Borax: The Natural Cleaning Mineral Your Grandma Swore By (And Why It Still Works)

Last updated: March 2026

There's a white powder sitting in the back of many older Australian laundry cupboards that doesn't get nearly enough credit. Borax. It's been there for decades, quietly doing the heavy lifting while the rest of the cleaning cabinet filled up with bottles of brightly coloured synthetic sprays.

These days, more and more people are going back to basics — looking for effective, natural alternatives to the chemical-laden products that have taken over supermarket shelves. And borax, it turns out, has been the answer all along.

Here's everything you need to know about what borax is, what it can do, and why we stock it at Santos Organics.

What Is Borax, Exactly?

Borax (also known as sodium tetraborate or sodium borate) is a naturally occurring mineral salt. It forms in the sediment of seasonal lakes as the water evaporates — a product of the earth, not a laboratory. The biggest deposits are found in Turkey and the United States, with smaller reserves across Chile and Central Asia.

In its household form, borax is a fine white powder that dissolves easily in water. It's mildly alkaline, with a pH of around 9.3 — and that alkalinity is exactly what gives it its cleaning power. Most grease, stains, and biological matter are acidic, so an alkaline mineral like borax cuts through them naturally.

It's worth noting: borax and boric acid are not the same thing. Boric acid is a more processed, more acidic derivative. Borax is the gentler, naturally occurring form — and the one you want for household cleaning.

9 Ways to Use Borax Around the Home

Whether you're trying to cut down on synthetic cleaning products, save money, or just get a deeper clean, borax earns its place in the cupboard. Here's how to put it to work.

1. Laundry Booster

Add half a cup of borax directly to your washing machine drum along with your regular detergent. It softens hard water, brightens whites, neutralises odours, and boosts the cleaning power of whatever detergent you're already using. Your whites come out whiter, your darks smell fresher, and your towels actually feel clean.

2. All-Purpose Cleaner

Dissolve half a cup of borax in 3.5 litres of hot water, add a few drops of your favourite essential oil (lemon and peppermint both work well), and you have a natural all-purpose spray for benchtops, stovetops, bathroom surfaces, and tiles. No harsh fumes. No chemical residue.

3. Mould and Mildew Removal

Borax has powerful antifungal properties, making it one of the best natural solutions for bathroom mould. Mix borax with a small amount of water to form a paste, apply directly to affected grout or tiles, leave for 15–20 minutes, then scrub. Unlike bleach, it leaves no toxic residue.

4. Ant Bait (The Recipe That Actually Works)

This is one of the most searched borax uses in Australia — and for good reason. Worker ants are attracted to the sweet bait, carry it back to the colony, and the borax disrupts the digestive system of ants throughout the nest, including larvae and the queen. Unlike surface sprays that kill on contact, this method eliminates the whole colony over 3–7 days.

Basic recipe:

• 3 tablespoons sugar

• 1 tablespoon borax

• Enough warm water to make a thick paste

Place small amounts in bottle caps near ant trails. Keep away from pets and children. Replenish daily until activity stops.

For protein-feeding ants (common in late summer), substitute peanut butter for the sugar.

5. Drain Cleaner

Pour half a cup of borax down a slow drain, followed by two cups of boiling water. Leave for 15 minutes, then flush with hot water. The alkaline action breaks down organic matter and grease build-up — without the corrosive chemicals in commercial drain cleaners.

6. Bathroom and Toilet Cleaner

Sprinkle borax around the toilet bowl, leave for 30 minutes, then scrub. For tiles and sink surfaces, mix with a little lemon juice for a gentle scouring paste that cuts through soap scum and mineral deposits without scratching.

7. Fridge and Oven Deodoriser

Mix a tablespoon of borax into a litre of warm water and use it to wipe down fridge drawers, shelves, and the interior lining. It's one of the safest things you can use inside a fridge — no rinse required, and it won't leave chemical traces near your food.

8. Carpet Deodoriser

Lightly sprinkle borax over carpet, leave for 30 minutes to an hour, then vacuum thoroughly. It absorbs odours and can help with minor mildew issues in damp areas. Particularly useful in coastal homes where humidity is a constant battle.

9. Garden Boron Supplement

Boron is a trace mineral that many plants need but most soils lack. A very diluted borax foliar spray (about 5 tablespoons in 20 litres of water with a drop of dish soap as an emulsifier) can support fruit trees, brassicas, and root vegetables. Use sparingly — too much boron can damage plants.