that tip!
Oh wow, i remember just putting flowers in a book and closing it. Yours is a much better option for sure!
What is the advantage of that rather than simply hanging the flowers upside down?
@@TheSouthIsHot Not a whole lot, but they don't droop from gravity with the borax method. Flatter flowers will have a more realistic look. You just have to be a little careful with some because petals could fall off something like a spider mum. Broad petaled ones or leaves work best. Good question!
We use Borax in our Detox soak. 1 cup each of 20 Mule Team Borax, Pink Himalaya Salt, Epsom Salt, and Bob's Red Hill Baking Soda. (A & H is not real baking soda...great for cleaning tho.) The soak really raises our energy levels and makes us feel healthier. At 70 and 65, we also soak only in Epsom Salt after a hard day of yard work, detailing the cars, etc. We spring right back .
The Epsom salt has magnesium.
"Arm & Hammer is not real baking soda"?! Has my whole life been a lie?
I use 1 cup borax, Epsom salt, baking soda and bentonite clay powder.
A & H is REAL baking soda. However, they also sell washing soda in a similar box and I think this confuses many people. The baking soda is in the baking aisle and the washing soda is in the cleaning aisle, usually near the Borax.
@@LM-rl4nd
THANKS!!!
GOOD INFORMATION 👍🏼
GOOD TO KNOW!!
I do use borax. If you left the borax overnight on the baking sheet or even cookware everything will lift off just beautifully without a scrub. That’s been my experience.
When I worked at pizza hut, they wanted the pans seasoned like that and we were told to not spend too much time scrubbing or using soap. At home I find food does not stick to the seasoned pan. I do use borax for cleaning the toilet, bathtub, and kitchen sink. It works great 👍
Wonder if it would clean burner pans from stove? How long would you leave that on?
I have been using Borax for years. I’m 73. I think it helps freshen your laundry. I was impressed how it was cleaning up your cookie sheet, but I’m with you, if my cookie sheet is cooking just fine, I’ll spend my time cleaning more important things. Thanks for sharing.❤
Love Borax. I use it for cleaning, stain removal, and deodorizing. I also live in an area where outdoor bugs like to make a home in window seals so I use it in my window seals as a form of insect control.
I use it for cockroaches and ants. It dries their bodies out and kills them.
We have a moth infestation this year might try and sprinkle Borax in the rock by my house to see if it helps
I used a solution 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1/2 cup Borax, 1 cup water to scrub a white stone ring around a tree on our patio that was continually covered in mold. That was two years ago. Hasn’t grown back yet. Finally success!
Wow, that's amazing. Am writing the recipe down now for mould.
Awesome!!
Also used on the driveway too, doesn’t kill plants or grass .
Geez that's a real help...thank you
@@zoeclearwater Zoe I'm sure glad you
Thx great hints that I will do. At 58 yrs old I learn something new from a smart young lady !
Watching you five years ago changed my life and your advice is sound. Thanks!
If your skin is sensitive I would highly recommend to make sure the Borax is completely dissolved . (I use hot water and mix it in a cup before I add it into my wash with the detergent . Doesn’t need that much of the Borax . I use to put it in the wash with Luke warm water , it didn’t dissolve and I found my skin completely irritated / burning even after rinses. After I got my skin to normal I started mixing Borax /hot water completely and no skin irritation( but I don’t use much ). Took me a while to figure this all out and misery . We had a new water heater and the water was not set that hot , so this is how I figured it all out it was the Borax . Just wasn’t dissolving . So Please Dissolve it good first . …..it does make the clothes cleaner /softer
How much borax do you add to the water please? Do you do the 1tablespoon to cup of water like in the video? TIA
@@carom7960 depending on the size of the of your load honestly you really don’t need that much. , you can do a tablespoon and mix it in 1-2 cups water , whatever amt you want to mix it with, it just needs to be dissolved and then just add it in your water washing ……. If your clothes are not the dirty you don’t even need it . I actually switched now to using 5 % white vinegar Heinz At the riense cycle. My skin is so sensitive that i do a few extra rinses after. I don’t even use much of that . Even soap .. HE soap you should never see suds , that means you are using to much . I also use Seventh Generation Detergent unscented . I only use Borax now if I really need it .
