THE USES OF BORAX.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 5 September 1925, Page 17

THE USES OF BORAX.

The manifold uses of borax make it an indispensable item in every home; for it fulfils its role in the home medicine chest, in the cuisine, in the home laundry; in fact, in almost every conceivable section, of the. domestic routine. ~, . The Medicine Chest.

One proportion with two of honey oi glycerine is splendid for sore throats or thrush. 'One teaspoonful in.a pint of warm water is a. healing solution for sores, cuts or wounds. Wash with the solution, then dip in. a. soft linen rag, squeeze and bind round. One tablespoonful added to the wasliin o- water prevents rough skin and chapped hands; and is excellent for that trying affliction, flushing of the fqce. A tin of borax should always have a place in the bedroom cupboard. In the Laundry. In laundering, two tablespoons full of borax to every three gallons of water ensures clothes ‘‘white as tlie driven snow,” however hard the water may be. And, moreover, very little soap is needed when borax is. used. If a little is added to the water for washing kitchen towels, all dirt and grease, are swiftly eradicated, and the borax further acts as a disinfectant, and softens the hands. A teaspoonful added to boiled starch gives a lovely gloss to fine linen. There is no better way to clean a sponge than by squeezing it in a borax solution,- one teaspoonful to a pint of liot water. A strong solution poured down drains and sinks acts as a disinfectant. And try adding a pinch to the water in which glass and silver are washed. You will find marks aro removed, and the glass and silver positively glitter. To remove fur from kettles, dissolve two tablespoonfuls in a kettleful of hot water. ’ Let the kettle boil for a quarter of an hour, when the fur will be thoroughly loosened, and may be thrown away. General Uses. Scatter equal parts of borax and, caster sugar mixed, about the haunts of cockroaches. It will disperse them like nothing else. To wash the hair so as to cleanse the scalp completely of all dissolve two teaspoonsful of myra borax in gallon of hot water. Besides ridding the scalp of dandruff, it makes the hair beautifully soft, and bright. Add a pinch in brewing tea; and to tlie water green vegetables are boiled in. It makes them a much brighter colour. Salads laid in cold water with a pinch of borax will be crisp and well flavoured. A strong solution sprayed on plants will exterminate green fly. A most excellent antiseptic, mouthwash is made from ingredients which include this wonderful domestic standby Take a teaspoonful of tincture of myrrh and half a teaspoonful of spirits of camphor. Put in bottle. Dissolve two teaspoonfuls of mvra borax in a pint of hot water, and pour into the bottle with camphor and myrrh. Shake well, and use in the proportion of one tablespoonful to half a tumbler of water.