16 Benefits of Borax Most People Don’t Know

Summary of Key Borax Lifestyle Uses (Auto-subtitles may contain minor errors)

General premise

Borax (available since the 1800s) is suggested as a low-cost, multi-purpose cleaner and pest-control aid—potentially saving money compared with buying separate specialty products.

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Household cleaning & maintenance

• Trash can odor control / pest discouragement (No. 16)

  • After cleaning and emptying the bin, sprinkle ~1/2 cup dry borax in the bottom before adding the new trash bag.
  • Claims: absorbs odors and discourages flies and ants.

• Remove porcelain sink scuff marks (No. 15)

  • The video claims gray marks on a white porcelain sink are tiny metal deposits (not scratches).
  • Method:
    • Sprinkle borax on a damp sponge
    • Buff the marks away
  • Claims: strong enough to lift metal deposits without damaging glaze.

• Clean window screens (No. 14)

  • Spraying with a hose may mostly move dirt around.
  • Method:
    • Dip a soft brush into a borax + water solution
    • Scrub the mesh to pull grime from the tiny holes
    • Rinse afterward

• Deep clean toilet overnight for hard-water rings (No. 3)

  • Method:
    • Pour ~1 cup borax into the toilet bowl before bed
    • Do not flush
    • In the morning: brush once, then flush
  • Claims: breaks down mineral scale so rings above the water line disappear.

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Fabric care & storage

• Fix porcelain- or fabric-related? (Fabric items covered below)

• Remove rust stains from clothes (No. 11)

  • Method:
    • Mix borax + lemon juice into a paste (roughly equal parts)
    • Apply directly to the rust stain
    • Let sit ~30 minutes
    • Scrub and rinse
  • Claims: lemon’s citric acid helps break down iron while borax helps lift it out.

• Revive a shrunken wool sweater (No. 10)

  • Method:
    • Dissolve 1 Tbsp borax in 1 gallon cold water
    • Submerge sweater and gently stretch back toward original shape while soaking
    • Soak ~30 minutes
    • Lay flat and dry in the stretched shape
  • Claims: borax relaxes fibers to help reshape (may not work on everything).

• Mothproof storage bins (No. 12)

  • Replaces mothballs with borax.
  • Method: add a light dusting of borax in the bottom of storage bins.
  • Claims: museum curators use it; less harsh smell than mothballs.

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Gardening / outdoor use

• Kill weeds in sidewalk & patio cracks (No. 8)

  • Method: pour dry borax directly into cracks (video suggests ~a teaspoon per crack).
  • Claims: raises boron level in small soil patches to kill at the root.
  • Warning: use only where you don’t want anything to grow; suggested to be very permanent—often 1 treatment per season.

• Protect outdoor wood from rot & insects (No. 7)

  • Method:
    • Mix 1 cup borax into 1 gallon hot water
    • Brush onto bare unpainted wood (fence posts, deck boards, shed siding, garden beds, etc.)
    • Let soak in and dry
  • Claims: protects against rot, mold, and wood-boring insects (including termites) and may require annual reapplication for weather-exposed areas.

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Pest control (indoors)

• Get rid of silverfish (No. 6)

  • Method: apply a thin layer of borax dust along:
    • backs of shelves
    • closet corners
    • under cabinet bases
  • Claims:
    • Works when pests walk through it
    • Light dusting is important (too thick = pests go around)
    • Keep dust out of reach of children/pets

• Get rid of cockroaches (No. 5)

  • Method: dust a very thin layer along baseboards and common routes, including:
    • under the refrigerator
    • behind the stove
  • Claims:
    • Too much = roaches go around
    • Takes 2–3 weeks to work through the population

• Kill flea eggs in carpet (No. 4)

  • Steps:
    • Vacuum first to remove adult fleas
    • Sprinkle borax across carpet (especially where pets spend time)
    • Work into fibers with a broom
    • Keep kids and pets out until the area is vacuumed thoroughly
  • Claims: borax dehydrates eggs/larvae and can break the cycle after one treatment.

• Take out an entire ant colony (No. 1)

  • Method:
    • Mix 1 tsp borax + 1 cup sugar
    • Dissolve in warm water
    • Soak cotton balls in the mixture
    • Place near ant trails (window sills, activity areas)
  • Claims:
    • Ants carry it back to the nest (including feeding the queen)
    • Borax disrupts digestion gradually enough to spread through the colony
    • Often: trail gone within ~1 week; colony gone within ~2 weeks
  • Framing: described as a DIY replacement for exterminators.

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DIY laundry detergent (cost-saving recipe)

• Make your own laundry detergent (No. 2)
  • Ingredients:
    • Borax
    • Washing soda
    • Fels Naptha soap bar
  • Steps:
    • Use 1 cup each of borax and washing soda
    • Grate the Fels Naptha bar
    • Mix all together dry and store in a container
  • Usage: ~2 tablespoons per load
  • Cost claim: batch costs ~$3–$4 and covers ~40–50 loads

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Notable locations, products, or speakers mentioned

• Location mentioned: Michigan (cold climate example for car floor mats and road salt).
• Products mentioned:
  • Fels Naptha soap (for detergent recipe)
  • Borax (primary topic)
  • Washing soda (detergent recipe)
  • Mothballs (compared with borax)
• Speaker: The video’s narrator/host (no specific person named).