50 DIY CLEANERS THAT YOU CAN MAKE AT HOME:
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You are the coolest cleaning lady on the internet :-) if you wanted or needed another confirmation. That’s a sweet yellow pineapple 🍍 btw! $6 Walmart Nonstick 17" x 11" Cookie Sheet Baking Pan… after using a few times and exceeding smoke-point temperatures of cooking oils, that etched good is near impossible to remove. Leaves me puzzled as well. Maybe it’s the pfoa smoke that’s in the air… hah
I have not used Borax, but Im going to try it. I am with you on the baking pans. I have my Moms. They are very old. I remember my Mom using them when I was a little girl! It makes me happy to use them. I dont care how they look!! 😊
I use Borax for my laundry when there is a particularly bad stain. I loved when you said your cookie sheet has "Patina", lol! Every cooky/baking pan I have ever owned, ended up looking just like yours, no matter how many brillo pads I went thru and it has never affected my food. I predominately used an enamelware baking pan now, which is the easiest one to clean. If there is baked-on cheese say and I don't want to gum up my scrub sponge, I pour hot water into the pan and let it sit while I do the rest of the dishes. By then whatever was stuck on it comes right off with no scrubbing.
Apparently it’s really good for cooking. There’s another video on yt somewhere about how to clean and why you shouldn’t clean them. The lady said cooks and bakeries would actually buy baking pans like these already burnt bc they bake more better/evenly than new or cleaner pans.
that brown patina is polymerized fats and it enhances the browning of your foods and helps prevent some sticking
I’m
@deedrole5296 Wow, that sounds sexy, lol. I honestly feel awkward about my baking sheets having those stains, but now I have a reason not to get new ones. I guess I'm just a hardcore cook sometimes 😁
I am so impressed with people like you who are cleaning experts. I love a clean space but I don't actually like to clean. I do it because I have to but since I have a ton of other things to do I'm not cleaning as often as I would like so when I do it feels overwhelming. How often to do you clean? Is it a daily thing? Do you have a schedule? How do I make it routine. The kitchen is the only space I routinely clean because I do that as I go, while making dinner & afterwards but when I'm in other rooms I'm doing other things & some rooms I'm not in all the time.
I can't claim to be an expert or speak for Melissa, but I like a clean home and, like you, would rather be doing 2973982 other things!
It does require cleaning every day, but rather than exhaustive, gross-sweaty elbow-grease cleaning, it becomes a light maintenance job.
The important thing is to find your "standard" and get every room in your home up to that point; marathon it in one day, or spread it throughout the week, whatever works best. For best results, get in deep. Organise the closet, under the bed; kitchen cabinets, pantry, fridge, etc. Then it's a matter of maintaining that standard throughout the week, sticking to a set routine.
Big Number One: make your bed, every day. If you have a partner who sleeps in later, tidying up your half is sufficient. It sets the mood for your day and gets you in the mindset of completing tasks! If I don't make my bed in the morning, I don't feel like doing *anything* other than sit on the couch.
Big Number Two: Find and maintain your "most important zone", or the thing that bothers you the most when it's dirty. You mentioned cleaning the kitchen regularly, which is good! A clean kitchen is the centrepiece of a clean home!
I like to have tea every morning, and so like Melissa I'll take the time to put dishes away, wipe down the counters, tidy up etc while the kettle boils; and since it's a modest galley-type kitchen I typically do the floor every morning as well. All that takes about 15 minutes.
Wipe down kitchen appliances after every meal (don't forget the top of the fridge / microwave / vent hood), even if they don't necessarily look dirty, just to prevent greasy build-up.
Same goes for the bathroom; rinse out the shower or bath when you're done. Clean the toilet every day or so. Wipe off the counter and put things away after getting ready / brushing teeth / shaving etc. That way it takes just 5 minutes and one quick swipe.
Try to do a load of laundry every other day or so, depending on how many people are in your family. You don't have to necessarily fold / hang + put away every single day, but if you're like me, letting any of them pile up will probably make you want to avoid them. c': (Though with that being said, I hope your family is helping out with their share!)
Make up a list of all the cleaning tasks in your home and divvy them up throughout the week either by room or by task, depending on how large or small your home is. I.e. maybe a day for the bedroom, or a day for dusting all the surfaces and furniture, or a day for mopping all the floors. Just be sure to space the tasks out evenly, or in a way that works best with your Life schedule (such as slotting fewer tasks on work days), and be sure to take at least one day off every week; i.e. every Sunday the most cleaning I'll do is the kitchen, just to keep it from getting out of hand.
To make it routine, you'll have to establish a schedule and stick with it. If you decide every Wednesday shall be window day, then clean them every Wednesday, even if they don't look dirty. It'll take less time the more often you do it, not only because of your own muscle memory but also because they don't get a chance to get super dirty; and you get to enjoy sparkling windows all the time!
TL;DR make a schedule, stick with it, do scheduled tasks every day even if they don't look like they 'need' to be done. It takes 21 days to form a habit, so in less than a month it will become like second nature to clean as you go throughout your day. Sorry for the wall of text, sometimes it's difficult for me to articulate thoughts succinctly lol. Best of luck! :D
@@vaellyth Thank for sharing! My childhood home was not well maintained in this area. Cleaning was always stressful marathons or sprints for when company would come over. I'm learning organization as an adult.
