Borax for Laundry: How to Use It and Whether It's Safe
LaundroMaps Team
Borax is sodium borate, a mildly alkaline salt that helps detergent loosen soils and stains and deodorizes the wash (American Cleaning Institute). The maker's directions are to pour 1/2 cup straight into the machine drum, add your detergent and wash (The maker of 20 Mule Team Borax). It is not a detergent or a bleach, and it should never be swallowed or left where children and pets can reach it (The maker).
Borax is not banned in the United States, but the EPA rates it as moderately toxic in higher doses, so the rules below matter more than the recipe (Poison Control).
Key takeaways
- Use 1/2 cup of borax per load, poured into the drum before you add detergent.
- Borax boosts detergent. It does not replace it, and it does not bleach.
- Keep it out of reach of children and pets, and rinse eyes for 15 minutes if powder gets in.
- In hard water, add slightly more detergent first, then consider a booster.
- Borax and boric acid are different products, so never swap one for the other.
What is borax, and what does it do in laundry?
Borax is a white, crystalline, water-soluble salt of sodium borate. The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) says that as a laundry additive it provides moderate alkalinity buffering and helps loosen soils and stains (American Cleaning Institute). It also acts as a deodorizer, and some diaper presoak products include it to inhibit ammonia odors (American Cleaning Institute).
The only ingredient in the maker's box is a naturally occurring mineral called sodium tetraborate, with no phosphates or chlorine added (The maker of 20 Mule Team Borax). ATSDR lists borates among the compounds used in soaps and detergents, and says borax turns up in consumer laundry detergent (the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry).
Think of it as a helper. A detergent needs a surfactant to lift soil, and borax only supports that job by keeping the wash water alkaline (a University of Wyoming study in the Journal of Extension; American Cleaning Institute).
How do you use borax in laundry?
Pour the powder into the drum first, then add detergent and the clothes. That is the maker's own method for freshening a load, and it needs no dissolving step (The maker of 20 Mule Team Borax).
- Measure 1/2 cup of borax powder for a regular load (The maker of 20 Mule Team Borax).
- Pour it into the empty drum, not onto wet clothes.
- Add your usual detergent at the amount its label gives, then the clothes (American Cleaning Institute).
- Run the cycle the care label calls for.
ACI advises checking the care label and testing for colorfastness on a hidden seam before using any new pretreatment on a garment (American Cleaning Institute). That is sensible for borax too, because neither the maker's pages nor ACI's glossary list a fabric or color limit.
If you wash at a self-service laundromat, measure the borax at home and carry it in a sealed container. Read the posted rules or ask the attendant if you are unsure whether additives are allowed.
Can I mix borax with my laundry detergent?
Yes. The maker's laundry directions pour borax into the drum and then add detergent, so the two share one wash (The maker of 20 Mule Team Borax). The maker describes borax as a booster for the cleaning power of your detergent, not a standalone cleaner for clothes (The maker of 20 Mule Team Borax).
Brand does not change that. A powder, a liquid or a pod all go in as the label says, with the borax added to the drum on its own.
Washing soda and borax can also go in the same load. See our guide to washing soda in laundry for what that second additive does and how much to use.
Does borax bleach, disinfect or soften water?
Borax does not bleach. ACI describes non-chlorine bleach as products with peroxygen compounds that release active oxygen in the wash water, which is different chemistry from borax's alkalinity buffering (American Cleaning Institute). For disinfecting, ACI points to sodium hypochlorite (chlorine) bleach, which disinfects as well as cleans and whitens, but not on wool or silk (American Cleaning Institute). None of the sources we read says borax disinfects.
Water hardness is a separate problem. Calcium and magnesium make water hard, and they react with detergent to form a scum that dulls cleaning (American Cleaning Institute). In a University of Wyoming test at 100 ppm hardness, six powder detergents needed between about 10-15% and more than 30% extra product to match soft-water results (a University of Wyoming study in the Journal of Extension).
ACI's advice is to add slightly more detergent in hard water, and says a water softener or detergent booster can also help (American Cleaning Institute). Check your booster's label for whether it is meant to soften water, because we did not find a source that says borax does.
Are borax and OxiClean the same thing, and how is borax different from baking soda?
They are different chemicals doing different jobs. ACI's glossary describes each one (American Cleaning Institute; American Cleaning Institute).
| Product | What it is | What it does in the wash |
|---|---|---|
| Borax | Sodium borate, mildly alkaline | Buffers alkalinity, loosens soils, deodorizes |
| Baking soda | Sodium bicarbonate, a mild alkali | Provides gentle alkaline cleaning |
| Washing soda | Sodium carbonate, a fairly strong alkali | Adds alkalinity and softens water by precipitating hardness minerals |
| Oxygen bleach | Peroxygen compounds | Releases active oxygen for gentle bleaching; safe on all washables |
| Chlorine bleach | Sodium hypochlorite | Disinfects, cleans and whitens; not for wool or silk |
So borax versus OxiClean is not a like-for-like choice. Oxygen bleach works best at maintaining whiteness, not restoring it, and is added to the wash water before the clothes, ideally warm to hot (American Cleaning Institute). Borax does neither. For stains, borax gives a modest boost, and the bleaching comes from the other product.
