"Borax can cause burns, especially when you touch it multiple times," she says. "When you're mixing it up, Borax can get in the air and irritate your airways. If kids put their hands in their mouths by mistake, it could be toxic."
It's banned in U.S. food products. It also can irritate your skin and eyes, and it can hurt your nose, throat, and lungs if you breathe it in. If you're around it often, it can cause rashes and might affect male reproductive organs.
Borax, also known as sodium tetraborate, is a mineral that naturally occurs when a lake bed evaporates. While generally considered non-toxic in the form of borax (not to be confused with boric acid), it is recommended you avoid eye contact, ingestion or prolonged skin contact.
Or can we clean with this natural ingredient worry-free? Unfortunately, borax is, in fact, toxic to both dogs and cats. And although it's considered natural, borax can cause harmful side effects in pets—and humans.
Keep borax in a sealed container away from children just as you do with ANY cleaning agent, even natural ones. Natural cleaning agents are safe to use around pets and children, but you don't want them getting into the container. Do not use borax for skincare or topical use. It is for cleaning only.
Kill Boxelder Beetles and Other Pests
Ants aren't the only thing borax will kill. In fact, many companies make borax insecticides designed to get rid of household pests. Sprinkle borax powder along the edges of your sidewalk, foundation, and driveway to get rid of boxelder beetles and cockroaches.
Some of the insects that borax kills include ants, flies, and other insect larvae. Borax is an ant poison, and it controls flies around manure piles. It also prevents larvae from growing. The main insect borax kills are termites.
Many of the symptoms of borax poisoning are common to other poisonings, such as excessive drooling, depression, lethargy, muscle weakness, and lack of coordination. The blue-green color of your pet's vomit and diarrhea is somewhat unique and should point your veterinarian in the right direction.
However, it's worth noting that borax can be lethal when ingested. Toxic levels for children are 5-6 grams—or roughly a half teaspoon; for adults, the toxic dose is 10-25 grams.
Its longevity is a testament not only to the cleansing power of borax, but to the power of marketing, as well. But first, some history: In the 19th century, borax was an ingredient used in ceramics and gold mining, but it was also touted as a cure-all for everything from dandruff to epilepsy.
Borax is also a great natural cockroach killer. Compared to most chemical pest control treatments, it's a relatively low-risk product.
Students younger than high school age, and those who have not been properly advised in the safe handling of laboratory chemicals should not be using borax, or any other hazardous chemicals at home or in a school setting.
Some children suffer nothing but sticky fingers, but the rare but severe injuries point to a much bigger danger. Dr. Robin Jacobson, a pediatrician at NYU Langone Medical Center, warns families to stay away from the white powder altogether. "Borax can cause burns, especially when you touch it multiple times," she says.
Mineral Bath
Add warm water to the bathtub or footbath. Add minerals and mix thoroughly. Soak for 20-30 minutes. **Do Not use borax in the forms of sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, disodium tetraborate, or boric acid as these can be toxic as well as irritating to the skin.
And then there's the fact that you can safely consume baking soda, while borax should not be eaten, inhaled, or even exposed to your skin. That doesn't mean it's not “safe.” Rather, it is to say that baking soda is, on the whole, a milder cleaning agent than borax.
Both baking soda and Borax are effective because they are alkaline and abrasive. But Borax has a higher PH than baking soda, making it a slightly harsher but arguably more effective cleaning agent. It inhibits fungi, mold, and bacteria.
Borax is an effective stain remover because its alkalinity helps to break down acidic stains. Make a solution of warm water and 6 tablespoons of Borax. Soak the clothing for around an hour before putting it through the washing machine cycle. If it is a stubborn stain, you may need to repeat the process.
Boric acid is low in toxicity if eaten or if it contacts skin. However, in the form of borax, it can be corrosive to the eye. Borax can also be irritating to the skin. People who have eaten boric acid have had nausea, vomiting, stomach aches, and diarrhea.
Borax is toxic to ants. When they ingest it, it disrupts their digestive systems, eventually causing death. However, they don't die immediately — the borax acts slowly enough to allow the worker ants to carry it back to the colony, where other ants ingest it and die.
Borax and boric acid are two different formulations of the same compound. Borax is a mineral that is taken straight from the ground (a form of the element Boron) and used in cleaning products. Boric acid is its extracted, processed and refined form, found in a variety of chemical products.
Borax (sodium tetraborate decahydrate) is a powder that is usually used to control cockroaches or ants. It is effective when sprinkled in out-of-the-way places where spiders and insects hide. We prefer to sprinkle it in the cracks between the window and the storm or screen window.
But borax and boric acids are the common insect repellents that are more effective than any other products in your home. These two compounds are formed by the same base element called boron, which is directly extracted from the earth.
In addition, you can use Borax to deter mice from invading your home. Sprinkle borax around any openings, crevices, eaves, or roofs. If you have children or pets, you should choose a different method.