Borax Powder
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Borax Powder
C1106103
$10.99
C1106103
$10.99
Pure borax powder — the same household staple your grandmother kept under the laundry room sink. Boosts laundry detergent, tackles tough stains, cleans and deodorizes around the home, and serves dozens of DIY uses. Established in 1890, 20 Mule Team Borax Powder will make your laundry fresh and beautiful! Add borax powder to your detergent to give it an extra boost. Borax powder aggressively takes out stains and smells. It is an all-natural detergent and household cleaner. Use it on carpets, counters, bathrooms, and kitchens. In stock at Red Hill General Store, ships from Hillsville, Virginia.
What is borax? Borax (sodium tetraborate) is a naturally occurring mineral compound mined from dried lake beds. It has been used as a household cleaning and laundry aid for over 100 years. It is not the same as boric acid — borax is the raw mineral, while boric acid is a processed derivative.
How to Use Borax
Simple, time-tested recipes for everyday use. These have been in circulation for a hundred years — they work.
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Laundry Booster
Add ½ cup borax per load directly to the washing machine drum along with your regular detergent. Works in hot or cold water. Particularly effective with hard water — borax softens the water so your detergent can work better.
Works in top-load and front-load machines. Dissolves fully — no residue.
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All-Purpose Cleaner
Mix 2 tablespoons borax with 2 cups hot water in a spray bottle. Add a few drops of dish soap if desired. Use on sinks, counters, tile, and bathroom surfaces. Rinse after use.
Safe on most hard surfaces. Do not use on unsealed natural stone.
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Ant & Pest Deterrent
Mix 1 part borax with 3 parts sugar. Place small amounts along ant trails and baseboards in a shallow container. Ants carry the borax back to the colony. Results in a few days to a week.
Keep away from pets and children. Replace after rain or moisture.
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Stain Pre-Soak
Dissolve 1 tablespoon borax in 1 cup warm water. Apply to the stained area and let soak for 30 minutes before laundering normally. Effective on protein stains (blood, sweat, food), mildew stains, and general ground-in dirt.
Test on an inconspicuous area first for delicate fabrics.
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Drain & Garbage Deodorizer
Pour ¼ cup borax down the drain, let sit for 15–30 minutes, then flush with hot water. For trash cans: sprinkle a thin layer on the bottom of the can before adding the bag.
Safe for septic systems in normal household quantities.
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Tile & Grout Scrub
Make a paste with borax and water (thick consistency). Apply to grout lines and scrub with a stiff brush. Let sit 10 minutes and rinse. Also effective on toilet bowl rings and hard-water deposits.
Combine with lemon juice for extra grease-cutting power.
Why Pure Borax
What makes borax a homesteading and household staple that's stood the test of a century.
- ✓ Naturally occurring mineral — borax is mined, not synthesized. It's a natural sodium borate compound, not a harsh manufactured chemical.
- ✓ Boosts hard water performance — in areas with hard water (high mineral content), borax softens the water and allows laundry detergent to clean more effectively. A common issue throughout Virginia and Appalachia.
- ✓ No synthetic fragrance — unscented. Doesn't compete with your detergent's scent or leave unwanted residue.
- ✓ Long shelf life — keep in a sealed container and it will last indefinitely. Stock up without worry.
- ✓ Dozens of uses — one product that earns its place in the laundry room, kitchen, bathroom, and garage.
- ✓ Works with your current detergent — no need to switch brands or change your routine. Just add borax alongside what you already use.
Safe handling: Borax is a naturally occurring mineral but should be handled with basic care. Avoid inhaling the powder directly. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Not for internal consumption. Wash hands after use. Do not confuse with boric acid — they are different products.
Complete Your Laundry Room
Old-fashioned laundry supplies that belong alongside your borax.
Common Questions
Things people ask us about borax.
No — these are three different products. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is mildly alkaline and primarily used for odor neutralizing and gentle cleaning. Washing soda (sodium carbonate) is more alkaline and a stronger laundry booster. Borax (sodium tetraborate) is a naturally occurring mineral compound with a different chemical composition. All three are useful in the laundry room, but they are not interchangeable.
Yes, in normal household quantities. Borax is biodegradable and does not harm the beneficial bacteria in a septic system when used as directed. A standard ½ cup per laundry load is well within safe limits.
Yes. Borax dissolves completely and does not create excess suds, making it compatible with HE front-load and top-load machines. Add it directly to the drum with your laundry rather than in the detergent dispenser drawer, which is designed for liquid or HE-formula detergents.
Hard water contains dissolved minerals (primarily calcium and magnesium) that interfere with how soap and detergent lather and clean. Borax acts as a water softener by binding to these minerals and preventing them from interfering with your detergent. If you live in an area with hard water — which much of Virginia has — adding borax to each load will noticeably improve how clean your laundry comes out.
Keep borax in a sealed, airtight container in a cool, dry location. Moisture can cause it to clump, but clumped borax is still usable — just break it up before using. It has an indefinite shelf life when stored properly. A sealed bucket or lidded container in the laundry room works well.
20 Mule Team Borax is the most widely recognized brand name for borax powder. The active ingredient is sodium tetraborate — the same compound in our borax powder. The 20 Mule Team name comes from the historic mule teams used to haul borax from California's Death Valley in the 1880s.
