Get rid of tough stains and clogs
Clean chewing gum, tar, grease or adhesive residue with a paste made with two parts borax and one part water. Rub the paste onto the mess and then rinse or wipe clean.
For stains on clothing, apply a paste made with one part borax and two parts water. Leave the mixture on for half an hour, then launder as normal.
You can also use borax to remove stains from carpeting. If you are using a carpet cleaning machine such as a Rug Doctor, you can improve its cleaning power to remove tough carpet stains by adding borax to the water in the reservoir. Use a half-cup of borax per gallon of water.
Remove rust from tools or household items with a paste of one tablespoon borax, one tablespoon lemon juice and a little water. Use a sponge to clean off the rust.
A slightly different mixture will clean stains from stainless steel or porcelain sinks. Use one cup borax and a quarter-cup lemon juice to make a paste. Just rub on and then rinse clean.
You can also clean the more nasty parts of sinks and drains with borax. To sanitize and unblock a garbage disposal, put three tablespoons of borax into it, then flush with warm water after an hour. To unclog a drain, pour 1/2 cup of borax, then slowly add two cups of boiling water. After letting it sit for a little while, run the water to clear everything out.
Clean bakeware, pots and pans with cooked-on stains by sprinkling a little borax and rubbing with a damp cloth before rinsing thoroughly.
