If you want to save money on housecleaning and help the environment at the same time, try borax. Borax can be used for natural and frugal cleaning all through the house. According to the University of Hawaii Cooperative Extension Service, borax presents less risk to both your family and the environment than many commercial supplies. You can simplify your collection of cleaning supplies and get good results if you start using borax for cleaning, laundry and stain removal.
Instructions
1. Make a bucket of all-purpose general surface cleaner by adding 2 cups of borax per gallon of warm water.
2. Clean your toilet bowl with 2 cups of borax per gallon of warm water. Or, remove toilet bowl stains by combining borax and lemon juice to make a paste. Coat the stains, then allow the mixture to work 20 minutes. Scrub and flush.
3. Clean your oven with a borax mixture. Combine 2 cups of warm water, 2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid and 2 teaspoons of borax. Put it on the dirty surfaces, and allow it to work 20 minutes. Scrub with a bleach-free scouring powder on a steel-wool pad.
4. Clean and prevent mold on tile and grout with borax. As a preventative, use 1 gallon of hot water mixed with 2 cups of borax to wash the surface. Remove mildew by scouring with borax mixed with water on a scrubbing pad. Rinse the surface.
5. Remove rust stains on porcelain bathtubs or sinks with a mixture of borax and lemon juice. Make a paste, the rub the mixture on the stain. Allow the paste to remain in place; then rinse. If the stain remains, repeat the process.
6. Dry-clean carpet and remove odors with a borax mixture. Mix together 2 cups dry cornmeal and 1 cup of borax. Sprinkle on the mixture, and let it work for one hour. Vacuum it up.
7. Pour borax into your laundry instead of bleach or to boost cleaning power with hard water. Use 1/2 cup or more per load, depending on the size of the load and amount of soil.
8. Add 1/2 cup borax to 5 gallons of warm water to soak the diapers in a diaper pail.
9. Remove blood stains from washable fabrics with borax. Soak the item in cold water until the stain has faded, then wash as usual. Blood stains come out best when you tackle them right away.
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