Also known by the names of soda borate, sodium borate or boric acid, the Borax is a versatile cleanser for the house. This natural mineral has whitening properties and helps to remove spots and bad odors. However, its use requires some precautions.
If our grandmothers used it for its cleaning and degreasing properties, children know it mainly thanks to the slime, this sticky paste popular in the playgrounds. Borax is also used in the composition of certain drugs and cosmetics. Here is what you need to know to use it without danger.
Derived from the boron, an element present in the rock, the soil and the water, the borax is the sodium salt of the boric acid. This mineral is used in the form powder or liquid. Mixed with water, it indeed becomes an alkaline solution and makes it possible to effectively remove the fats of fat, dirt, but also mold. Its whitening and disinfecting properties allow it to wash the walls and challenge a ceramic sink or the toilet bowl.
Borax uses
The Borax has long been used in the composition of household products and it is also a grandmother tip product for the cleaning of the house in a more natural way. Here are some of these daily uses:
The borax to shine
Multi-use and multi-surface product, Borax helps you Clean your windows and floors in order to give them back all their brilliance. To do this, mix 2 tablespoons of borax in 1 liter of water and spray your windows with this solution before wiping with a soft cloth. For your parquet or tiling, wash your floor with the same mixture.
Borax against bad odors
Among its many advantages, the Borax allows Get rid of the unpleasant odor inlaid (dog carpet, trash container …) You can make a natural deodorant by mixing a glass of baking soda and a glass of borax. Pour the set on the surface to deodorize and leave to act for 2 hours before cleaning.
Borax against mold
Walls, floors, furniture, fabrics … The borax allows Dissolve the most stubborn dirt such as oil, ink or even mold stains. Pour the powder directly to the stained place, leave to act for 2 to 3 hours then wash gently using a damp sponge or machine (if it is a textile). No need to rub!
The Borax to clean the toilet
With its antiseptic and anti -lime virtues, Borax is the ideal ally for Maintain your toilets, sinks and pipes. By associating the powder with lemon juice until you get a paste, you can remove the tartar from your bathtub, shower cabin, sink … just spread the solution and leave to act for a few minutes before Rinse while wiping the walls with a sponge. If your pipes are blocked, pour a half a glass of borax and a 1/2 liter of boiling water in the sink or sink pipe. Boric acid will dissolve dirt while eliminating bad odors.
Borax for laundry
Thanks to its staining agents, the Borax naturally finds its place in the Manufacture of a home laundry. Note that without adding other products, it is not likely to whiten your laundry. Thus, for a small laundry and little dirty linen, pour 80 ml of borax powder in the drum of your machine. For a substantial detergent, it is recommended to use 110 ml of Borax.
Is borax dangerous?
Although very natural and very useful in the maintenance of the house, the borax or sodium borate is nonetheless harmless. Classified CMR (carcinogen, mutagenic and reprotoxic), it can cause various health problems. Among them, burns, nose bleeding, sore throat, eye irritation, allergies or nausea and vomiting. It is therefore recommended to handle the borax with a great precaution. Always wear long clothes and gloves to avoid contact. Hold it out of reach of children and air the room in which you use it. Finally, significant exposure to Borax can be the cause of liver disease and neurological disorders.
Where to find borax?
Borax is not the easiest product to find because of its dangerousness. You will have to turn to the drugstore department of stores or go to hardware. For small quantities, you can get Borax in pharmacies.
Whether you want to make slime with your children and get a less aggressive result or simply clean your home with a natural product, know that baking soda can generally replace borax. It is also degreasing and anti-inside while being little irritating to the user. Think about it!
