Borax: Reader's Edition
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Hi all, thanks for reading—and welcome! I've been blown away how many new readers have arrived over the last couple of weeks. I love all of the insightful comments and tips that are being shared.
Remember when I discovered how great borax works on tough bathtub stains? Well, the comments on that post are clocking in at 104 right now! Some of them were so good, I wanted to feature them in their own post to make sure you didn't miss them. :) Each name links back to the original comment thread where you can get more details. Without further ado...
From Emma: This looks amazing! Careful though - borax is a poison and can make kids and pets sick. (That's why it works on ants.) Rinse thoroughly before letting anyone use the tub and don't leave it where kids can reach. Just saying. This really is awesome though! :)
So glad Emma shared that! I don't have any kids or pets currently, but it reminded me of a cat I used to have which liked to sneak into bathtubs after someone had showered and lick up the water puddles. (Weird cat.) Definitely remember to rinse the tub well after borax (or any cleaner, for that matter!) Borax is generally agreed to be pretty non-toxic as long as it is ONLY used externally.
From Cherie C.: My midwestern mom had us clean all of the porcelain with borax. Then one time she sprinkled a little on the floor in front of a crack in the wall for the ants that were coming thru. Cured that problem too!
A lot of people chimed in on borax's bug-be-gone power's! Everything from fleas, to ants, to roachs, to spiders. It couldn't have been more timely, because this is the week that spiders and earwigs started waking up and finding their way into my apartment. I sprinkled some borax at the floors and windows where they usually arrive and haven't seen one since! We'll see how long it lasts. . .
From Montana722: I have had my tub that dirty (thanks to bad drainage and two DIRTY kids) :) and I had TERRIFIC success with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and water. It even got off the residue left behind by the "no cleaning spray-on cleaner." :)
I guess I'll have to try out Magic Erasers next, because everyone is using them! Just be careful on wood or anything painted.
From KDS: and if you think borax with water is good, mix borax or baking soda with enough dishwashing liquid (dawn, palmolive, etc) to make a paste... it works like magic just with the green scrubbers, you hardly have to work at all!
Good to know—that sounds epic!
For more great ideas, check out the conversations going on at the Spring Cleaning Challenge!
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In other news, I want to venture into the wild world of homemade yogurt. Anybody have a good tip or tutorial?
Comments
On the yogurt note...I use the recipe from this gal. http://www.savemoneylivejoyfully.com/2011/09/greek-yogurt-in-crock-pot.html So easy!
I am new to the blogger community.. but so excited to dive in!
Andrea
www.aj-beginnings.blogspot.com
Borax was added to the Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC) candidate list on 16 December 2010. The SVHC candidlate list is part of the EU Regulations on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals 2006 (REACH), and the addition was based on the revised classification of Borax as toxic for reproduction category 1B under the CLP Regulations. Substances and mixtures imported into the EU which contain Borax are now required to be labeled with the warnings "May damage fertility" and "May damage the unborn child".[24]
http://www.bonami.com/index.php/about_bon_ami/environmental_stewardship/
Borax is sodium borate (Na 2 B 4 O 7.10H 2), and boric acid (H 3 BO 3)
I wouldn't suggest consuming either one but Borax is about as harmless as you can get in regards to cleaning your bath tub after a good rinse. It's chemical combination make a good abrassive and it help soften water which makes it an excellent cleaner which is why it works in the laundry as well.
Her instructions are great, it's worked for me every time!
1/2 gallon of whole milk, half and half or cream (for thicker yogurt)- cooked on the stove until it is at 185* degrees,Stirring constantly,
the longer it stays at this temp the thicker it will be, about 30 minutes is good.
(For flavored custard style yogurt- Mix in 1 box of flavored jello or pudding)
Then cool milk to 110*
Add 2-3 T plain yogurt into 110* milk and mix
Cover pan with towel and place into oven with oven light on for 8 hours
(for greek yogurt- use triple layer cheese cloth and strain out whey before storing)
refrigerate
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