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Freshen up your clothes with this natural laundry cleaner
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Are you looking for a way to refresh clothes that have turned dull or dingy? When old detergent and dirt get caught in the fabric, borax is the perfect all-natural addition to your laundry load. Borax works with your detergent to strip residue from your clothes so they look bright and clean, and it’s so easy to use whenever you’re doing laundry. Keep reading, and we’ll cover what borax is and how to add it to your laundry for extra stain- and odor-fighting power!
Things You Should Know
- Add ½ cup (204 g) of borax to a load of white or colored clothes to soften the water, boost the power of your detergent, and brighten your clothes.
- Mix ¼ cup (102 g) of borax and 2 cups (470 ml) of water into a solution, and apply it to any stains. Let the solution dry, and blot the stain with a damp sponge.
- Brighten your clothes by soaking them in a solution of borax, washing soda , and powder detergent for 3–4 hours. Then, run the clothes through a rinse cycle.
Steps
Section 5 of 6:
Improving Water Quality with Borax
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Soften hard water in your washer with ½ cup (204 g) of borax. Hard water makes it difficult for your detergent to lather up and clean your clothes. [13] X Trustworthy Source U.S. Department of Energy Official site for the U.S. Department of Energy, which provides resources related to energy safety, conservation, and efficiency Go to source Pour the borax into your washing machine with your clothes and standard detergent. Because borax is a natural water softener, it will boost the effectiveness of your laundry detergent and leave your clothes looking great. [14] X Research source
- Look for signs of hard water in your home, like mineral buildup around faucets, tough soap scum, or cloudy spots on glasses.
- Avoid using borax if you already have soft water since the detergent could create too many suds that could prevent your clothes from getting properly cleaned. [15] X Research source
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Use borax to raise the water pH for a stronger clean. If the water in your washer is slightly acidic, your detergent doesn’t remove stains as effectively. [16] X Research source Borax has a pH of 9.5, so it’s slightly alkaline and adding it to your washing machine helps neutralize the acids. [17] X Research source Use ½ cup (204 g) of borax for your laundry load. [18] X Research source
- Use a pH probe or pH test kit to check the acidity of your water. If the water has a pH below 7, then it’s considered acidic.
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References
- ↑ https://www.minerals.net/mineral/borax.aspx
- ↑ https://www.midlothian.tx.us/DocumentCenter/View/986/borax1?bidId=
- ↑ https://beta.lakeland.edu/AboutUs/MSDS/PDFs/2383/Borax%2020%20Mule%20Team%20Cleaner%20(US%20Borax-Chemical)%203-5-05.pdf
- ↑ https://www.midlothian.tx.us/DocumentCenter/View/986/borax1?bidId=
- ↑ https://youtu.be/xnKaPfNdBsM?t=85
- ↑ https://youtu.be/zucjX-1SMz0?t=117
- ↑ https://eec.ky.gov/Environmental-Protection/Waste/recycling-and-local-assistance/Fact%20Sheets/Factsheetsafesubs.pdf
- ↑ https://youtu.be/oSOZUXvhATU?t=150
- ↑ https://housecleaningcentral.com/cleaning-tips/clothing/laundry-101-laundry-boosters-water-softeners/
- ↑ ​​ https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/handlers/printcontent.cfm?ContentID=21043&ThisPageURL=http%3A%2F%2Fmsdh%2Ems%2Egov%2Fmsdhsite%2Findex%2Ecfm%2Findex%2Ecfm&EntryCode=21043&GroupID=44
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/11-handy-uses-for-borax-around-the-house-53429
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-get-mold-out-of-clothes/
- ↑ https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/articles/reasons-every-home-should-have-water-softener
- ↑ https://housecleaningcentral.com/cleaning-tips/clothing/laundry-101-laundry-boosters-water-softeners/
- ↑ https://fluffloveuniversity.com/how-to-wash-cloth-diapers/washing-cloth-diapers-in-soft-water/
- ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350703657_Effect_of_Water_pH_on_Domestic_Machine_Washing_Performance_of_Delicate_Textiles
- ↑ https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Borax#section=Solubility
- ↑ https://www.midlothian.tx.us/DocumentCenter/View/986/borax1?bidId=
- ↑ https://silverbobbin.com/does-borax-bleach-clothes/
- ↑ https://beta.lakeland.edu/AboutUs/MSDS/PDFs/2383/Borax%2020%20Mule%20Team%20Cleaner%20(US%20Borax-Chemical)%203-5-05.pdf
- ↑ https://extension.usu.edu/archive/home-cleaning-chemicals
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