For over 100 years, 20 Mule Team® Borax has been a staple in millions of homes. Whether it's giving your family's laundry that extra kick or cleaning and freshening your home, 20 Mule Team® Borax is the essential multi-purpose solution for every home.
Borax first appeared in history approximately 4,000 years ago. It is a naturally occurring mineral composed of sodium, boron, oxygen and water. Borax is generally found embedded deep in the ground, along with clay and other substances.
76 oz
Sodium Tetraborate
Download your copy of A Guide to Laundry and Household Uses below.
For both Standard & 
machines
Add ½ cup of 20 Mule Team® Borax to every load along with your regular detergent:
Sprinkle 20 Mule Team® Borax on a damp sponge or cloth and wipe on Shower/Tub/Tile:
Sprinkle 20 Mule Team® Borax on a damp sponge or cloth and wipe on Counters and Appliances:
Begin by cutting flowers which are as free from surface moisture as possible. The stem may be left attached or removed below base of the calyx. (Calyx is the green leafy part of the flower — a cup-like area above the stem.) Sprinkle 20 Mule Team® Borax mixture into an empty box (a shoe box is ideal) and place flower and leaves, if desired, on the mixture. Then gently cover the flower with additional mixture, being careful not to crush or distort the petals. Some flowers that have a large number of overlapping petals, such as roses and carnations, are best treated by sprinkling mixture directly into the blossom before placing them into the box. When completely covered, there should be no air space around the flower. For easy removal, use two flowers per box maximum, depending on flower size.
Seal the box with tape and store at room temperature in a dry place for 7 to 10 days. (Experimentation will perhaps shorten this waiting period by several days depending on climate and type of flower.)
After flowers are dried, remove by slowly pouring the mixture from the box until enough of the flower appears and can be secured with two fingers. Pour off remaining mixture until flower can be removed without damage. Clean off any clinging materials with a soft artist’s brush. Whole petals which have been brokenoff may be glued back in place. The mixture may be used over again. Strain it to remove flower and foliage debris, then store in a cool, dry place.
This process may not work on flowers which have been cut and placed in a water solution or a preservative intended to keep them fresh. Cut flowers purchased from florists, for example, may not be suitable for this process if such a solution has been used.
Fresh cut flowers of many varieties may be permanently preserved in 20 Mule Team® Borax. Flower preserving with Borax removes the moisture from blossoms and leaves, thereby preventing the wilting which would normally result. Two different mixtures (by weight) are recommended: 2 parts 20 Mule Team® Borax Natural Laundry Booster, 1 part dry white sand, or 1 part 20 Mule Team® Borax, 2 parts corn meal.
If you make your own candles, here’s a special treatment for the wicks that will help reduce ash and eliminate smoke problems.
Dissolve 1 tablespoon of table salt and 3 tablespoons of 20 Mule Team® Borax Natural Laundry Booster in one cup of warm water. Soak heavy twine, such as butcher’s twine for large candles, in the solution for at least 24 hours. Allow twine to thoroughly dry before using to make candles. If you don’t have a candle recipe on file, consult your local library for information. They probably have an abundance of good references in their arts and crafts division.
Borates, borax and boron compounds are with us throughout our lives. Mothers use it to soak and wash diapers and other laundry, but it's also an ingredient in cosmetics, medicines, ceramics and building materials. The biggest industrial user of borates is the glass industry (especially fiberglass), and it’s an important ingredient in agricultural chemicals and fire retardants.
In earlier times, 20 Mule Team® Borax was proclaimed to be a magical crystal and was used to aid digestion, keep milk sweet and even cure epilepsy. Common sense and modern technology have brought us better solutions to these and other problems, but 20 Mule Team® Borax still has a place in your home.
Keep 20 Mule Team® Borax out of reach of children. We also recommend labeling any containers containing 20 Mule Team® Borax solutions to identify the contents.
Believe it or not, more than 85% of homes in the U.S. have hard water. Clothes that are washed in hard water tend to look dingy and feel harsh. 20 Mule Team® Borax works well for washing clothes in hard water. ½ cup of 20 Mule Team® Borax will help soften water and prolong the longevity of clothes.
Yes, 20 Mule Team and chlorine bleach can be mixed safely.
Add ½ cup 20 Mule Team® Borax to each wash load along with the recommended amount of soap or detergent.
Yes.
The shelf life of 20 Mule Team is indefinite if stored in a dry place.
The Dial Corporation cannot recommend Borax to kill ants or roaches. The EPA has not authorized 20 Mule Team as a pesticide.
20 Mule Team is composed of sodium, boron, oxygen, and water. (The scientific name for borax is sodium tetraborate decahydrate.)
No, Boric Acid is an acid formed from the reaction of borax with sulfuric acid or another mineral.
20 Mule Team® Borax is comprised of 99.5% pure borax, a naturally occurring mineral composed of sodium, boron, oxygen, and water. (The scientific name for borax is sodium tetraborate decahydrate.) The remaining 0.5% is composed of trace minerals.
20 Mule Team® Borax can be used to deodorize pet odors. However, we recommend you keep 20 Mule Team® Borax out of reach of pets and children.
