Borax has been used for centuries in ceramics and in alloy smithing . Before its discovery in North America , borax was import from Tibet and Italy . Borax is a naturally - pass mineral that contains sodium , B , H and O . It is a common ingredient in some cleansing production and has often been used in laundry detergent . In improver to its cleaning products , as a naturally - occurring mineral it has a stead in constitutional horticulture .

History of 20 Mule Team Borax

The 20 Mule Team mark borax originated in the late 19th hundred . William T. Coleman discovered large sedimentation of borax in Death Valley . Coleman make the Harmony Borax Works in Death Valley . One of the issues of mining borax in Death Valley was getting the borax from the mine to the marketplace . Coleman ’s overseer began hitching two teams of 10 mule together . These 20 - mule teams pulled particularly fabricate beach wagon that carried 10 piles of ore to the approximate rail post . From these 20 - mule squad come the name for the consumer ware . The 20 Mule Team brand is now owned by the Dial corporation .

Insecticide

20 Mule Team borax can make a in force insecticide for some types of insects , especially ant . To make a natural insecticide , commingle the borax either with sugar or peanut butter . Ants will take the corrupt boodle or Arachis hypogaea butter back to the nest , resulting in the poisoning of the total next . When strain to control aphid , spreading dearest and borax on the base of aphid - infested plants will aid keep the ant at bay tree while you release ladybugs on the plants to contend with the aphid . Some salmagundi of ants will attack ladybugs , drive them off or kill them .

Herbicide

Borax can work well as an weedkiller . According to Brisbane Local Food , spraying a mixture of borax and piss on flora that you do n’t want will eventually result in their death . It is particularly effective with the weed creeping Charlie . If you are using borax as an organic weedkiller in a lawn , fecundate once the weeds are dead to encourage the smoke to maturate over the dead patches .

Fertilizer

Although borax is utile as an weedkiller , sunflowers are one of the few plant that seem to benefit from the addition of borax to territory . concord to Garden Wise , adding borax to your sunflowers in mid - summer can help improve flower size of it and number . To avoid poison the sunflower , limit the solution to 1/2 tsp . of borax per gallon of water .

Warnings

Borax can be an eye and mucus tissue layer irritant . Avoid breathe the detritus . It can also be toxic to dearie and children . Do n’t use borax - base pesticides in places where they could be ingested by child or animate being . In some cases , borax can irritate skin . When using borax as an weedkiller , it can sometimes spread past the intended flora and kill nearby works . Be measured when applying the herbicide .

References

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