Since 2010 in the UK and EU you cannot buy borax. In 2010 the EU banned Borax because studies had shown negative impacts on reproductive health. Due to this reason Borax was banned in the UK and EU in 2010. Rats were feed borax and over time the borax was shown to build up in some of the internal organs (1). Personally? Based on what I’ve found out, if stored out of the reach of kids and pets I would be quite happy to use borax in my house. Today let’s talk borax. Specifically, what is borax, and is it safe for cleaning with?You see, in my green cleaning kit, I always have a box of borax to hand.It’s a handy ingredient to have.Especially when there are so many uses for borax around the house.

Often, the ingredients listed come under umbrella terms, such as ‘ionic surfactants’ or ‘enzymes’. It is difficult to know exactly what these are. If you’re using it for laundry, just pop a couple of tablespoons along with your detergent or eco-friendly alternative. If you have a stain, we recommend pre-soaking them in around 150g of Borax Substitute before going in the washing machine. Or, create a paste with hot water and apply it to the stain before. Some people also recommend adding vinegar or lemon juice to the solution to boost its cleaning power. Sodium tetraborate is a derivative of boric acid and it actually occurs naturally as seasonal lakes cycle and evaporate repeatedly, leaving behind a buildup of crystal/powdery deposit which is the salt of boric acid. Let’s take a look at 6 main uses for borax substitute. 1. Laundry detergent and washing machine cleaner You can also make your very own stubborn stain remover using borax substitute. To do this it’s best to make a paste by mixing mix two cups of water with half a cup borax substitute, stir everything together, and set it aside for wiping or scrubbing.

Borax isn’t for everyone, and because you can’t actually buy it in the UK, here are some alternative products you should consider using instead… 1. Bicarbonate of soda Kitchen Mixer Taps Pull-Out Kitchen Taps Low Pressure Kitchen Taps Filtered Water Taps Boiling Water Kitchen Taps Cold Water Kitchen Taps Filters & Accessories Before getting started on a large area, test a small area of the carpet in an inconspicuous place to test for colour fastness. To restore the shine on your best china, fill your sink with warm water and add half a cup of borax. Soak your china in it for a little while, before rinsing well and washing as normal. Sink Cleaner

Give the product a stir before use and place 1-2 tablespoons into the drum (for high efficiency machines) or 31g (just less than 2 tablespoons) for UK machines, and add directly to the drum ( can be placed inside a small plastic cup, then just pop it on top of the clothes). Try and use the ‘warmest water possible’ for your clothing. Now, the reason why traditional borax and borax substitute is so good for household cleaning comes down to its alkaline pH. Borax substitute has a pH of around 9. I have found reports of 1,500 cases of poisoning from detergent capsules in three years. The same article reports that one child a day had to be hospitalised in 2012 and 2013.What’s more, one child has died from detergent capsule poisoning. Known Studies on the Safety of Borax For extra freshness, add a couple drops of lemon essential oil to each load, but experiment. The essential oil you may have already added to the recipe, may be enough. Lemon essential oil can make your DIY laundry detergent smell lovely. Many people associate the term borax with “20 Mule Team Borax”, a popular brand of household cleaning powder founded in 1883. The product’s name refers to the teams of mules and horses that carried borax away from Californian mines.

Enzymes are used in biological detergent to better break down fats and proteins. Although enzymes are naturally derived, there has been suggestion they cause skin irritation. Wash clothes as hot as possible, or ensure to add hot water to the product before using in a cold/colder wash. The cleaning power of borax substitute vs borax is virtually the same too as it has a very similar pH.