How to Use Borax As a Soap

Many soaps on the market contain chemicals or fragrances that can irritate the skin. Making your own soap from scratch can solve this problem, as well as save you money. One product that is used to make homemade soap is borax. A white, powdery mineral, borax is sold in most grocery stores in the laundry detergent aisle. Borax easily dissolves in water and is great for cleaning dishes, laundry and even your skin.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Borax
• Washing soda
• Liquid castile soap
• Bucket
• Old laundry detergent containers
• Empty hand soap dispensers

Instructions

Dish Soap

1. Fill your kitchen sink half way with hot water.

2. Add a quarter of a cup of borax, and a quarter of a cup of washing soda. Mix the ingredients together in the water until they have dissolved.

3. Place dishes in the water and wipe clean. Then rinse thoroughly.

Laundry Soap

1. Pour one gallon of hot water into a bucket.

2. Add half a cup of borax, half a cup of washing soda and half a cup of liquid castile soap.

3. Stir until the ingredients have dissolved in the water. Then add another gallon of hot water. Stir again.

4. Pour into old laundry detergent containers. Use half a cup each time you wash a load of laundry.

Hand and Body Soap

1. Pour one gallon of hot water into a bucket.

2. Add 1/8th of a cup of borax to the bucket and stir until completely dissolved.

3. Pour into empty hand-soap dispensers. Set by the bathroom sink, or use in the shower to wash your body.

Tips & Warnings

• You can place a little bit of borax powder directly on dishes that need to be scoured.

• If you use borax in your dishwasher, you will need to use vinegar during the rinse cycle. Otherwise, you will have spots on your dishes.

References

• Earth Easy: Non-toxic Home Care
• Living Network: Borax Soap and Its Uses