My house is super organized but I hate to dust. Rarely do. No kids or pets. Bathroom sink gets wiped after every use; learned that from my mom. Whole bathroom cleaned once a week.
Kitchen is cleaned each day; counters, stove, microwave, sink. Always looks tidy.
But I don’t dust.
Only rarely.
And hate to vacuum. Do that more often cause I hate dirty looking floors.
Borax As a laundry additive…
As humans our sweat is acidic and fatty. We all are, and we all do it. As we sweat we emit these “fatty acids”. You see them as ring around the collar and cuffs of dress shirts. Borax is a base and neutralizes the acid we emit, so does baking soda. Mixing borax with your whites will then make them whiter by allowing the detergent to work more affective. Another good thing to remove ring around the collar is dish soap as it is a degreaser. Put it directly on collars and cuffs and anywhere clothing gets dirty from rubbing against your skin. Let it sit for a few minutes and it will lift the fatty acids from clothing. If you dry the clothing in the dryer, the heat can set in the stains around collars and cuffs. So be sure to re-wash if it is still dirty before drying in dryer. Once it has gone through the dryer it will be permanent. Spray starch, even if the clothes are no iron, will help prevent stains of all kinds from forming. Spray the front of your white shirt, as well as collar and cuffs.
I have been using borax in with my laundry for years now and not only does is brighten the laundry, it also helps my washing machine from having hard water deposit build up. Result ! I have not had to have my washing machine serviced for years.
This is fantastic! I started using Borax in my laundry a couple of months ago and so far so good.
Can you use it with colored laundry or only with whites?
Is safe on whites only?
@@ruthstagnitta274 I use it with colored/dark laundry and never had a problem.
@@scottpegggoldenberg9736
You can use it with colors. You will be satisfied 🙂
Have been using this in my laundry washes for years. Also pour 1/4 cup around the bottom in the dishwasher in addition to my unscented powder dishwasher detergent. It keeps the filter clean even after a year. .
Thanks for the tip! That filter basket is wonderful but a bear to clean!
I love Borax! It makes stinky clothes smell so fresh...and I'm talking about my husband's terrible stinky sweat-laden clothes after doing one of his engine repairs or yard work. I also appreciate how it makes a toilet or a sink smell so fresh. It's a great product -- just wear gloves so you don't get it on your hands because your hands will feel like they've been scrubbed by a heavy abrasive.
Well if you don't like the idea of having that the chemical in your house now if you have pets kids yet vinegar does really well for getting rid of odors and it does help to clean a bit but it doesn't eliminates if you got to smoke her in the house spray or grapes and whatever with no it's not some dinner you can delete down a bit and it'll get rid of that second hand smoke smell
Actually, when you ARE doing heavy dirty or greasy work and you don't wear gloves, BORAX is the perfect solution to get your hands clean. I keep a sprinkle bottle by the sink for just such purposes. Some of us don't mind getting our hands dirty! 😉
@@victoriaolutayo5004 borax is not a chemical.
It is only the mineral boron
@@marnaehrech1223 Also note, that people take the mineral boron for health benefits. I sprinkle it in my vegetable garden to strengthen the root systems.
Love the tip about dissolving in water for those machines that can only use liquid!
Borax and the laundry are a match made in heaven been using it for yrs
Thank you for all your tips! May God continue to move you to help others🌺
I use borax to get rid of ants and as a laundry booster. Love all of these tips!
So w th at do you do if you have a bunch of ants. I accidentally opened an ant hill and knelt in it while cleaning my sidewalk to cut away overgrown grass on edge of lawn. We have people that walk dogs and our neighbor has a dog. Would dogs be a attracted to borax? Don't want to harm any pets. But want the little buggers gone. I think salt also works with ants as I saw a lot of ants near a crack and sprinkled salt. There is a lot less activities today. But I also have Borax at home that I bought to get rid of bugs? Wonder if it would work on moths as Billings MT seems to have a moth infestation this year of moths
@@Ke-qv3md I Think it is so great that you worry about other people who walk their dogs and your neighbors dog! If we had more people who thought that way I think it would be a much better world! 💕🐾🐾🐾
@@Ke-qv3md I mix 1:1 with water & carefully pour over ant hill but generously so soaks down into ants underground labyrinth of tunnels. Can kill surrounding grass weeds & plants.
@@Ke-qv3md No - borax doesn't work like a general insect killer, nor are dogs or pets attracted to it. only ants that go for sweet stuff will ingest borax mixed with sugar, and die. AMDRO is a good remedy for most outdoor ants - and the moth problem you'll have to find another way to solve.
