Remove odors and keep things fresh
Borax is a handy natural remedy for a number of common household odors. To deodorize smelly carpet, make a powder with equal parts baking soda and borax. Sprinkle this into the carpet, then vacuum up after 30 minutes.
For fabrics and upholstery, you don’t need to resort to a heavily-fragranced commercial deodorizing spray. Just mix a half-cup of borax into a spray bottle of water and apply to furniture, curtains or car interiors.
If you have a smelly or stained mattress, rub borax into the problem area with a wet cloth. Let the mattress dry, then vacuum up any residue.
Keep the trash can and your cat’s litter box fresh by washing with a borax and water solution. You can also put two or three tablespoons of borax in the bottom of the clean dry trash can and mix in with the litter to absorb extra moisture and odor. Note that if your cat has ever had a habit of eating litter, you shouldn’t add borax as it may cause digestive upset.
Clean mold and mildew with a mixture of one-gallon water, one cup borax. Apply the mixture with a spray bottle or cloth, and scrub mold away. You can leave the borax mixture there without rinsing, as it will inhibit mold and mildew growth on an ongoing basis.
Clean and deodorize the fridge with water and borax on a sponge or cloth.
You can also freshen your humidifier by dissolving a half-cup of borax in a gallon of water and running it through the humidifier for ten minutes. Afterward, remove any remainder from the tank and rinse well with water.
Another appliance that doesn’t often get cleaned is the dishwasher. You can give it a much-needed freshen-up by scrubbing the bottom and inside with some borax, then sprinkle borax on the bottom of the dishwasher before running the next load of dishes as normal.
