24 Wacky Uses for 20 Mule Team® Borax

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1. Preserve flowers. Mix one part 20 Mule Team Borax and two parts corn meal. Fill the bottom one-inch of an empty airtight canister with the mixture. Place the flower on the mixture, then gently cover the flower with more mixture, being careful not to crush the flower or distort the petals. Flowers with a lot of overlapping petals, such as roses and carnations, are best treated by sprinkling mixture directly into the blossom before placing them into the box. Seal the canister and store at room temperature in a dry place for seven to ten days. When the flowers are dried, pour off the mixture and dust the flowers with a soft artist's brush. Borax removes the moisture from blossoms and leaves, preventing the wilting which would normally result.
2. Make Green Slime. Empty a four-ounce bottle of Elmer’s Glue-All into a large glass mixing bowl. Fill the empty glue bottle with water and then pour it into the bowl of glue. Add ten drops of green McCormick Food Coloring and stir well. In a second glass mixing bowl, mix one teaspoon 20 Mule Team Borax with once cup water. Stir until the powder dissolves. Slowly pour the colored glue into the bowl containing the borax solution, stirring as you do so. Remove the thick glob that forms, and knead the glob with your hands until it feels smooth and dry. Discard the excess water remaining in the bowl. The resulting soft, pliable, rubbery glob snaps if pulled quickly, stretches if pulled slowly, and slowly oozes to the floor if placed over the edge of a table. Store the Green Slime in the Ziploc Storage Bag or airtight container.
3. Shine china. Add one-half cup 20 Mule Team Borax to a sinkful of warm water, rinse fine china, then rinse again in clean water.
4. Clean hairbrushes and combs. Mix a quarter cup 20 Mule Team Borax and a tablespoon of Dawn Dishwashing Liquid in a basin of warm water. Soak hairbrushes and combs in the solution, rinse clean, and dry.
5. Clean a metal coffee pot. Fill the percolator with water and add one teaspoon 20 Mule Team Borax and one teaspoon detergent powder. Boil the water, let the mixture sit for a few minutes, then rinse clean.
6. Clean chocolate from clothing. Sponge the spot with a solution of one tablespoon 20 Mule Team Borax and one cup warm water. Flush with water. If that doesn't work, make a paste with borax and water, work into the stain, let set for one hour, flush well with warm water, and launder as usual.
7. Make children's clothing flame retardant. Mix together nine ounces 20 Mule Team Borax and four ounces boric acid in one gallon water. If the article is washable, soak in the solution after final rinsing, then dry. If the garment is not washable, spray with the solution. This solution, recommended by fire departments, may wash out of clothing and should be used after each washing or dry cleaning.
8. Make your own household cleanser for walls and floors. Add one-half cup 20 Mule Team Borax, one-half teaspoon Dawn Dishwashing Liquid, and one teaspoon ammonia to two gallons warm water.
9. Make your own automatic dishwashing soap. Use equal parts 20 Mule Team Borax and washing soda.
10. Gently clean porcelain and aluminum cookware. Sprinkle 20 Mule Team Borax on pots and pans, rub with a damp dishcloth, and rinse thoroughly.
11. Reduce water spots on glasses and dishes. Add one tablespoon 20 Mule Team Borax to the dishwasher.
12. Clean spills and stains on carpet and upholstery. Blot up the spill, sprinkle 20 Mule Team Borax to cover the area, let dry, and vacuum. Before treating, make sure the carpet dye is colorfast by testing an unexposed area with a paste of 20 Mule Team Borax and water. For wine and alcohol stains, dissolve one cup 20 Mule Team Borax in one quart water. Sponge in the solution, wait thirty minutes, shampoo the spotted area, let dry, and vacuum.
13. Deodorize garbage disposers. Sprinkle two to three tablespoons 20 Mule Team Borax in the drain, let it stand for fifteen minutes, then flush with water with the disposer on. Borax helps deodorize garbage disposers by neutralizing acidic odors.

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