The $1.25 Dollar Tree Find I Use Every Day

For years, I thought of borax as a laundry thing. I’d occasionally dump it into the wash when my kids’ socks got a gray tinge or when towels started smelling off. I also knew you could mix it with powdered sugar to deal with ants and other insects, but I’d never thought to use it for cleaning.

Then, one afternoon, while at Dollar Tree with a friend, I noticed how excited she was to find a bag of borax powder, immediately launching into a personal review and listing everything she used it for. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and I (obviously) grabbed two bags!

Thanks to that friend, this $1.25 old-school cleaning staple has become one of my favorite cleaners. It scrubs my sink, freshens my garbage can, and even gives my dishwasher a much-needed refresh—all without harsh chemicals. I now use it almost daily.

Why I Love Dollar Tree’s Borax Powder

The price is unbeatable. At $1.25 for a generous 14-ounce pouch, it’s much cheaper per ounce than other brands. What won me over, though, is precisely what was at the heart of my friend’s impassioned speech—it’s just so versatile.

It tackles almost every kitchen cleaning challenge, transforming my sink from “I should probably clean that” to “Did we get a new sink?” in minutes. That alone would be worth the $1.25, but it works equally well mixed into water as an everyday spray, tackling everything from greasy stovetops to funky refrigerators.

Mostly, I love how simple it is. Borax is a naturally occurring mineral. It doesn’t smell like fake lemon or leave behind that squeaky-clean chemical feel. It just works. It feels like a return to basics in the best way. And somehow, that makes cleaning feel a little more satisfying.

How I Use Dollar Tree’s Borax Powder

Like most kitchen sinks, mine is constantly spotted, scratched, and dirty from everyday use. To make it feel fresher, I sprinkle a dusting of borax into it daily, add a few drops of water to form a paste, gently scrub it with a damp sponge, and rinse. This low-effort task leaves the stainless steel gleaming and odor-free.

Once a week, I also sprinkle a few tablespoons down the drain, letting it sit for 15 minutes, then flushing with hot water to clear out any smells or invisible buildup. And once a month, I use it to do a deep clean of my dishwasher. When it’s empty, I sprinkle some borax on the bottom and run a regular cycle, which helps remove buildup and eliminate odors. 

Since learning that borax can clean cookware, I’ve also been using it on stubborn, baked-on stains to help save my arms from a rigorous post-dinner workout. Just be careful not to use it on aluminum because it can cause damage.

In addition to my trash can deodorizer, I’ve also sprinkled a thin layer of borax at the bottom of my kitchen trash can to absorb moisture and neutralize odors. And these are just a few ways I’ve been using this miracle cleaner!

I can guarantee you’ll also find plenty of uses for a package of borax. But if you’re still on the fence about trying it, the price and the package size offered at the Dollar Tree are, in Goldilocks terms, “just right!”

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