What was borax originally used for?

Author: Elmira Jacobson  |  Last update: Saturday, August 16, 2025

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. First found in dry lakebeds in Tibet, it was transported in ancient times along the Silk Road.

What was the use of borax in ancient times?

Sodium borate, or borax, as it is better known, was used by Roman goldsmiths as a "flux," a substance added to the metal to make it flow more easily when heated. Perhaps the glassmaker added some borax to his molten mix to improve its flow properties and noted that the resulting glass was much stronger.

Why was borax banned?

In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned borax as a food additive. Borax is not safe to ingest. According to the NLM's Toxicology Data Network, borax is easy for the body to break down when either inhaled or swallowed.

Why is borax illegal in Europe?

It was deemed to be a “substance of very high concern” by the European Chemicals Agency because studies suggested that it may be toxic to reproductive health. But on a more positive note. That's why the Borax Substitute was developed.

How harmful is borax to humans?

Borax health risks

Borax can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea if you ingest it by itself, and large amounts can lead to shock and kidney failure. 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.

27 Brilliant Uses & Health Benefits of Borax For Around the House

Why is borax banned in Canada?

In 2016, Health Canada listed a specific advisory cautioning Canadians against the use of boric acid in homemade crafts and pesticides, especially for children and pregnant women, after a draft risk assessment which found that overexposure to boric acid has the potential to cause developmental and reproductive health ...

Is arm and hammer washing soda the same as borax?

Though borax and washing soda are chemically quite similar, they each have their own specialties. Because of the shape of their molecules, they have slightly different properties that make them useful in a number of different ways.

Is it safe to use borax in laundry?

Borax is safe to use as a household cleaner and laundry booster, as long as you carefully follow the instructions on the product container. "Wear gloves when cleaning with borax, and when you are done cleaning, wash your hands immediately with soap and water," says Dr. Amirshahi.

Is borax still available?

Borax is available at major retailers nationwide for purchase in-store.

What bugs are killed by borax?

Boric acid and its sodium salts can be used to control a wide variety of pests. These include insects, spiders, mites, algae, molds, fungi, and weeds. Products that contain boric acid have been registered for use in the United States since 1948.

What are the toxic effects of borax?

Possible side effects and unwanted results include:
  • Pain, swelling or bruising at the injection site.
  • Headache or flu-like symptoms.
  • Droopy eyelids or crooked eyebrows.
  • A crooked smile or drooling.
  • Watery or dry eyes.
  • Infection at the injection site.

What should not be mixed with borax?

(But don't ever mix it with vinegar. That combination is potentially toxic and corrosive.)

Is borax just baking soda?

Borax (sodium tetraborate) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) aren't the same thing. They're both salts, and they're both popular as “green” household cleaning agents, but borax has a pH of 9.5, compared to baking soda's pH of 8. This makes borax considerably more alkaline than baking soda.

Why do you mix borax with vinegar?

Borax will soften up the dirt first, and then vinegar will react with the softened dirt and remove it from the layers in between. This is particularly useful when one sprinkles borax on tiles or grout and scrubs it in.

Is borax still mined in Death Valley?

They also transformed the mining town of Ryan into a hotel and used it rail lines to provide tourists with scenic rides overlooking the desert floor. Borax mining in Death Valley has ended.

Can I sprinkle borax around my house?

Kill pests and weeds – Sprinkle borax wherever ants or roaches are coming into your home to eliminate them. Sprinkle borax on weeds, but make sure that you don't get it on your flowers or grass.

Is 20 Mule Team Borax non-toxic?

20 Mule Team® Borax borax decahydrate, Neobor® disodium tetraborate pentahydrate, Optibor® boric acid, and other inorganic borates are safe (when properly handled) in a variety of industrial applications. These borates have a low acute toxicity in mammals and are negligibly absorbed through intact skin.

What kills parasites in laundry?

The Best Way to Clean Clothes

To kill the germs in your laundry, wash your clothes on the hot cycle, then put everything in the dryer for 45 minutes. Wash whites with bleach, and use peroxide or color-safe bleach for colors. Do your laundry in water that's at least 140 F to kill any viruses or bacteria.

What works better than borax?

Sodium sesquicarbonate, marketed as "borax substitute," is a non-toxic mineral compound with a pH similar to borax, making it ideal for cleaning and laundry. It is more potent than baking soda. You can find it sold online as sodium sesquicarbonate or alkali washing soda in the United States.

What does vinegar do for laundry?

By adding vinegar to your laundry, you can remove tough stains, eliminate odors, and even soften your clothes. It's a safe and effective way to boost the cleaning power of your detergent while also being eco-friendly. So go ahead and add some vinegar to your next load of laundry for cleaner, fresher-smelling clothes.

Why is borax so expensive?

The chemistry used to refine these raw minerals was also largely unfamiliar and unproven. Compounding these limiting factors were cumbersome logistics, and refineries that were often far from the ore source. These circumstances kept borax production low, and the price was too expensive for everyday household use.

Is borax illegal in the US?

Statement on FDA status of borates

The FDA has approved boric acid and borax for use under the indirect food additive regulations listed in the table below (X mark indicates approved use).

Why can't you buy borax?

In other words, the European Chemicals Agency recognized that high levels of exposure to borax may adversely affect human reproduction or development. As a result, some products containing borax are banned for sale within the European Union unless they meet certain safety requirements.

Does borax go bad?

Borates are chemically stable indefinitely when stored in the original, intact packaging in a dry and covered warehouse. Therefore, the concept of an expiration date is not typically applicable.

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