Borax

Borax has been mined and used for its preservative and cleaning properties for over four thousand years. While it is commonly found deep underground, it is also found on the surface land of Death Valley.

Types of Borax

There are several commercial borax products on the market today, and many of those products contain surfactants and other detergents that are useful in a cleaning product.

It is important not to confuse these commercial preparations with the natural borax powder that is used in cosmetic preparations. Most cosmetic products contain only a small amount of borax, usually less than five percent, to reduce the chances of skin irritation.

Characteristics of Borax

Borax is sold in powder form, and is usually white. Borax is a natural mineral that grows deep underground. Borax, in its natural form, is formed of odorless crystals. Borax works as a cleaning agent by converting water molecules to hydrogen peroxide, which lends borax excellent bleaching properties.

Since borax converts to hydrogen peroxide when mixed with water, you should be careful to add the proper amounts to cosmetics recipes. Using a small amount of borax will enhance your home recipes, but too much is unsafe.

Common Uses of Borax

Borax is used in many different types of products.

It can be added to laundry to whiten clothes, as well as freshen. Borax is also often found in lotions and creams, and is an emulsifying agent that helps bond oils and water together. Borax is also a mild abrasive, and can be used like baking soda to clean hard surfaces.Borax, when mixed with water, also has some disinfectant properties. You can use a small amount of borax in cosmetics as a preservative to keep them fresh.

Borax in Aromatherapy

In aromatherapy, borax can be used as a base powder to add essential oils to. You can make aromatherapy carpet freshener by simply adding essential oils to a base of borax powder. You will need approximately 20 drops of essential oil per cup of borax powder. For a soothing combination, you can use even amounts of rose essential oil, lavender essential oil and eucalyptus essential oil.

Not only will this carpet freshener give your home a wonderful smell, it will also rid the carpets of fleas. You should vacuum well after using the carpet freshener to remove the borax, since in large doses; borax can be harmful to humans and pets. (It's always a good idea to keep pets and small children out of the home when using such a cleanser.)

Borax used in the laundry will give clothes a fresh scent, and borax can be purchased in commercial preparations that are made specifically for laundry. Borax also bonds to water molecules, which allows the borax to be evenly distributed throughout the wash load. This will give you uniformly whitened and freshened clothes.

Storing Borax

You should store Borax in a cool, dry place. You can place your borax in a re-sealable plastic bag or other container to avoid it being contaminated by water or dust.