@@susieq8924 I just want to point out how refreshing it is to read through these comments and not see someone stirring the pot over every small thing. Your comment simply complementing Ke totally made my day!
My husband mined borax out of the ground in Boron, CA at the U.S. Borax Mine there. Now Rio Tino. It was a good place to work back in the day. It takes some mighty big equipment to get that stuff out of the ground, but it is used in almost everything we use on a daily basis. Pretty amazing.
I’m curious if your husband suffers from arthritis. Boron is a remedy
@EinVA interesting
Yep, been using it for over 30 years. I clean my shower and tub the way you described cleaning your kitchen sink. Better and cheaper than any other method I've ever tried.
Thanks for this! I’ve been looking for an alternative to the bathroom bleach cleaners that are so prevalent in the stores. I can’t stand the heavy bleach smell.
Borax cleans a coffee pot very well. I used Borax and hot water in a stainless steel coffee pot that was about 20 years old and stained brown. I just used a sponge to clean it and it looked like new. My Mother noticed that the coffee no longer tasted bitter. It also worked well on a glass carafe for a coffee maker. That's probably what Nick needed to do on "Barney Miller" to make the coffee taste better.
Try washing soda for that. Two tablespoons for a 12 cup percolator and let it cool.
I have used Borax. During a very lean time my cat brought home fleas and infested our home. I did some research as I could not afford an exterminator. I came across a suggestion to sprinkle Borax all over the carpet (this is before the hard wood floor rage), leave it for 2 weeks and then vacuum. So I did this, what did I have to lose? Although it was a long 2 weeks. Anyway, they said that the Borax takes the moisture out of the carpet so the flea eggs won't hatch. Well it worked!! It was unbelievable!! No fleas what so ever and I had multiple indoor/outdoor cats! Not only did it work, the one time of doing this worked for years!! No fleas, and I live in humid Houston, TX!! I didn't have to do it again for many years! It worked great! I love Borax!!!
How did you keep your pets off the carpet for 2 weeks? We are getting a bad flea infestation. I wonder if it would work on the yard. Fleas are coming from all of the rabbits, I think
@@joanlong4183 Do not use it in your yard, only inside. It is like shards of glass to an insect... that's how it kills them. Insects, salamanders, and other amphibians and toads are wonderful for the environment and birds eat them and feed them to their babies. Also, it says on the box it is not safe for pets, so I'm not sure what she did with her cat?
You can make a completely nontoxic ant (and other insect) killer making a syrup of borax, sugar and water. It wipes them out in days and no toxic, carcinogenic pesticides in your house. My great-grandmother taught me this and it works incredibly well.
Ha! That's what I did today. We've got the ants here in the midwest and they really are sooooo annoying! Borax works outside, until it rains. Since we're in for a stretch of HOT weather, I'll treat the north side of my house and hopefully that will be the end of the ants. I especially hate it when I see them in my bathroom around my cosmetics. Gah!!!!
Yes. I always put it 8n a small bottle out of the way of pets and kids. It creates boric acid, which os toxic.
Toxic Boric acid is better than the carcinogenic pesticide?
instead of sugar use aspartame, it's toxic to us and the ants.
I do that too, I soak a cotton round in the solution and put it on a plate and the ants disappear
I remember people using this in the 50 - 60's. Now that I know how to use it properly, I'm going to try it. I'm so sick of detergents that come in large, single use plastics, that I've been looking for better ways to clean without them. Thank you
Yes, you can recycle the cardboard box when it’s empty!
My mom who was paralyzed (because of this she read Encyclopedia from A-Z) was born in 1908 told me about Borax been using it in my laundry for 74 years now. I love this video I found it extremely helpful.
love your sense of humor and delivery - the info was great too
Used it in the laundry but not many other applications. Thanks for the info!
Thank you for sharing your tips with Borax. I’ve used it to sanitize and boost my laundry. Now, I’m buying more to use for other places as told in your video and in some comments. A new pair of gloves are in my future.
9:38 I think you are explaining why it is a booster for detergent here. Soap works better if water is a little bit alkaline. It suds up better in slightly alkaline water compared to neutral or slightly acidic water.
Good to know, thanks!
@@MegDesignsCA Your welcome that came from a boiler engineer explaining one of the benefits of adding caustic to boiler water. It makes the phosphates work better. He said have your ever been out west and taken a shower but the water doesn't suds up very well? I immediately remembered being in Arizona and New Mexico and showers were not great because of slightly acidic water.
@@joeshmo5399 ....I thought it was more because of all the minerals in the water....Arizona has mostly well water with a lot of minerals in it....that is why water filters that remove most of the minerals help with cleaning.
