While borax is often praised as a powerful cleaning agent and laundry booster, it's important to note that this naturally occurring mineral can pose risks to humans and pets, especially if ingested or inhaled.
So, what are some effective non-toxic alternatives that can still deliver a strong cleaning performance? The good news is that many of these options might be hiding in your pantry or tucked away in your kitchen cabinets.
We consulted with professional cleaners to gather their top recommendations for naturally cleaning your kitchen, along with the best substitutes for borax that can tackle grease and grime, leaving surfaces spotless.
Non-Toxic Alternatives to Borax
1. Baking Soda
Baking soda is a versatile household item that can be used for various cleaning tasks. Alicia Sokolowski, an eco-cleaning expert and co-CEO of AspenClean, explains that "Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) has mild alkalinity, which helps break down grease, neutralize odors, and remove stains. Its fine texture also provides gentle abrasive properties for scrubbing."
It's an optimal choice for cleaning, as you can sprinkle it directly on countertops, sinks, or stovetops, scrubbing away with a damp sponge to effortlessly lift stains and residue.
Sokolowski recommends the AspenClean Green Powder Cleaner SuperScrub, a versatile product ideal for challenging cleaning tasks, enhanced with organic lavender and tea-tree essential oils known for their cleaning and disinfecting properties.
Baking soda is also great for neutralizing kitchen odors — simply place an open container in a discreet spot. As one of nature's best natural deodorizers, it can be used throughout your home.
To demonstrate its versatility, Sokolowski suggests adding half a cup of baking soda to your laundry to boost detergent performance while naturally deodorizing clothes.
All prices correct at time of publication.
45 loads
According to Sokolowski, "This natural laundry booster and stain remover is packaged in a zero-plastic, compostable container and made only with mineral- and plant-based ingredients and enzymes. It brightens clothes while being gentle on the skin and is free from harsh chemicals like fragrances, dyes, chlorine, or phosphates."
Versatile
This affordable baking soda can be utilized for cooking, cleaning, and deodorizing, and is a secret laundry ingredient that professionals recommend for impressive results with every wash.
Safe for most surfaces
These sponges provide effective yet gentle cleaning, safely lifting grease, grime, and dirt without harming countertops and surfaces.
2. White Vinegar
Similar to baking soda, white vinegar is a pantry staple and an eco-friendly cleaning option that both professional cleaners and tidy homeowners trust for maintaining a sanitized space.
Matthew Baratta, VP of operations at Daimer Industries, an industrial cleaning company, suggests using a simple 1:1 vinegar-to-water solution for cleaning.
"This is a good starting point for cleaning glass shower doors and appliances like the oven," he notes. "If you're making a standard cleaning spray, combine equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle. You can also add some lemon juice and dish soap (such as the Dawn Ultra Liquid Dish Soap available at Walmart) to help mask the smell and enhance its effectiveness," although the scent will dissipate over time when used alone. "Use this mixture like any standard spray cleaner."
However, Baratta cautions that while vinegar is effective for cleaning and eliminating mineral and hard water stains, it won't eliminate all virus-causing germs. For high-touch surfaces, you might want to opt for a diluted rubbing alcohol solution (two parts rubbing alcohol to one part water) instead.
White vinegar can also be added to laundry to whiten and deodorize, and you can wash towels with vinegar to restore their fluffiness.
5% acidity
To ensure white vinegar has effective cleaning properties, it should have an acetic content of at least 4%. This budget-friendly option, with 5% acidity, can be used throughout your home to tackle grease, grime, and shine surfaces.
Plant-based cleaning power
If you're in search of products to clean your home sustainably, this dish soap is cruelty-free, vegan, and biodegradable, made without phthalates and parabens.
Refillable and reusable
These refillable glass spray bottles come with UV protection to ensure your homemade cleaning solutions retain their effectiveness and protect ingredients from degradation.
3. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is another favorite among professionals as an alternative to borax. It serves as a natural degreaser and antibacterial agent. "It also effectively cuts through hard water stains and leaves a fresh, pleasant scent," says eco-cleaning expert Sokolowski.
