You can also use it to kill ants in your kitchen (mix it with sugar—they take the borax back to the nest). It’s way less toxic than spray chemicals, which is great if you have kids or pets around.
Another trick? Make a paste with water and a little lemon juice to scour your sink. The fine crystals act like a gentle abrasive that cuts through soap scum and hard water rings without scratching your stainless steel.
And if your garbage disposal smells like a science experiment? Pour a quarter cup of borax down there, let it sit for 15 minutes, then run cold water. It will instantly freshen up that funk.
But Is It Safe? (The Honest Talk)
Let’s be real: you shouldn’t eat it, and it can irritate eyes if you get it in them (so don’t do a borax facial). But for everyday use in the wash or on surfaces, it’s widely considered very safe.
20 Mule Team Borax giJhW Laundry Booster, Powder, 4 Pounds 3 Pack
It’s less harsh than bleach and doesn’t leave that clingy, perfumed residue that some fabric softeners do. It’s just a simple mineral salt that does its job and gets out of the way.
Just keep it away from little kids and curious pets, because a pile of it looks a lot like laundry snow. Common sense wins the day here.