@@joeshmo5399 Not acidic water in NM and AZ - it's hard from minerals and alkaline - but laundry water and shower water are two different things. You put soap in the laundry water, and you rinse the soap off your body with shower water - two entirely different things.
@@MrGarymolaFilters don't remove minerals. You can soften the water, or you can use reverse osmosis. Both come with their own downsides, but you can't filter out minerals.
I use Borax in my laundry when needed, but I will be trying some of your other suggestions. I agree with you on the cookie sheet “patina”.
I'm 70 yrs old. I recall, as a little girl, neighborhood mothers got cloth diapers perfectly fresh using Borax. Besides laundry and keeping bugs at bay, a mixture of Borax and water works great on capets with the use of a small one gallon dry/wet vac for pet vomit. Sprinkle some Borax behind the fridge, stove, washer and drier. I still pull out these appliances to clean those areas.
I've used it on moldy wood as a soak for tge cut ends. Worked great for me. Dried it in the sun, then painted it after3 days woth latex paint with with mold retardent additive. Never had a problem with these shelves again, & live in a high humidity area. 😀
For cleanest laundry ever (tennis shoes too), I also use Borax & add about 1/4c of vinegar as well! Makes whites so much brighter than bleach does! It also removes any mildew/body odor, in addition to making them a lot softer! For collar & armpit stains, I make a paste of borax & a little vinegar, scrub the effected area with the paste, leave it for about 15min, then throw in the washer! No need to use nasty chemicals that take our breath away &/or remove color! I don’t use fabric softener in my wash. These tips have made my life a lot easier, hopefully they will help others too! 😊 THANK YOU for another GREAT video filled with tried & tested wisdom! 🥰
You're so welcome and thank you for sharing! We do what we do for you, so thank you for making it possible!
Hi !! So do you use white vinegar ? Thank you ..
Just used Borax first time this last Sunday. Used for cleaning flip flops. Went on a trip used flip flops in hotel
Made a mixture of Dawn antibacterial dish soap , baking soda , and the borax. Left for about an hour in a plastic tub and scrubbed with a brush rinsed clean. And feel like it did the job. 👍🏻.
Usually use baking soda for stuff but added the borax in. No bad chemical Reactions happened.
I use it to make laundry detergent. I add 1/2 Borax, 1/2cup washing soda, and 1/2 cup Dawn dishwashing liquid.
Add dry ingredients to a pot, add several cups of water and simmer until Borax is dissolved and water is clear. Remove from heat, add more water to cool and then pour into a large 1 gallon size empty orange juice bottle. I use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry. Works great!
I use borax with laundry boosting baking soda and ALL free and clear detergent. I find that my clothes and towels come out softer and smell cleaner which is huge for me in a humid climate. Also, I used to be addicted to bleach and when washing whites all I have to do is add a bit of oxiclean. I do mix the powders in a bowl while my washer is filling with water ( I have a top loader ) and use hot water to dissolve them together and then add them to my laundry water and let that mix before I put the laundry in
I also found using a little on a soapy sponge and using it on my stainless steel fridge , removed rust spots .
I’ve never discovered anything better than Borax for getting mustiness out of laundry. You do have to use a lot and Borax is no longer cheap but it can save clothing and/or towels which were left damp for too long.
Can you use it on colors?
@@scottpegggoldenberg9736
Absolutely.
Before I discovered it I used to have to throw out towels which I found that my kids had wadded up and left in a bag…
Adding straight ammonia to a load of musty laundry works well too. It may smell a little pungent when you first add it, but by the time it's all rinsed out, the towels and other musty things will smell fresh again. And the smell doesn't linger in the air.
I found a floor cleaning recipe years ago that I still use. 1/4 cup borax, 1 tablespoon regular Dawn dishwashing liquid, 1 tablespoon ammonia in a bucket, fill with hot water. in a second bucket I put hot water plus white vinegar for rinsing
I tried adding borax to my mop water but the floors came out dull and almost chalky. Never thought about going over with a vinegar rinse 😮
Thanks!
I have used Borax for years and love it. I use it in my laundry especially when I am washing my pets blankets.
It's not toxic in small quantities. It is mined out of the ground, just like salt. It is a wonderful source of Boron 1/8 to 1/4 tsp daily in juice even according to the FDA.
This is Truth!
The mineral boron is essential in the transportation of other minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium into the bones.
Yup, I've been doing it for years. All Americans are deficient in Boron. I do it M-F and stop on weekends, is what my health consultant told me...
Wouldn't that be in boric acid instead of borax? Idk,I wouldn't ingest that
@@marnaehrech1223 how much to how much water ? Thanks
My health care provider said it was perfectly safe to take.. Just a pinch in a tall glass of water.
