Those familiar with borax and bleach will know that they are two different elements with unique properties and special ways of working. It has been a subject of discussion if adding borax to bleach can have effects on it. And this has generated several conceptions, which will be addressed in this post. We will be exploring what the elements are, if they can be mixed, and how they can be mixed for cleaning.
But before delving into the subject matter, you should know that borax can be mixed with bleach. Borax is disodium tetraborate or Sodium Tetraborate, which is the combination of oxygen, sodium, and boron. It features calcium hypochlorite, sodium hypochlorite, and hydrogen peroxide. It’s also used in cleaning. Therefore, mixing it with bleach will only result in the enhancement of cleaning properties, odors, and stains.
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Contents
About Borax
Borax is typically a detergent booster (all-natural element) known by numerous users that find natural cleaning techniques great.
It’s also an alkaline substance that features about 9.5 PH values. It has a basic solution when put in water. It can effectively get rid of acidic stains, such as tomato and mustard. Besides, some people use it as a pre-treating solution.
Moreover, if borax is added to a laundry in a washer, it impressively offers bright white clothes. So, when borax and bleach are mixed, users will obviously see the bleach’s cleaning ability in the product.
But it’s important to ask if borax is really safe to use. Well, a lot of people see “if borax is safe or not” as a serious issue. In fact, for safety concerns, the mineral was replaced in cosmetics and body care products.
Research shows that borax can irritate the skin when not diluted since it’s highly alkaline. So, it’s advised that people avoid ingesting the product and ensure it’s properly kept away from children.
Moreso, users of borax must treat it like other cleaners (never assume it’s innocuous) and store it in a very safe place.
As of when this article was written, there was no scientific document showing how borax can affect the environment. However, the product can be toxic to aquatic life in its concentrated form.
Can you Mix Bleach and Borax?
There are different kinds of bleaches. In this section, we’ll be showing if borax can be mixed with each of them or not.
Oxygen Bleach and Borax
Oxygen bleach is another name for “non-chlorine bleach,” with the formula: Ca(ClO)2. It’s colorless or, better say, it’s white. People generally describe oxygen bleach as a chlorine-free bleach solution.
You should know that borax and oxygen bleach can be used for odors and stains around the house (a powerful disinfectant). It is ideal for your clothing.
With oxygen bleach solutions, you can effectively remove viruses and bacteria and make every material bright, just like what most conventional bleach can do. Nonetheless, it’s important to adhere to the safety conditions attached to its use (due to its toxicity).
Furthermore, borax and oxygen bleach can also repel mildew and molds from clothes. They are ideal solutions to make furniture and other materials in the house clean. If used for laundry, they are as effective as chlorine bleach– several users love them because they’re toxin-free.
Chlorine Bleach and Borax
Technically, chlorine bleach is referred to as sodium hypochlorite. It’s an oxidizing agent characterized by great strength. It can be seen in liquid form with yellow or green color. The formula of chlorine bleach is NaClO.
As a disinfectant, chlorine bleach can be mixed with borax to help whiten materials. With the mixture, users can efficiently clean out molds. To clean odors or any bacteria, viruses, and stains, you can mix borax and chlorine bleach with hot water. The mixture can also help clean your house, making it bacteria, virus, and stain free.
How to Mix Bleach and Borax for Cleaning
It can be tasking to mix borax and bleach for cleaning, but with the support in this section, you should find it easy and have the ideal solution for your laundry and clothes:
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Step One–Get Everything Needed: Get all needed for the process, including some borax, some oxygen bleach/chlorine bleach, and some hot water.
- Step Two–Measure the solutions: Get measuring cups (small) to measure the borax and the bleach amount to the water.
- Step Three–Do the Mixture: For a normal load, add half a cup of bleach to half of the borax, but for a full load, only a full cup of bleach. Also, add to the mixture some hot water
Note: Ensure you read the requirements on the back of the packaging. If the borax has ammonia, don’t use it with bleach (bleach and ammonia can’t work together). Also, make sure you are aware of other threats that may arise.
- Step Four–Use the Mixture: Rub the mixture and rinse it nicely. Soak the material in the mixture for hours to get the stains (tomato or mustard) out.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Check below some of the frequently asked questions about mixing borax and bleach. Please, review them with their answers for further knowledge.
Is mixing borax and bleach harmful?
No, mixing borax and bleach is not harmful. The mixture does not produce toxic fumes or heat. It rather enhances the cleaning agent’s abilities, providing numerous cleaning benefits.
What happens if you mix borax and bleach?
Mixing borax and bleach offers several cleaning benefits. These include whitening and removing stains, acting as a disinfectant and an unreactive agent (when used with materials), removing grease, and cleaning the bathroom.
What can borax are mixed with?
There are materials you can mix borax with. These include baking soda, vinegar, washing soda, oxygen bleach, chlorine bleach, borax candles, and so on.
Conclusion
There is nothing wrong with mixing borax (a natural mineral) with bleach for cleaning. As explained in the body of the content, it’s an effective way to enhance cleaning agent abilities. However, you need to be careful while using the mixture because inhaling it can be toxic, leading to serious health issues. Also, ensure the mixture is stored properly where children can access it and placed where there are no acidic substances to avoid a reaction.