Borax

Why use borax? Borax is a very safe substance with low toxicity for humans and higher animals. It still very effective as an anti-bacterial, cleaning, fungicidal, and bleaching agent. Using Borax to replace other harsher products is a healthier option for yourself and the environment. The Borax we supply is via the Green Shop and has many uses around the home for cleaning for which they have listed some recipes.

LAUNDRY: Add half a cup of Green Shop Borax to your wash load with the usual amount of washing powder to boost its cleaning power and deodorise the wash.

DELICATES: Soak in a solution of 1 or 2 tablespoons of washing powder and a quarter cup of Borax in a bowl of warm water. Rinse in cool water and dry as appropriate.

REFRIGERATOR: Dissolve 1 tablespoon of Borax in a litre of warm water and use to wipe the fridge clean and deodorise it at the same time.

CARPET STAINS: Test on an unexposed area for colour fastness first. Mix the Borax into a paste and rub into the affected area allow to dry and then vacuum the powder. For wine and other liquid stains dissolve half a cup of Borax in half a litre of warm water, leave for 30 minutes and sponge off. For odours dampen the area sprinkle with Borax and vacuum when it has dried.

WOOD PRESERVATION: Borax is used to treat timber and other wood or paper-based products against insect and fungal attack. It will give protection against woodworm in larval and adult stages by being lethal to them on contact. the larvae will die as they hatch and start eating into the treated wood. any adults emerging from inside the timber will ingest the borax and die as they eat their way out.

on application the borax will travel along the moist parts of the timber, which generally are the most vulnerable areas to attack. as woodworm and fungal organisms need an environment of at least 12% moisture to multiply, any ongoing source of damp should be eliminated if possible. if there is a current infestation which is threatening to cause structural failure it should be treated by inserting borax rods into the affected areas. this is a job to be done by specialist contractors only and we urge you to seek further advice if this is the case.

Application

using the borax dissolved in water, it can be applied by painting, spraying or dipping. apply at the rate of 50 grams of borax per square metre. if the timber is very dry, an initial moistening with water will help absorption. two or more coats at a low dilution are preferable to one coat with a high concentration of borax. if on drying crystals of borax form on the surface of the treated timber, these can be wiped off with a dry cloth prior to painting.

Dilution instructions

for sawn timber - 15% solution ( 1 kg in 5.7 litres of water )
for planed wood - 10% solution ( 1 kg in 9 litres of water )
for dipping - 5% solution ( 1 kg in 18 litres of water )

dissolve in warm water at 15 degrees celsius or higher for one hour in a non-metallic container. 1 kilogram of borax powder in solution should be sufficient to treat 20 square metres of timber.