For the other two, see baking soda in laundry and washing soda in laundry. The white clothes guide covers when whites need a bleach instead.
Is borax safe for laundry, and is it toxic?
Used as directed in the wash, borax is a common household product. Used carelessly, it can hurt. Both statements come from the same sources.
- Legal status: borax is not banned in the US. The EPA classifies it as a moderate acute toxicity substance, and the EU added it to its Substance of Very High Concern list for reproductive toxicity in December 2010 (Poison Control).
- Eyes and skin: borax can be corrosive to the eye and irritating to skin (the National Pesticide Information Center). The EPA put anhydrous borax in Toxicity Category I, its highest, for eye irritation (the U.S. EPA).
- Dust: people who breathed borax reported a dry mouth, nose and throat, coughing and shortness of breath (the National Pesticide Information Center).
- Swallowing: eaten boric acid caused nausea, vomiting, stomach aches and diarrhea, and infants are more sensitive (the National Pesticide Information Center).
- Cancer: the EPA concluded boric acid is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans (the National Pesticide Information Center).
On reproductive risk, ATSDR says animal studies found testicular effects only at doses more than 1,800 times the average daily boron intake of US adults from food, and that it is not known whether boron causes birth defects in people (the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry). The maker adds that borax should not be used undiluted, on skin or taken internally (The maker).
How do you handle borax safely at home?
Treat it like any other powdered laundry chemical. If you would rather not handle it at all, a wash and fold service does the washing for you.
- Store it in its original labeled container, sealed, out of reach of children and pets (the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry; The maker).
- Measure it carefully to avoid raising dust, and wash your hands after handling (Poison Control).
- Do not mix it into other cleaners beyond the label's recipes. Poison Control notes that borates can react with other substances, so follow the manufacturer's guidance (Poison Control).
- Do not swap it for boric acid. Poison Control and the maker both stress that they are different products, and boric acid is mainly a pesticide (Poison Control; The maker).
What if someone swallows it or gets it in their eyes?
For swallowing, Poison Control advises a few sips of water and a call to 1-800-222-1222, free and open 24 hours a day. For the eyes, rinse with room-temperature water for at least 15 minutes. For skin, wash with soap and water. If the powder was inhaled, move to fresh air (Poison Control). Animals can show signs of poisoning within 2 hours, so call a vet right away if a pet ate any (the National Pesticide Information Center).
Frequently asked questions
How much borax do I put in a load of laundry?
The maker says to pour 1/2 cup into the machine drum, add detergent and wash. Measure it at home if you use a laundromat.
What is the difference between borax and laundry detergent?
They are not the same. The maker sells borax as a booster to add to your detergent. A detergent contains surfactants that lift soil, and borax mainly buffers alkalinity and helps loosen soils.
Does borax bleach clothes?
No. Bleaching comes from oxygen or chlorine bleach, which are different chemicals. Borax is mildly alkaline and works as a booster and deodorizer.
Can I use borax on colored clothes?
The maker and the American Cleaning Institute list no color restriction for borax, but test a hidden seam first, as ACI advises for any new pretreatment.
What should you never mix borax with?
Follow the label, and do not stir it into other cleaners beyond its recipes. Poison Control says borates can react with other substances. Never use boric acid as a swap.
Can I mix borax and Tide?
You can use borax and a liquid or powder detergent in the same load. Add the borax to the empty drum, then the detergent, and follow each label.
Can you mix washing soda and borax together?
Yes, they can share a load, though they are different salts. Washing soda is a fairly strong alkali that softens water, while borax is mildly alkaline.
How we researched this
We read the American Cleaning Institute's glossary and laundry guide, Poison Control, the National Pesticide Information Center, ATSDR, an EPA fact sheet, a University of Wyoming extension study and the maker's own pages, nine sources in all. We gave priority to agencies and trade associations and used the manufacturer only for its own product's directions. We did not lab-test anything, and we skipped questions about homemade detergent recipes because we found no reliable source for them. Reviewed October 14, 2026.
Sources
- American Cleaning Institute -- Glossary of Cleaning Product Terminology
- 20 Mule Team Borax (Henkel) -- Natural Laundry Detergent Booster & Multi-Purpose Cleaner
- 20 Mule Team Borax (Henkel) -- Safety Information
- Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center) -- Borates, borax, and boric acid: Are they safe?
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (CDC) -- Public Health Statement for Boron
- Journal of Extension (University of Wyoming) -- Detergent Considerations for Consumers: Laundering in Hard Water
- American Cleaning Institute -- Laundry Basics
- National Pesticide Information Center (Oregon State University) -- Boric Acid Fact Sheet
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency -- R.E.D. Facts: Boric Acid
Related guides
- Homemade laundry detergent: the borax, washing soda and soap recipe, and its limits.