You can use lemon juice to maintain wooden cutting boards by pairing it with coarse sea salt, such as the Tuscanini Coarse Mediterranean Sea Salt available at Amazon. "Sprinkle the coarse salt on the wooden board, then scrub with half a lemon, squeezing slightly to release the juice before rinsing and drying," advises Sokolowski.
You can also clean a microwave using lemon by filling a microwave-safe bowl, such as the Mainstays - Gray Round Plastic Cereal Bowl available at Walmart, with one cup of water and two tablespoons of lemon juice. "Heat for three to five minutes, then wipe the interior clean," suggests Sokolowski.
For stubborn hard water stains, Punteha van Terheyden, head of Solved here, tested cleaning faucet limescale with lemon juice and found it "worked like a charm." Sokolowski also recommends letting it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before scrubbing with a brush, such as the Clorox Medium Scrub Brush available at Target.
Another great kitchen cleaning trick is to place lemons in your dishwasher, as they can enhance your detergent's effectiveness and leave your dishwasher and dishes sparkling clean.
Organic bergamot and grapefruit essential oils
"This nature-powered cleaner effortlessly cuts through grease and grime and is safe to use on any kitchen surface, from stovetops to sinks and even granite or marble countertops," says Sokolowski.
USDA Organic
This lemon juice can be used as a substitute for fresh lemons, as it is not from concentrate and contains no fillers or additives.
Non-slip handle
Featuring ergonomic handles, this durable set of scrubbing brushes has stiff bristles for effective cleaning.
4. Commercial, Non-Toxic Cleaners
While pantry items make excellent non-toxic substitutes for borax, there are also ready-to-use natural commercial cleaners available.
For instance, Joy Mangano, with over 25 years in the cleaning industry, suggests her latest creation, CleanBoss Botanical Disinfectant, available at Amazon.
This botanical disinfectant features a powerful formula that can kill germs faster than many toxic cleaners, all without the need for scary warnings or disclaimers.
"It's the result of 15 years of research on a patented formula featuring the highest concentration of botanically derived Thymol, not chemicals," Mangano explains. "It's completely natural with no toxic warnings. Just spray it and let CleanBoss do its job, then wipe to dry. No rinsing required."
We also appreciate plant-based cleaning products from Method, such as the Method All-Purpose Cleaner, Pink Grapefruit available at Amazon, which easily cuts through grease and grime while leaving a refreshing citrus scent.
This twin pack of gentle, eco-friendly multipurpose cleaner from Better Life is a must-have in your non-toxic cleaning supplies. It contains no petroleum solvents, chlorine, bleach, added alcohols, parabens, SLS, or SLES, and features plant-based ingredients, making it safer for your family and pets.
5. Sodium Sesquicarbonate
You may not be familiar with sodium sesquicarbonate, but it's commonly recognized as a substitute for borax. This blend of baking soda and washing soda, according to eco-cleaning expert Sokolowski, offers the benefits of both. "It's excellent for water softening, odor control, and heavy-duty cleaning."
For laundry, simply add one tablespoon to your washing machine for cleaner, brighter clothes, particularly effective in reviving dingy whites.
Sodium sesquicarbonate can also be used to clean carpets without a machine, by mixing one tablespoon with two cups of water and spraying on carpets to neutralize odors. After it dries, just vacuum. For bathroom cleaning in 30 minutes or less, combine one tablespoon with water to clean shower grout, tiles, and tubs.
Eco-friendly cleaning power
Sokolowski states, "This bathroom cleaner effectively eliminates soap scum, hard water stains, and mold using safe, plant-derived ingredients. Made with lavender and lime essential oils, it disinfects and cleans, providing powerful results without harmful chemicals, keeping your bathroom fresh and toxin-free."
Available in four sizes
This wholesale sodium sesquicarbonate is perfect for those who prefer buying cleaning products in bulk, available in four different sizes to meet all your cleaning needs, whether for small projects or larger areas.
Washable and reusable
These durable, washable cloths are perfect for cleaning and drying tasks throughout your home.
If you're committed to creating a truly non-toxic home, check out these non-toxic home essentials that Chiana Dickson, content editor on Solved, swears by.