I’ve used Borax in my wash a lot, loved it. Most of these uses are new to me and I’m going to try them! Borax is SO much cheaper and I’m sure better for the environment than anything I can think of to buy. New subscriber here!
Welcome and thanks for sharing!
For the past three years I have added 1/8 teaspoon of 120 mule borax to a glass of water every morning. I had sever arthritis in my hands for years, and my feet would hurt for an hour every morning. Since starting this treatment I no longer have any pain in my joints. When I first started I did everyday for about a month. The pain was gone after the first week. Now I drink it for a week every couple of months, and I am staying pain free.
Man that sounds really scarey...interesting but if its not safe around children and animals...you know something we don't...
Me too...bath in it and drink in smoothie. Lots of vids on You Tube about it. Also use it in a recipe for shampoo. Best wishes
@@beverlyannshepard9691 very safe. It will detox your body of all the crap that settles in our joints which cause inflammation which causes our pain. I have been doing it for three years and I am pain free and still alive.
Wow, that's scary, i have to research this topic n get educated on it. So happy ya'll are pain free now. Maybe it will help my sciatica.
@@yonnaseigler585 Thanx so much...
Oven cleaner is best for your baking sheets. It really works. also good for the bottoms of your pots.
Believe it or not, ketchup works on cookie sheets. Let it sit then wipe clean.
I think both of those have been around for 100 years but baking soda is my choice. Baking soda in the clothes washer and the bathtub softens greatly. Also baking soda with a little water as a face scrub is fantastic!
Yeah, there are people who use borax scrub if they have Demadex mites they say a lot of people have Demadex because it hangs around and make up I don’t know
It's been used as a basic household cleaner for at least three generations. My mother used it, always with gloves on, to scrub her "sanitary sink" or washtub which was made of concrete-over-iron and located in our Baltimore County townhouse basement, next to the washing machine. The water discharge for the washer drained in there and since it gets very hot and humid in Summer, that sink was scrubbed out weekly using Borax, after weekly laundry. We cleaned mostly with baking soda, Borax, white vinegar, and bleach, but rarely used the bleach! If she used bleach it was diluted and during cold, flu season, and in bathroom, especially if someone was sick as disinfectant (5:1 water:bleach spray after cleaning, let air dry)
I use it for wellness too.
(It’s a natural source of essential mineral boron which is often deficient
in growing soil & the body).
It’s used / required by every plant.
1/8-1/4teaspoon amount mixed with glass a water/day
Take up to 5 days / week, if you are treating a health condition, or less often to maintain wellness mineral balance.
Scientifically Borax is studied/ measured to be less toxic than table salt yet it’s able to remove neurotoxic sodium fluoride, that is added to all conventional toothpaste & some countries drinking water. So it helps to reverse common fluoride damages on the brain.
It also helps the body to move hardened calcium deposits from soft tissues like arteries & joints : this is a big help & natural prevention for arthritis type conditions.
Sufficient boron also lowers the body’s yeast levels naturally.
Thank you for highlighting borax - & the other powerful natural cleaning solutions.
I Love your videos & style of giving advice !
☺️✌️👌
Where's the scientific studies and test groups for this ? Links?
Borax safe to ingest?
Really???? Never heard of this before. How long have you been using it for wellness? What are the side effects? Where can you get that type of Borax? Sounds very interesting, especially since I have arthritis.
I have done a lot of research and read similar things you mentioned. And yet there is this skepticism to try it out. I know there are many many natural remedies out there that get bad-mouthed by those who profit from people being sick, although these remedies have been used for centuries. I personally use Borax topically for athlete's foot. It works really great for that. Check out the TH-cam channel of "Old Alabama Gardener" in case you're interested! There are so many comments from people who successfully got rid of their athlete's foot with Borax!
Absolutely!!! Wake up with aches.? Try this for a week and then you’ll feel the difference!
Yes my work daughter told me to try this and it amazing.
6:02 "now is there a real recipe here? NO"
That was so funny 😂
Have been using Borax in DIY 4 ingredient laundry detergent for yrs: 1 bx Borax, 4 lb bag Baking Soda, 3.5 lb Oxyclean, 2 bars ZOTE (or 3 bars Fels-Naptha soap, or 4 bars Irish Spring. Grate soap. Mix with everything else. Yield 2 gallons. Use 1-2 T per laundry load. For convenience, I store qt jar of this mixture top of washing machine. Attach a metal tablespoon under the top rim of jar with a rubber band through the spoon handle.
Do you add water to the mix???
@@ruthstagnitta274 No. Just use like any other powdered detergent.
