Uses for Everyday Household Items
20 Mule Team Borax
Preserve flowers. Mix one part 20 Mule Team Borax and two parts corn meal. Fill the bottom one-inch of an empty airtight canister with the mixture. Place the flower on the mixture, then gently cover the flower with more mixture, being careful not to crush the flower or distort the petals. Flowers with a lot of overlapping petals, such as roses and carnations, are best treated by sprinkling mixture directly into the blossom before placing them into the box. Seal the canister and store at room temperature in a dry place for seven to ten days. When the flowers are dried, pour off the mixture and dust the flowers with a soft artist's brush. Borax removes the moisture from blossoms and leaves, preventing the wilting which would normally result.
Make Green Slime. For directions, click here.
Shine china. Add one-half cup 20 Mule Team Borax to a sinkful of warm water, rinse fine china, then rinse again in clean water.
Deodorize cat filler. Mix one-and-a-half cups 20 Mule Team Borax to every five pounds of cat filler to reduce and control odor in the cat box.
Clean hairbrushes and combs. Mix a quarter cup 20 Mule Team Borax and a tablespoon of Dawn Dishwashing Liquid in a basin of warm water. Soak hairbrushes and combs in the solution, rinse clean, and dry.
Clean a metal coffee pot. Fill the percolator with water and add one teaspoon 20 Mule Team Borax and one teaspoon detergent powder. Boil the water, let the mixture sit for a few minutes, then rinse clean.
Clean chocolate from clothing. Sponge the spot with a solution of one tablespoon 20 Mule Team Borax and one cup warm water. Flush with water. If that doesn't work, make a paste with borax and water, work into the stain, let set for one hour, flush well with warm water, and launder as usual.
Make children's clothing flame retardant. Mix together nine ounces 20 Mule Team Borax and four ounces boric acid in one gallon water. If the article is washable, soak in the solution after final rinsing, then dry. If the garment is not washable, spray with the solution. This solution, recommended by fire departments, may wash out of clothing and should be used after each washing or dry cleaning.
Make your own household cleanser for walls and floors. Add one-half cup 20 Mule Team Borax, one-half teaspoon Dawn Dishwashing Liquid, and one teaspoon ammonia to two gallons warm water.
Make your own automatic dishwashing soap. Use equal parts 20 Mule Team Borax and washing soda.
Gently clean porcelain and aluminum cookware. Sprinkle 20 Mule Team Borax on pots and pans, rub with a damp dishcloth, and rinse thoroughly.
Reduce water spots on glasses and dishes. Add one tablespoon 20 Mule Team Borax to the dishwasher.
Clean spills and stains on carpet and upholstery. Blot up the spill, sprinkle 20 Mule Team Borax to cover the area, let dry, and vacuum. Before treating, make sure the carpet dye is colorfast by testing an unexposed area with a paste of 20 Mule Team Borax and water. For wine and alcohol stains, dissolve one cup 20 Mule Team Borax in one quart water. Sponge in the solution, wait thirty minutes, shampoo the spotted area, let dry, and vacuum.
Deodorize garbage disposers. Sprinkle two to three tablespoons 20 Mule Team Borax in the drain, let it stand for fifteen minutes, then flush with water with the disposer on. Borax helps deodorize garbage disposers by neutralizing acidic odors.
Neutralize urine odors from mattresses and mattress covers. Dampen the spot, rub in 20 Mule Team Borax, let dry, then vacuum or brush clean.
Neutralize pet urine and sour spilled milk odors. Dampen the spot, rub in 20 Mule Team Borax, let dry, then vacuum or brush clean.
Boost laundry detergent. Add one-half cup 20 Mule Team Borax to each washload along with the recommended amount of detergent. For large capacity and front-loading machines, add three-quarter cup. Borax acts as a water conditioner, boosting the cleaning power of detergent by controlling alkalinity, deodorizing the clothes and aiding the removal of stains and soil.
Wash diapers and baby clothes. Flush out dirty diapers and soak as soon as possible in a diaper pail filled with warm water and one-half cup 20 Mule Team Borax. Pre-soak for at least thirty minutes before washing in warm water, adding one-half cup borax with the recommended amount of detergent. Wash linens, bibs, slips, and cotton crib liners in hot water, adding one-half cup 20 Mule Team Borax and detergent. Borax helps get rid of odors, reduce staining, and make diapers more absorbent.
Wash delicate hand washables. Dissolve one-quarter cup 20 Mule Team Borax and two tablespoons detergent in a basin of warm water. Soak hand washables for ten minutes, rinse in clear, cool water, blot with a towel, lay flat (woolens) or hang to dry (away from sunlight and direct heat).
Eliminate bathtub rust stains. Scrub the stains with a paste made from 20 Mule Team Borax and lemon juice.
Soften soap and rinse waters. Add one tablespoon of 20 Mule Team Borax per quart of water.
Clean and deodorize a refrigerator. Mix one tablespoon 20 Mule Team Borax in one quart warm water. Wash spilled food with a sponge and soft cloth. Rinse with cold water.
Keep the water in a humidifier free from odor. Dissolve one tablespoon 20 Mule Team Borax per gallon of water before adding to the unit. Use this treatment once or twice a year.
Wash windows. Mix one-quarter cup 20 Mule Team Borax, one-half cup ammonia, and two gallons of water to add more sparkle when cleaning windows.
Reduce ash and eliminate smoke problems from candlewicks in homemade candles. Dissolve one tablespoon of table salt and three tablespoons 20 Mule Team Borax in one cup of warm water. Soak heavy twine in the solution for at least 24 hours. Allow the twine to dry thoroughly before using to make candles
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