The Difference between Borax and Baking Soda
Thinking of cleaning your house? Got stubborn stains on your favourite clothes? While looking for remedies, I know you found the two most popular options, borax and baking soda. I remember looking at my greasy and stained countertop, wondering what material to use. My investigative nature couldn’t hold me back from researching the difference between the two. I so thought of sharing all the details here.
Where are you supposed to use Baking Soda and Borax?
From tackling stubborn stains to neutralizing odours, this humble kitchen staple has many surprising uses that will amaze you. So, let’s dive into the exciting world of cleaning with baking soda and discover how it can be your trusty sidekick in maintaining a spotless abode!
Kitchen Wizardry:
Say goodbye to grease and grime! Baking soda is a kitchen warrior who can effortlessly vanquish stubborn stains from pots, pans, and stovetops. Mix baking soda with water, apply a paste to the soiled surfaces, and watch the magic unfold.
Bathroom Brilliance:
Wave goodbye to harsh chemical cleaners and say hello to the wonders of baking soda in your bathroom! This mighty powder can help you conquer soap scum, mildew, and hard water stains like a pro.
Carpet Charisma:
Don’t let those pesky carpet stains dampen your spirits! Baking soda comes to the rescue with its incredible stain-fighting prowess.
Laundry Sorcery:
Take your laundry game to the next level with the enchanting powers of baking soda! This humble powder can work wonders in freshening up your clothes and linens.
The exciting thing is that you can also use boraxin in all these cleaning sectors.
One more tip: baking soda is a whitening and de-tanning agent. You can easily add it to your regular self-maintenance and body skin care. It is equally effective for teeth whitening as well.
When to use What?
As you can see, both the cleaning warriors work on the same premise. These two household heroes are armed with unique properties that make them formidable cleaners, but knowing when to deploy them is the key to victory.
Borax is a more heavy-duty cleaning agent. Wherever you can see some extremely stubborn stain, it feels like no matter how hard you scrub it, it won’t go away, so use borax. Or for a larger surface, where you can’t scrub, there’s where borax comes in handy.
Suppose you have a stained and greasy bathtub; leave a borax mixture in it; it will get its shine back. Use borax if you have a stain on your favourite dress and no washing powder. But it would be best to remember that it is pretty powerful, so don’t use it on something delicate that might damage your product.
On the other hand, baking soda is milder than borax. It can work pretty well on delicate surfaces. A bit of baking soda mixture and scrubbing will do the magic. Baking soda can reduce foul odour as well.
Baking soda is edible. So it is skin-friendly and more delicate. So, wherever you can find fresh smells and delicate cleaning, you can do that. You can apply baking soda to your delicate clothes as well.
The Chemical and Cleaning Method Difference:
Baking soda:
Its chemical name is sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3. But let’s call it the “cleaning superhero” for now. This humble yet powerful compound comprises sodium, hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen, all combined miraculously. The oxygen component can work against odours and oxidize the stains with gentle heat and energy; it can remove the stain without causing any harm to the surface. The weak alkaline compound with a pH of about 8.4 makes it more gentle.
Borax:
This cleaning ingredient has been passed down through generations of savvy homemakers. The chemical component of borax is a naturally occurring compound called sodium borate, with the chemical formula Na2B4O7·10H2O. But don’t let the scientific jargon scare you away because this humble-looking powder has severe cleaning superpowers!
Borax is a potent cleaning agent with a higher pH of 9-10. So it can give you some tough cleaning. The budget and eco-friendly material saves you from much hard work and time because of this higher pH. You can leave it, and it will do its magic. No scrubbing is required because it has water molecules, so you don’t need to activate it by heat or scrubbing. It has been used as a great laundry booster. A minimal amount can show its magic.
So, after you learn to use these two materials properly, your cleaning game will change forever. So have a happy cleaning!
