Borax is one laundry aid that becomes handy when looking for a way to whiten and brighten clothes, and it is also effective in removing or getting rid of offensive odors.
Borax also helps combat the difficulty associated with washing with hard water as it softens hard water and reduces the mineral deposits left behind on the fabrics.
If Borax is this effective, asking how to use borax in front load washers is ok.
Add 1/2 cup of borax to an empty washer to brighten and deodorize laundry. For smelly clothes, try a full cup of baking soda instead. Soak clothes in baking soda and water for 30 minutes before washing for best results.
What Is Borax?
Borax is a natural mineral, sodium tetraborate, and it is a product of mining. Its usage has been on for even thousands of years.
The origin of borax is from the element boron, which means that the laundry aid borax is a chemical compound of the element boron.
If it is not called borax, it can be called sodium borate or disodium tetraborate. It has a characteristic soft, white, many-sided nature and is usually a crystal powder that dissolves readily in water.
Its usage in laundry is very beneficial and recommended, but it should be kept off the reach of children and should not be ingested.
Front Load Washer
Front-load washers or washing machines are designed with horizontally mounted inner baskets and outer tubs.
Clothing is rotated through the water with the use of a horizontal drum. They often but do not always come with transparent side-opening doors.
Can Borax Be Used In Front Load Washer?
Borax is a very effective laundry aid and can be used in front-load washers, which makes the laundry process easy.
The laundry aid borax can be used to whiten and brighten clothes and is effective in removing offensive odors.
So using it in a front load washer isn’t a problem as it won’t cause any problem to the front load washer in case you are skeptical, we will explain to you how to use Borax in front load washer.
What You’ll Need
Cleaning Tools
- Washer
- Large plastic tub
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Borax
- Laundry detergent
How To Use Borax In Front Load Washer
Borax has a dry nature, and placing it in the automatic detergent dispenser with your regular detergent is not an option and shouldn’t be done.
The reason is that the borax can cause clumping and clog the dispenser, and if you are using cold water, make sure it dissolves properly before you start washing.
It is preferable to try sprinkling 1/2 cup of borax into the empty washer and allow it to stand for 30 minutes in the tub before you load the clothes.
Borax has a great advantage in laundry because it acts as a natural brightener and deodorizer.
If the clothes are smelly, then instead of half a cup of borax, you can go for a full cup of soda, and using a full cup of baking soda will not harm your washer.
Your chances of getting a better result are higher if you allow the clothes to soak in the baking soda and water for at least 30 minutes before completing the wash cycle.
How to Use Borax to Enhance Detergent Cleaning Results
Borax can be used to boost the action of detergent during the washing cycle, and most times, this is achieved by adding one-half cup of borax to each load.
When this is done, the cleaning action of the laundry detergent will surely be boosted.
It is usually done by adding the dry powder directly to the washer drum in a front or top-loading washer before adding the dirty laundry.
How to Use Borax to Whiten Dirty Laundry
Borax sure can be used as a whitener for dirty laundry, and this is very easy and simple to achieve.
It involves the addition of borax to the water. When added, the borax converts some water molecules to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a mild oxidizing or bleaching agent.
And you are at home with the fact that bleaching agents whiten fabrics, and that is what happens because, just like other oxygen-based bleaches, hydrogen peroxide breaks down safely into water and oxygen.
Use as a Presoak
Add half a cup of borax to every gallon of water to brighten up heavily-soiled washable items.
For optimal results, submerge the white garments and let them soak for at least one hour, although longer soaking times are highly recommended.
Do not deviate from these instructions when laundering the items afterward.
Boost the Performance of Chlorine Bleach
Chlorine bleach should be added to the washer from the automatic dispenser about five minutes after the wash cycle starts.
Adding borax at the beginning of the wash cycle, along with the detergent, is safe when using chlorine bleach.
Reduce Residue Left in Fabrics
Borax reduces residue left in fabrics through the aid of borates in borax, and it does this by keeping the detergent dispersed throughout the wash water in each load, so it’s more likely to rinse out.
After borax has helped remove residue left in fabrics, your fabrics become whiter, brighter, and softer to the touch.
How to Use Borax Detergent as a Stain and Odor Remover
In terms of removing stains and odor, borax is super effective as it is an effective stain remover for both food and grease stains.
It is also effective in inhibiting the growth of fungi, mold, and bacteria, which might also increase the production of strong odors in clothes.
One tablespoon of borax is mixed with two tablespoons of water, and the paste is spread on the stained area of the garment. Allow it to stand for 30 minutes before washing.
Get a Deep Clean by Laundry Stripping
We tend to overlook that our linens can get pretty dirty despite our diligent efforts to clean our clothes thoroughly.
Blankets, duvets, dish towels, bath towels, and pillowcases all come into contact with our skin and retain a lot of dirt that cannot be completely washed away in a single cycle.
Laundry stripping has become a popular trend on social media. This involves using various chemicals to remove oils and dirt from your linens.
Everyone has their method of laundry stripping, but as long as you use the correct ingredients (borax, washing soda, and laundry detergent), you should have success.
If you want to strip your laundry using borax, you can follow these simple steps.
- Mix ¼ cup of borax, ¼ cup of washing soda, and ½ cup of laundry detergent in hot water.
- Pour over laundry and let sit until cooled, stirring occasionally
- Wash stripped laundry in the washing machine without detergent
- Dry as usual.
Read Also: Can You Put Fabric Softener in With Detergent?
How to Use Borax to Improve Water Quality
In some areas of the country, acidic or hard water can cause laundry-related issues. However, including Borax in your laundry routine can help to enhance the water quality.
Improve Acidic Water
When added to water in a laundry load, Borax raises the pH level to about 8, which is slightly alkaline and perfect for cleaning. A neutral pH is 7, ideal for removing dirt and stains from clothes.
Borax also works as a buffering agent to maintain this pH level even after adding detergent or other cleaning agents. As a result, your clothes will come out cleaner when using Borax in your laundry routine.
Soften Hard Water
Did you know that 85 percent of America has hard water? This means that the water has high levels of calcium and magnesium, making it difficult for laundry detergent to work effectively.
As a result, your clothes may end up looking gray and dull. However, there is a solution!
You can add half a cup of Borax to each load of laundry as it contains sodium that helps to soften the water and improve the appearance of your clothes. Give it a try and see the difference for yourself!
Conclusion
I’m confident you’ve got the hang of using borax on your front-load machine now.
You sure know that you can use borax in a front load machine, and all that you have to do is to try sprinkling 1/2 cup of borax into the empty washer and allow it to stand for 30 minutes in the tub before you load the clothes.
Borax has a great advantage in the laundry process because it acts as a natural brightener and deodorizer.
If the clothes are smelly, then instead of half a cup of borax, you can go for a full cup of soda, and using a full cup of baking soda will not harm your washer.
Your chances of getting a better result are higher if you allow the clothes to soak in the baking soda and water for at least 30 minutes before completing the wash cycle.