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Borax. Boron is the element. Borax is the soft mineral salt mined from dried lake beds. Mildly alkaline, indefinite shelf life, and one of the most versatile compounds you can stock. Storage: keep it sealed in plastic or glass, not the cardboard box it comes in. Its enemies for storage are moisture and acids. Store cool and dry and it lasts forever. What it does: Soldering flux. Borax helps clean and prep metal surfaces for joining. Old school metalwork move that still works. Ant and roach bait. Mix borax with sugar or peanut butter to create a highly effective bait. The insects carry it back to the colony and it wipes them out. Mold prevention spray. Dissolved in water it inhibits mold and mildew on surfaces that stay damp. Bathrooms, basements, and outbuildings. Alkaline cleaning paste. Borax creates one of the best homemade heavy duty cleaners for grease, baked-on food, and grime. Shelf stable laundry formula ingredient. Softens water, boosts stain removal, and cuts body oils that make clothes stink. A few things worth knowing: Borax is caustic to skin over time. Wear gloves when handling it in solutions. Rinse thoroughly if you get it on your hands. Don't confuse borax with boric acid. Both are useful but they're different compounds with different applications. Borax is more alkaline. Boric acid is more acidic. Store away from acids. Any acidic contact neutralizes borax and wastes both compounds. Borax is one of the compounds covered in the upcoming Prepper's Chemical Survival Guide (the actual title of the chemical compounds recipe book).