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20 Mule Team® Borax

20 Mule Team Borax

Download your copy of A Guide to Laundry and Household Uses below or click on the links below to learn more.

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IN THE LAUNDRY

For both Standard & HE machines

Laundry Boosting

Add ½ cup of 20 Mule Team® Borax to every load along with your regular detergent:

  • Improves cleaning power of detergent
  • Helps remove tough stains
  • Natural alternative to colorsafe bleach
  • Deodorizes and freshens
  • Naturally softens hard water
Baby Clothes

Baby Clothes

  • Soak items in 1/2 cup of 20 Mule Team® Borax and warm water
  • Follow-up with a hot or warm water wash, adding 1/2 cup of 20 Mule Team® Borax along with your regular detergent
Laundry Stains

Laundry Stains

  • Works great on tough stains including Tomato Sauce, Oil/Grease, Grass and Ground-in Dirt
  • Add 1 tablespoon of 20 Mule Team® Borax per gallon of water or 1/2 cup in washer
  • Pre-soak for at least 30 minutes before washing
Delicates

Delicates

  • Dissolve 1/4 cup of 20 Mule Team® Borax and 1-2 tablespoons of detergent in a basin of warm water
  • Soak delicates for 20 minutes, then rinse in cool water
  • Blot items with a towel and lay flat to dry
Hard Water

Hard Water

  • Help your detergent to work more effectively by conditioning the water and removing hard water minerals
  • Add 1/2 cup of 20 Mule Team® Borax with your regular detergent to get cleaner, fresher-smelling clothes

IN THE BATHROOM

Cleaning & Deodorizing

Sprinkle 20 Mule Team® Borax on a damp sponge or cloth and wipe on Shower/Tub/Tile:

  • Cleans without Chemical Fumes or Scratching (great for Porcelain and Fiberglass)
  • Removes Soap Scum, Hard Water Deposits and Dirt
  • Helps Eliminate Odors and Freshens
Toilet Bowls

Toilet Bowls

  • Sprinkle 1/4 cup of 20 Mule Team® Borax into the bowl, then swish with your toilet brush
  • Let it stand for 30 minutes or overnight
Carpet & Rugs

Carpets & Rugs

  • Dissolve 1/2 cup of 20 Mule Team® Borax in 1 pint water
  • Sponge on, wait 1/2 hour, rinse well
  • Let dry and vacuum

IN THE KITCHEN

Cleaning & Deodorizing

Sprinkle 20 Mule Team® Borax on a damp sponge or cloth and wipe on Counters and Appliances:

  • Removes Grease and Grime
  • Makes Dishes Sparkling Clean
Garbage Disposals & Drains

Garbage Disposals & Drains

  • Sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons in the food waste disposal and/or drain
  • Let it stand for at least 15 minutes, then flush with water for a few seconds (with disposal on)
Dishwasher

Dishwasher

  • Boost the cleaning power of your dishwashing detergent by removing hard water minerals and residues from the wash water.
  • Add 1/4 cup 20 Mule Team® Borax in the bottom of the dishwasher to reduce spots and film from dishes and glasses

ARTS & CRAFTS

Directions for Flower Preserving

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.

Flower Preserving

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.

Candlewicks

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.

POINTS OF INTEREST

Uses of Borax

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.

20 Mule Team Borax® is also great for:

  • Tile/Grout
  • Sinks
  • Pots & Pans (Aluminum & Porcelain)
  • Cleaning Refrigerators
  • Cleaning Ovens
  • Cleaning Microwaves
  • Stainless Steel
  • Fine China
  • Garbage/Diaper Pails
  • Mattress Odors
  • Outdoor Furniture (Plastic & Metal)
  • Crafts
20 MULE TEAM and the 20 Mule Team design are trademarks of U.S. Borax Inc.