Wow, this youtuber just dissed this DIY in another video. Am puzzled by such strong negative reaction. I've been using this for 10?15? years. It works great. Zero problems. Got recipe from a friend that's been using longer. Her daughter & other friends have been using it as well for a very long time. I also DIY my own 2 ingredient deoderant (50/50 cornstarch/baking soda), that am pretty sure, if reviewed by a commercial deoderant company, they'd poke holes at (why wouldn't they?), but this stuff is fantastic too.
Kim where did you get this idea...sounds great?
@@H4me7215 The deoderant? I don't remember. I DIY experiment with lot of cleaning/personal care/food. Homemade vinegars, infused oils, ferments, vanillas, medicinal herbs in salves & body butters... Keep what works. Would not mention it to anybody if it didn't work for me. There are many books on these topics & online peeps. I am fortunate to have 2 shaman friends as well. I would encourage peeps to listen & read from multiple sources & try things out yourself to see what is true for you.
20 Mule Team Borax was handed down through both grandmothers and was under the sink as well as on the laundry shelf. Garbage cans were cleaned, dried and a goodly sprinkle left on the bottom under the can liner. Borax also works well for cleaning outdoor machines.
I do use borax. But now will try it on the trash and recycle bins, which I already had plans to scrub this coming weekend. Thanks for all the great cleaning ideas!
Thank you so much for the pet warning. You are awesome!
I love washing clothes with it. It’s the cleanest and softest my clothes ever felt. We used it in the Caribbean.
That's awesome to hear! It must have made laundry day a breeze.
I used Borax to get rid of fleas in carpet by sprinkling it over carpet and then use a broom to agitate it in deep. (In the evening) I leave it overnight, not allowing kids or pets on carpet. Then I deep slow vacuum twice in the morning. Helped quite a bit!
It worked for me, I had an infestation in my apartment. I don't even have pets but we had people visiting that have cats and dogs.
I have 4 dogs. Diatamaceous Earth is a miracle. I put a a couple of teaspoons in their large ( 9 cup ) water dishes . But do make sure that you have bathed off any fleas they may have on them first. I DID try using diatamceous earth on my carpets and on the dogs. I do NOT recommend that . My livingroom was a dust cloud and so were they.FYI 3 of my dogs are double coated long hair. I do NOT use and flea collars nor flea drops as those are all toxic
I'm saving this video as well. Thanks. I have a box of Borax that I've never really used. Now I will.
Thanks for watching Emily :)
I never thought to use Borax for anything other than laundry booster AND I never thought to disolve it in water before adding the laundry, thanks for this tip especially. I will now use it to clean my sinks and tubs and sweeten the smells of those rooms, (sometimes the drain stinks.)
I call those "brown" baking-cookie sheets "seasoned." And a seasoned pan makes the food taste better. At least, "That's my story and I'm sticking to it." Speaking of "sticking," seasoned pans don't stick as much, either. :) And I probably overdue the Borax-Baking Soda thing. I use about a quarter cup of each in my laundry along with my detergent.
Thanks for all your advise. I love your channel. :)
One thing I didn't see mentioned was how invaluable Borax is to swimming pools. I worked at a hotel and it was used to maintain alkalinity balance so when I got my own pool I started using it
I would like to hear more about Borax in swimming pools. Chlorine is expensive beyond belief since the major chlorine factory burned down some years ago in America. Can you give measures and use it as a chlorine substitute?
Borax is alkaline with a ph of about 9.5; it is not a disinfectant and will not disinfect pool water & does not replace chlorine tablets or powder.
Borax is often added to a swimming pool to make the water feel more slick and flying insects (like wasps) generally drown in the pool water instead of landing on the water surface and then flying away. Keep using chlorine to kill the microorganisms.
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Borax is awesome to sprinkle outside your doors to repel fleas. Sprinkle on carpet, Use with dawn and vinegar to make the best soap scum remover in the shower and bathtub. Been using it for years!!
I add borax with my dishwashing liquid when I’m washing greasy pots and pans. It decreases the re-wash I have to do because of stubborn grease left behind from first washing.
that's a great idea.
What dish soap do you use? I always use dawn and there is no grease left after the 1st washing. 😃
Try using table salt and dishwashing soap. Cover with paper towels or a use a rag and asplash or two of hydrogen peroxid. Let sit. later use the rag to scrub.
I handwash dishes and my plastics sometimes comes out still greasy. I use Dawn. Wondering if that will help. I'm gonna find out. Thank you.
I use borax to keep my towels from not smelling after years of use. It works. I add in w the laundry soap & hot water for towels.
I’ve used it to kill ants outside. I’ve used it for garbage disposal deodorizer.
