August 24, 2007 | Reviews, Broom Hugged, Cleaning products
What is this borax stuff we keep mentioning here at Broom Huggers? Borax is hard to figure out if you’re a traditional bleach/formula 409/amonia (etc., etc.) user. But once you get it, you’ll never stop using it!
What is it? Borax is a mineral, derived from sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, and/or disodium tetraborate. It is a completely stable additive for cleaning solutions, and is not flammable. It is found in nature and it’s completely bio-degradable and eco-friendly.
How does it work? It actually works by converting some water molecules into hydrogen peroxide, and we’ve all heard of those oxy-boost cleaners. This is what started them. People have been using Borax to clean for hundreds of years. It works best when added to another cleaning agent (like vinegar, baking soda, laundry detergent, all-purpose cleaner, etc.). But on its own it is a disinfectant, anti-fungal agent, general cleaner, deodorizer, water softener, and bug repellent. It packs a lot of punch!
How do you use it?
- All purpose cleaner: Add it to a mixture of vinegar, water, and essential oils for a good all-purpose cleaner
- Laundry: Add a 1/4 cup to a full load of wash (less for a smaller load) along with your regular detergent. It’s especially helpful when you’re dealing with grimy grungy kids’ sports wear or anyone’s ‘work’ wear. It’ll make your whites whiter and keep those colors bright.
- Mild abrasive: sprinkle a little on a sponge to clean your pots and pans (not for teflon or calphalon though), it’ll do wonders on your laminate countertops or on the bathtub. Ditch the Comet - go for borax instead.
- Bug repellent: mix 2 parts borax 1 part flour in a glass jar and poke holes in the top. Sprinkle around baseboards and windowsills. (Note: Borax is not safe to ingest. Use caution around small children)
Is it safe? Borax is mostly safe for animal and aquatic life, but it can be harmful to people and pets (especially small people) if swallowed. The good news is that it is not an allergen, it is not generally considered toxic. In fact, back in the old days people used to make a paste from honey and borax and put it on the gums of teething infants. (Note: this is not recommended - it could make your baby sick. Don’t try this at home!)
Does Broom Huggers use Borax? In our all-natural housekeeping business here in N-E Atlanta, we do not use Borax in our clients’ homes. Many of our clients have small children or beloved pets. For their care, all the products we use in homes are 100% safe to people, pets, and planet. That said, the management and cleaning personnel all use Borax in their own homes. When kept away from children Borax is completely safe and does a great job of cleaning your house, for multiple purposes. It’s friendly to the planet too, and that makes us happy. As long as you don’t leave it around for your kids to stumble on and mistake for sugar (though they’d know the difference after one taste!) there’s no reason to worry.
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Ellen says:
Hi, I have fleas in my bedroom, which I also use as an office, but I don’t have any pets. I have been advised to sprinkle borax on my carpet and leave it there for 72 hours. Is it safe to live with borax for so long? I have neither pets nor children that could accidentally eat it. How certain can it be that the fleas are on the carpet? Where else are they likely to be traced? What about in the bed/ under the mattress/ on the curtains?
May 24th, 2008 at 11:00 ammudlark says:
Ellen, as long as you don’t plan on licking your carpet, it’s perfectly safe to leave it for 72 hours - or even longer. A lot of people will sprinkle it in corners, against the kickplate under cabinets, inside cabinets, etc., and leave it there indefinitely to ward off pests. As long as your fleas are making contact with the carpet within those 72 hours, the Borax should do the trick there. You could potentially sprinkle some on your mattress and leave it there for 72 hours (under your mattress protector and sheets). After 72 hours you’d wash the sheets and the mattress protector and vacuum the surface of your mattress if you think the fleas are there.
May 24th, 2008 at 2:52 pm