If you haven’t yet experimented with the wonders of borax, you’re missing out on a versatile household cleaner that could help to consolidate many of your chores. This unique, all-natural substance consists of sodium borate, and it makes a powerful cleanser, drain cleaner, and much more. Here are a few ways to use it.

• Mix 2 tablespoons of borax with two cups of hot water to create an all-purpose cleaner for around the house.
• Clear a blocked drain by mixing 1/2 cup of borax with two cups of boiling water. Pour the solution down the drain and let it sit for 15 minutes before running water to flush it away.
• Get stains out of your sink by making a paste of one cup of borax and 1/4 cup of lemon juice. Scrub the paste into the stain with a sponge and rinse with hot water.
• Clean carpets naturally by using 1/2 cup of borax per gallon of water in the steam cleaner.
• Clean pots, pans, and porcelain cookware by sprinkling borax on their surfaces and rubbing with a slightly damp cloth.

Borax Changed My Life! [Stacy Makes Cents]
30 Little-Known Uses for Household Borax [One Good Thing]
Borax and 25 Ways to Use It [Apartment Therapy]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr emily @ go haus go

Located at the corner of Broadway Street and Patterson Avenue in Alamo Heights, San Antonio's Central Market has all everything you need to make a delicious gourmet meal. From produce and meats to seafood and dairy products, you’ll find the freshest items here, many of which are locally sourced. Specialty items are available too, like scratch-baked goods and artisanal cheeses. Over 350 different brews, many made in Texas, can be purchased here, as well.

Don’t want to cook? The chef-prepared dinners are a tasty option, as are the grab-and-go sandwiches. No matter what's on your menu for the night, your meal can be paired with the perfect wine after you chat with the on-staff wine experts.

Central Market
4821 Broadway
San Antonio, TX 78288
(210) 368-8600
www.centralmarket.com/Home
www.yelp.com/biz/central-market-san-antonio

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/David Boyle

Olmos Perk is your real-deal neighborhood coffeehouse in San Antonio. This locally-owned business has been serving globally-sourced coffee beans since 2006, keeping locals fueled with espresso, lattes, and cappuccinos in a cozy, modern-industrial setting.

Here, the baristas really set the tone. They’re friendly, hip, and make a mean cup of coffee. (The foam designs on the lattes are always inventive!) The coffees are sourced mainly from Africa and South America, while local bakeries supply pastries, bagels, and cookies. Bring your laptop to catch up on some emails over the free Wi-Fi, then, later in the day, return for a nice glass of wine or a craft beer.

Olmos Perk is open 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays.

Olmos Perk
5223 McCullough Avenue
San Antonio, TX 78212
(210) 858-2956
www.olmosperk.com
www.yelp.com/biz/olmos-perk-san-antonio

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/Lilian Wong