I like your ideas and will try them. I can tell by the pan demonstration, the clothes you were when wearing and the fact you’re demonstrating on an already clean spotless house that this is more more show
I've used borax for root rot when I cut trees and I love the household application. Thanks
I use Borax in my laundry when washing really soiled items like grease, mud. Also husband's clothes after working on the car or other machinery. It boosts the detergent & gets rid of the odors. Have used it similar to baking soda to make a paste and clean stains off surfaces.
I have been using borax as a floor cleaner. 1 TBS to a gallon of water. Well, the other day I didn't read my jugs under my sink and I grabbed the borax cleaner thinking it was my plant food water. I didn't realize this until all of them were well watered. OH NO! I thought, I've killed them all! Much to my dismay they not only survived but actually perked up and began to look vibrant again. Who knew? I sure didn't and I will most definitely put this into practice in the future.
I’ve been adding to my laundry tub for the last year. Now I’ll try a few more of your suggestions. I like it in the laundry instead of Clorox no bleach product I used to add to darks and mixed loads.
I read a while back that Borax has a slight bleaching effect. Not certain if that's true, but if it is, you may want to be cautious with it.
@@jeanetteh.9240 I've been using it in dark colors loads for years and haven't had a problem. I do use a little less, like 1/4 cup instead of the full cup I use with whites and light colors.
@@cristinarivera4511 Good to know! Thanks.
been using it for 50 years never had a problem, always achieved correct results, laundry gets body odors and pet odors out promptly. works great inside cleaning machines, power washers, power cleaning driveways. cleaning mattresses come out perfect like new and sanitary.
I have been using borax in my washer for a few years but you gave me some new uses as well now, also at least once a week I use a paste of dial antibacterial liquid soap and baking soda as a face cleanser. I also mix a thin paste of body wash and baking soda to exfoliate my body, it leaves my skin feeling like silk.
It's great, I drink it diluted 🤗
I put Borax in our dishwasher. I never stopped to think about many of these uses though. I always use it in our laundry. It's friendly on septic tanks! I love the idea of putting it on windows for mold removal, which is often an issue here in Southern FL.
@Karen Hackney do you just sprinkle the Borax in the dishwasher & run it empty? Thanks.
@@SuperFlaGal No, but I do that in my washing machine to clean that. I do run the dishwasher full with dishes. I suppose I could run it with just Borax. It would probably work even better at cleaning the dishwasher.
@@karenhackney9920 thank you! I didn't think about the washer!! Lol
Borax is fantastic for eliminating mold. Had a skylight leak and soaked the wall. Mold developed. Soaked the area really good with saturated borax solution. Mold gone. Never came back.
I’ll definitely try these - I always have it because I use it for laundry regularly.
Borax is also great for getting rid of fleas or any other little pests that take up residence in your carpet. I put it into a Shaker and sprinkle it around the carpets. (Keep pets away from the area being treated) leave it sit for 15 to 20 minutes and then vacuum it all up really well. Borax eats the insects exoskeleton. The following day I will vacuum again just to get up all the dead insects. I have also done this to my fabric couch. I have also read that you can mix Borax, sugar and hot water, once dissolved dip cotton balls in it and leave them in areas where ants are. They will take that back to the colony and it will kill them all. I have not tried the cotton balls yet what I did was took a Ziploc baggie left it open a little bit with a equal mixture of sugar and borax inside and left it under my sink and the ants will go in get what they can carry and take it back to the colony. Just make sure no pets or children are able to get into the cabinet while you have this poisonous chemical there.
Awesome grease cleaner from dollar store will clean that pan. The brand is Awesome! Great on greasy grill !
My Dear BORAX WAS AROUND LONG BEFORE YOU AND TH-cam WERE THOUGHT OF. My grandmother used it all the time and her
Toilet was spotless and so was her laundry ! IM 71 I’ve been savvy to it for 71 years ever since I was a baby, I’ve been using it ever since I got married at 21!
I agree I like the awesome.
Thanks for some very good info! I’m going to try it for the grout, trash cans and to brighten my stainless sink! I’ve used Borax in my laundry for years !
Never used Borax because of the safety concerns with children and animals. Although I may now start using it in the washing machine and toilet. Thanks for showing the different uses of it.
My dog ate Borax twice no adverse effects. Just threw it up it was at least a cup full. I had it sprinkled around the edges of the house inside for bugs, spiders. Its safe, natural and effective
Thank you! I use borax in the laundry when washing pet bedding… great deodorizer! I’m going to try it on my grout. THANK YOU for embracing the cookie sheet! Mine is the same. However…. Occasionally I will put a cup of white vinegar into my electric tea kettle to clean out the hard water scale… I always use the boiling vinegar for some random cleaning task. Perhaps use it for the cookie sheet..? I may try it. You’re the best!!