Where To Buy Borax In The UK For Cleaning

Are you wondering where you can buy borax in the UK? Borax pops up in countless natural cleaning recipes, yet it can be difficult to track down on the high street. To help you out, here’s where to find it.

Borax is an all-round natural cleaning wonder. Seriously, borax has so many uses around the home that I’m never without a box or two. I’ve also learned from my daughter that borax is a key ingredient in slime-making. The things you learn!

However, borax itself isn’t actually sold in the UK anymore. What you’ll find instead is something called borax substitute, which works in almost exactly the same way and is ideal for cleaning and making slime.

Thankfully, borax substitute is easy to find in the UK, if you know where to look. Below, I’ll share the best places to pick up borax substitute online and in shops, along with a few tips on how to store it properly once you get it home.

Where To Buy Borax Substitute In The UK

If you’re looking to buy borax substitute in the UK, the main manufacturer is the Derbyshire-based cleaning company Dri-Pak. You’ll usually find it sold in green coloured 500g cardboard boxes, which are inexpensive and plastic-free.

Buying in bulk quantities can be tricky. Unlike some cleaning ingredients, borax substitute isn’t commonly sold in large bulk bags. Most people simply buy a few boxes at a time instead.

You may find it in hardware shops such as Robert Dyas or smaller independent household stores. However, if you are struggling to find a box locally, here are my favourite places online where you can source this natural cleaning staple:

Ethical Superstore

Ethical Superstore stocks Dri-Pak branded borax substitute for less than £2 for 500 g.

Because the shop stocks a wide range of eco-friendly cleaning ingredients, it’s often worth ordering a few supplies at once to make the most of the £4.95 delivery fee (which becomes free if you spend over £60).

One thing I particularly appreciate is Ethical Superstore’s approach to packaging. Boxes are often reused from incoming supplier deliveries, and void fill is made from recycled paper rather than plastic.

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Big Green Smile

Big Green Smile also sell the Dri-Pak branded borax online for £2.60 a box.

Something to bear in mind is that Big Green Smile has a minimum order value of £34.95, so save your order for when you are stocking up on other eco-cleaning supplies. You probably have no need to buy 14 boxes of borax all in one go!

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Amazon

Whilst I personally try to avoid Amazon on the grounds of tax avoidance, human rights issues, and environmental issues, I know it can be the most convenient option for some people.

If Amazon is the most accessible option for you, then Amazon does sell Dri-Pak branded borax substitute.

If you do buy from Amazon, avoid single boxes as they’re often overpriced. Ethical Superstore is often a much cheaper option if you just need one box. If you are buying in bulk, multi-packs of three or six boxes tend to be much better value here.

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eBay

eBay is another handy spot to pick up borax online in the UK. Again, prices on single boxes tend to be vastly inflated here, so look out for bulk buy options so that you’re getting the best deal. Ideally, you don’t want to pay more than £2.50 a box, before shipping costs are added.

What Is Borax (And Why You Might Want It)

Now that you know where to buy it, you might be wondering what borax is exactly.

Borax is a naturally derived white crystalline powder commonly used in cleaning all around the home. It’s gentler than soda crystals, yet stronger than bicarbonate of soda, which makes it great at tackling everyday grease and grime.

In practice, that means it can be used for all sorts of household jobs. A sprinkle can help scrub a stained sink, while a spoonful in the washing machine helps boost laundry detergent.

Borax is particularly useful in laundry because it helps lift stubborn stains, softens hard water, and brightens whites that have started to look a little dull. It also dissolves easily in cold water, unlike soda crystals, which can clump up. That makes it especially useful if you prefer washing clothes at lower temperatures.

And according to my daughter, it’s also a key ingredient in homemade slime. The things you learn!

Why You Can’t Buy Borax In The UK

Whilst borax substitute is widely available in the UK, I mentioned above that you can’t actually buy standard borax in the UK.

This is because back in 2010, the EU decided that, on the balance of evidence, borax and other chemicals in the same borate family could potentially be hazardous to health.

Borax was therefore banned for sale in the EU, which at that point included the UK. Even after Brexit, the rules haven’t changed. Borax is still not sold directly to consumers in the UK in 2026.

Don’t worry, though, borax substitute – also known as Sodium Sesquicarbonate – can be bought in the UK and EU. Chemically, borax substitute is very similar to borax, and performs exactly the same as borax, without the safety concerns. The only thing that differs is that, unlike borax, borax substitute cannot be used for pest control, such as deterring ants.

How To Store Borax To Stop It From Forming Clumps

Once you’ve bought your borax substitute, you might notice one slightly annoying quirk. It loves to clump, particularly if you store it that happens to be even remotely damp or exposed to any moisture.

The cardboard box it comes in is plastic-free and easy to recycle, which is great. Unfortunately, it’s not ideal for long-term storage. Even a little moisture in the air can cause the powder to form rock-hard lumps.

My top tip for storing borax for any length of time, to prevent these lumps, is to decant the powder into an airtight container such as a glass jar or storage tub. Just make sure the container is clearly labelled and kept out of reach of children and pets.

If clumping is still a problem, I’ve got a handy tip that works well. All you need to do is cut the end off an old pair of tights and fill it with a scoop of dry rice. Tie the end to create a small pouch, then drop it into the storage container with the borax substitute. The rice helps absorb excess moisture, which keeps the powder free-flowing for longer.

More Green Cleaning Resources

If you’re curious about what else you can do with it, have a look at my full guide to natural cleaning products, where you’ll find plenty of simple recipes and ideas using borax substitute, and other green cleaning ingredients.