Natural Cleaners Part IV: BORAX

This is the 4th part in our Natural Cleaners series, and today I'm going to bring you ways to implement borax into your cleaning routine at home. Borax is a very useful mineral that is "quite alkaline, so it kills mold and fungus and softens water," says Robert Wolke, Ph.D. the author of What Einstein Told His Cook: Kitchen Science Explained ($16).

Here are some practical ways to put it to use around the house (courtesy of Real Simple):
*baseboards, countertops & walls: dissolve 1/2 cup borax in 1 gallon hot water and pour into a spray bottle. spritz generously, wipe with a damp cloth & let air-dry.
*china: soak china dishes in a dishpan filled with warm water and 1/2 cup borax. rinse well.
*dishwasher: to get rid of the smell from last night's dinner, sprinkle borax in the bottom of the dishwasher, let it sit overnight, & then wipe with a damp sponge. No rinsing required - just run the next load.
*pots & pans: rub borax into cookware with a damp sponge; rinse well.
*toilet: pour borax into the bowl and let it sit overnight. Use a toilet brush & swish around the bowl. Flush the following day.

Happy (natural!) cleaning, ladies! Stay tuned for next Thursday's Part V: Essential Oils