March 12, 2011: The Many Uses of Borax

As I shared with you at the beginning of this month, borax (sodium tetraborate) is another staple to keep in your pantry for cleaning uses all over the house since it works really well as a detergent.

Most of us are familiar with the Twenty Mule Team brand of borax. I think about it every time I go visit my in-laws in California because we pass right by the mining operation in the state’s infamous Death Valley.

It’s interesting to note how the company got its name. The mine, a rich source of minerals, was first operational in the 1880s. The problem, however, was how to get the borax out of the valley and to the freight train that would distribute it around the country. The solution? Twenty teams of mules hitched to heavy-duty wagons which weighed over 18 tons each when loaded. These mule teams had to traverse 165 miles, starting at an elevation of 190 feet below sea level and ending at an elevation of 2,000 feet above sea level. Although it’s more romantic to think that horses were the biggest boon to taming the West, it’s actually mules that did the heavy lifting, making them much more valuable than a horse.

It’s strange to think that a mineral ore could be such a good cleanser, but it really is. I’ve already shared with you that it is a key ingredient in homemade laundry detergent, but it’s much more diverse than that. Plus, borax is safe for septic systems. It’s a natural ingredient, but it is toxic when taken internally; avoid contact with your eyes and wash your hands after using it.

Here are some additional uses for borax:

• Toilet cleaner – just sprinkle in the bowl of your toilet as you would powdered cleanser. For tough stains, swish it around and let it sit for an hour or overnight.
• Garbage disposals and sink drains – Sprinkle a couple tablespoons into the drain and let stand for a minimum of 15 minutes. Flush with warm water (turn the disposal on). It not only cleans, it freshens your drains.
• Even if you don’t use my recipe for homemade laundry soap, do add about a ½ cup of borax to your regular laundry detergent to make it work better.
• Carpet cleaner – use ½ cup of borax dissolved in about a cup and a half of warm water. Apply the mixture to carpet stains with a sponge or rag. Let it sit for half an hour then rinse with plain water. Vacuum after drying.
• Dishwasher – borax removes mineral stains. If you do not wish to use the following recipe for dishwashing powder, add a ¼ cup of borax to the bottom of your dishwasher to soften the water and reduce spots and film on your dishes.

Borax Dishwashing Powder

1 cup baking soda
1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda

Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container. To use, add one tablespoon to each compartment of your dishwasher.

Tip: I have to be honest with you... While this recipe does a great job of cleaning your dishes, I found that over time it left a chalky white film on my dishes. I tried experimenting with the amounts of ingredients and adding vinegar to the rinse agent receptacle but nothing really solved this problem. I would only recommend using this formula once in a while (and that’s the reason I don’t use my dishwasher but once in a blue moon).

March 4, 2011: The Many Uses for Baking Soda

One thing I do not like is using harsh, toxic, strong-smelling cleaners in my home. And there’s really no need to use them. Not only do natural products cost less, they work just as well – and sometimes better – than their commercial counterparts.

Take baking soda, for instance. I buy it in the largest box available because I use it constantly. It’s great for deodorizing, cleaning, and a whole lot more. Just take a look at all the ways you can use baking soda around your house:

Baking Soda Deodorizer:
• Place a small, opened carton in the refrigerator and freezer.
• Sprinkle in the bottom of your garbage can before adding a trash bag.
• Sprinkle in the bottom of the baby’s diaper pail.
• Add to kitty litter.
• Pour a bit into a pretty dish and leave it next to the stove to absorb cooking odors.
• Sprinkle over the carpet a half hour before vacuuming.
• Use a small, opened carton or a can filled with baking soda on the floor in a corner of your closet to absorb shoe odors.
• Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with water and pour it into dirty baby bottles. Leave it overnight then wash as usual – gets rid of sour milk smell.
• Make a paste of baking soda and dishwashing liquid to clean spots on upholstery and carpet (test a small area first to make sure it doesn’t bleach the fabric).

Baking Soda in the Bathroom:
• Use in place of a powdered cleanser, such as Comet, to scrub the sink, bathtub and shower.
• For stubborn rust stains, make a paste with a bit of water and let it sit for about an hour before scrubbing, then rinsing.
• Clean the shower drain by pouring in a cup of baking soda. Let it sit for a few minutes, then add a cup of vinegar. Let it sit for about half an hour, then pour a half gallon of boiling water the drain to get rid of hair buildup (especially good for sensitive septic systems).

Baking Soda for the Laundry:
• Fill a small spray bottle three-quarters of the way full with water, add baking soda to the top. Keep it in your baby’s room and spray it on clothes to clean spit-up.
• Use it as a fabric softener by adding a half cup to the rinse water in your washing machine.

You can pretty much use baking soda for any type of cleaning – I’ve used it to scrub the pans underneath the burners on my electric stove before and it left them nice and shiny. Do remember that baking soda is an abrasive, though, and don’t use it on painted china or other types of decorative objects.

March 3, 2011: Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe

Have you seen the price of laundry detergent in the grocery store? Yikes! You’ll pay over $10 for a large size box or bottle and if you’ve got a medium- or large-sized family, that’s not likely to last very long. Think about it – your kids will be playing baseball soon and you’re bound to have lots of grass-stained uniforms to wash!

I use the following recipe to make my own laundry soap and because it’s so concentrated, it lasts for months! Another advantage of this recipe is that it doesn’t have any added dyes or perfumes so it’s perfect for washing baby clothes. And honestly? It works just as good, if not better, than most commercial formulas.

You can easily find the ingredients in most hardware stores, like Ace or True Value; some grocery stores also carry these ingredients. And if you live in a rural location and prefer the convenience of ordering by mail, you can call Arm & Hammer at 1-800-524-1328 and give them the UPC code 33200-03020 to find out where washing soda is sold in your area, or have it delivered to your home. I called them about two years ago and they had a great deal where you could buy two and get one free, which made up for the cost of shipping – plus I didn’t have to pay sales tax.

Homemade Laundry Soap

1 bar Fels Naptha, Ivory, or Zote soap (Fels Naptha preferred)
1 c. borax
1 c. washing soda
9 c. water
Few drops tea tree oil (for disinfectant purposes) or other essential oil (for fragrance), optional

Take a large stock pot and grate the soap, using a fine cheese grater, into the pot. Add the borax and washing soda and mix well. Slowly add the water, stirring continually. Heat slowly to boiling over medium heat, continuing to stir occasionally until all the soap and powders are dissolved.

When cool, pour into one large or several small containers (when you use up your current jug of laundry detergent, just rinse it out and use that). The longer the soap sits, the thicker it will get.

Per load of laundry, use one to two tablespoons of soap.

Tips: This soap works best with warm or hot water in your washing machine during cold weather. It tends to get very thick in cold temperatures so set the container out near a heater to warm up before using in the winter.