Borax is a tried-and-true cleaner -- it was likely a staple for your grandmother on laundry day, for example. Borax and boric acid, both natural minerals, come in powdered form. If you don't see them at your local supermarket or drug store, you can order them online.

Laundry Room

Wash Booster: For really dirty fabrics, add 1/2 cup of borax to your regular detergent. As a bleach alternative, try 1/4 cup of borax mixed with 2 cups of water.

Delicate Linen Cleaner: Mix dishwasher detergent and borax together until you get a thick rubbing paste. Rub into soiled linens, then rinse clean.

Kitchen & Bathroom

Trash Can Refresher: Deodorize the can by sprinkling a small amount of borax into the bottom of a clean, dry bin.

Toilet De-Smeller: Get rid of odors by sprinkling 1/2 cup borax into the bowl, then swishing around with a toilet brush. Let stand for 30 minutes or overnight if possible.

Critter Control

Cockroach Killer: Mix 1/2 cup of boric acid, 1/8 cup sugar and enough drops of bacon drippings to form a stiff dough when mixed together. Roll into marble-size slabs and place behind the fridge or stove, where pets can't reach them. Roaches will keel over from the poison in the boric acid.

Ant Annihilator: Combine one part boric acid to nine parts corn syrup. Microwave the mixture until the powder dissolves (about 1 minute). Poke four holes (one for each compass direction) along the bottom edge of an empty margarine tub and place a quarter-size drop of mixture in the center before replacing the lid. The ants will eat the syrup and share it with their colony, poisoning them all!

Thanks to TheDailyGreen.com for contributing to the information here