Borax powder is a workhorse for performing a number of household functions. Borax is everything from a laundry booster, deodorizer, and stain remover to a multi-purpose cleaner and freshener. But the controversy is that pure or natural borax powder is rare and therefore people look for the best substitutes for borax powder.
Borax powder is purely a mineral and chemically a sodium salt of boric acid. It finds its wide range of applications in the synthesis of detergents, insecticides or pesticides, cosmetics, and ceramics. It is also a major component of water softening agents.
But the point of consideration is its impacts on our livings or health. It can cause health issues like sensitive skin irritation, eye irritation, and serious digestive system disorders if mistakenly ingested by children.
Knowing all these situations, one should know the best borax powder alternatives. So, check the following list of safe ingredients that you can use instead of borax.
Substitutes For Borax Powder
Despite the variety of advantages of using borax powder, you can not compromise your health preferences.
Most of the time, it is considered a safe ingredient to be used for household applications but can pose a problem when ingested or inhaled. And there may be chances that you are simply run out of this multi-purpose cleaner.
In both cases, the following list of all possible yet healthier replacements can help you. Let’s check out all one by one.
1. Borax Substitute
Instead of applying borax powder, try borax substitute that is a pretty better choice to pick up. Chemically, it’s Sodium Sesquicarbonate sold in packing just like borax powder. It is a chemical mixture of sodium carbonate and bicarbonate, the common ingredients of detergents.
It resembles borax powder in a way having the same pH and functional diversity. So, employ it to perform your routine washing and cleaning purposes.
2. Baking Soda
Another safe yet multifunctional substitution for borax powder is baking soda. Baking soda is such a versatile and common ingredient that’s always available in the kitchen.
It replaces borax whenever you want to repel insects from kitchen or other house corners. Baking soda acts as a natural insect repellent.
Not limited to this, baking soda when mixed with water is a great cleaning agent. It also competes borax when comes to bestowing brightness to laundry.
The more diverse applications of baking soda include the cleaning of porcelain, refrigerators, working counters, and toilets.
3. Vinegar
Being an easily available and universal ingredient, vinegar is also a good alternative for borax powder. Its lower pH makes it a worth-considering option when comes to eliminating grit or dust.
Swap borax powder with vinegar when going to clean crockery, countertops, delicates, and glass windows. It can give the same results as a borax powder when employed to clean machinery, common appliances, and porcelain.
4. Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is a soft white crumbly powder containing silica and alumina. It is well known for its pest repellent properties. If you are going to use borax powder as a pesticide, diatomaceous earth can work great as an alternative.
Sprinkle it where insects gathered but keep it away from children. This is because it may cause serious effects when ingested just like borax powder.
5. Corn Starch
If you are thinking about the safety of your children and want to switch borax powder in slime, corn starch will get you covered. Mix it with some water until a thick paste is formed, or add some glue to mimic borax powder and make slime.
You can also add food coloring to this paste for more fun that is completely safe for children.
Not just these options, you can also use a mixture of more than one ingredient to get the best out of them.
For instance, the mixture of detergent with baking soda, baking soda and vinegar, baking soda and water, and even coffee grinds are good substitutes for borax powder. In addition, all these are always available in home and safe to use everywhere with no health risk.
