Not one single natural ingredient has me quite as verklempt as borax.
Nearly every “green cleaning” site lists it as a wonder cleaner. Natural beauty books are rife with suggesting it as a hair softener. People put it in lotions all across the world.
And upset commenters have left diatribes and sent consternating emails about my recipes using borax proclaiming it “toxic!” “dangerous!” “harmful!” “poison!”
Not surprising, all of the confusion, given the severe lack of cohesive information out there about the safety of borax. The Borax Council has done a terrible job at educating the public. Probably because I just made the Borax Council up. Ha!
I think I’ve gotten to the bottom of most of it, though, and maybe what I’ve found will help you make a decision as to whether you want to use it in your green cleaning (and beauty) routine … or not.
What IS Borax?
Borax, also known (most predominately in the way we’re talking about right now) as sodium tetraborate, is a boron mineral and salt that’s mined directly from the ground.
Borax is not boric acid.
That’s where the majority of the online confusion appears. With no surprise; at least half of the studies I’ve found and citations I’ve read have listed their testing matter as “either sodium borate or boric acid.”
The difference between the two is: Boric acid is produced when borax is reacted with another acid (like sulfuric or hydrochloric acid). The result is an acid structure (pH of 5.0), rather than alkaline, as borax is (9.3 pH). (I’m not going to get into the “is boric acid safe or not” question here, because that’s a whole ‘nother can of worms.)
Borax and boric acid are found together in many places, especially volcanic areas where the borax has naturally reacted with sulfur. You can also find both compounds in seawater.
Is Borax Safe or Not?
Sad hint: You still have to make up your own mind. I cannot say yes. And I cannot say no.
Let me tell you what some other people say, though:
- The EWG’s Skin Deep Database lists it as a 5-6 (or moderate hazard), but trying to find the studies they used for their rating proved difficult, and the ones I did find were the nebulous “borax or boric acid” test studies.
- Looking through the ToxNet studies on the NIH website, I see very few that are concerning for any major danger (unless ingested in high quantities). In addition, the Material Safety Data Sheet lists borax as a health hazard of 1, the same as baking soda and salt.
- However, the FDA banned borax as a food additive, and the European Chemicals Agency added it to their “list of substances of very high concern” a few years ago. From what I could find, that had much to do with the ongoing debate as to whether excess boron in the soil harms crops.
- Borax is classified as non-carcinogenic and a mild skin irritant. The high alkalinity of borax is likely what causes skin irritation (just as excessive use of baking soda would cause irritation). There are also several studies in the ToxNet database that show its only a very mild lung irritant and causes no lasting damage. In addition, it does not penetrate the skin well, and is not considered to be bio-accumulative. (Meaning, repetitive use over time does not mean it builds up in your system.)
- The one concern is with its potential to disrupt the reproductive system. Studies have not been done in humans regarding this; however, potential reproductive issues in mice are suspected from high levels of (ingested) borax.
- Borax is acutely toxic in the same manner that salt is (in rats, it’s 4500-5000 mg/kg of body weight, which is A LOT). Ingested in moderate quantities, it causes gastrointestinal upset and nausea. Bottom line: While it may be listed as “poison” on the box, it’s only toxic at very, very high levels. (Like salt, baking soda, and even water is.)
You confused yet?
Here’s one more bit of info for you:
Boron is an essential mineral that the body needs for bone building, immune function, and brain function. Plants need it to grow. But, like anything, it’s needed in small moderation. Much like salt.
Boron is found aplenty in borax. People even take borax as a supplement and swear by it (I am NOT recommending you do this). That’s a little extreme, but I use it as a gauge as to how harmful borax really is.
Borax: My Personal Thoughts
Borax is wholly natural. It doesn’t cause cancer, accumulate in the body, or absorb through the skin. It is not harmful to the environment. In fact, the largest borax (borate) mine in the world – found in Boron, California – is considered by many to be the most ecologically sound and environmentally sustainable mine in the United States. This is also the mine where 20 Mule Team comes from.
I’m putting to rest my late-night concerns about whether – all along – I’ve been using some kind of dangerous(!), toxic(!) poison(!).
For me – and this is my personal determination after months of searching, wondering, and compiling information – borax is just fine to use in my household cleaning routine. ESPECIALLY as a laundry detergent. It’s also fine to use, occasionally, as a hair treatment … or even in a lotion.
I’ll just be keeping it out of the reach of kids and my two cats. Not that any of those beings would want to eat it anyway. Ick.
My only teeny, tiny, miniscule concern still lies in using it in my dishwasher detergent. But, frankly, the only time I ever see any trace of residue on my dishes when I’ve used homemade dishwasher detergent is while washing the few plastics that still remain in my house.
I know better than to even be using plastics.
So, going forward, I’ll still be using my borax and washing soda dishwasher detergent, I’ll just be washing my plastics by hand (and little-by-little getting rid of them all together … except my food processor … anything but that).
And, moreover, I now have a compilation of all kinds of fancy information for the people who come down the road, aghast that I recommend using borax.
Ultimately, I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. Do you?
DIY Laminate Floor Cleaner Your Grandmother Would Be Proud Of
Can you tell me if anyone has used borax for getting rid of fleas I think one of the ingredients is sodium tetraborate in 20mule team borax I was told it’s the salt that kills them or sodium
I just started using borax in my wash about a month ago and holy crap what a difference! It has gotten out old, old stains and the whites are so bright without bleach. I bought it because my son wanted to make slime. I’m so happy I stumbled upon the laundry boosting power. Glad to read it’s an environmentally friendly and reasonably safe alternative for laundry.
Its safety is nebulous because, taken internally, it cures most arthritis in a matter of weeks. Pharmaceutical companies want people to be concerned about its safety. They’ve done tests with mice with such extreme levels that it doesn’t make rational sense. Who would possibly consume the 15-20 grams of boron a day it would take to get the same toxicity by weight? It’s safer than salt. I drink borax water daily since it helps mag absorption, makes sure calcium is used in your bones instead of becoming stones, balances hormones, kills candida, and binds to fluoride.
How can I prepare Borax Mild solution for the purpose of washing Savings Brush as the company suggested.
Here in Kolkata, India Borax powder is available. So From Borax Powder to Borax mild solution is acvieved.
Awaiting for your reply.
Okay. So freak out if you want to. I researched borax in lieu of antibiotics, since I’m allergic to all of them. I found these tiny, and expensive, borax tablets in a health food store. Instructions: Take 5 /day. Whether taken as tiny tablets or from the big 20 Mule Team box, borax is pure, and still borax. The box has to print a disclaimer for the protection of the company. I take 1/4 teaspoon /day in a sweetened drink, with Bragg vinegar, nutmeg, spirulina and gelatine. I think it helps strengthen my bones and keeps my brain clean. I’m a great-grandmother and aunt, looking forward to being a stronghealthyalert greatgreatgreat. Suffer over that if you want to.
The FDA banned the use of borax in food, but said Okey Dokey to ROUNDUP in our food. Wow, they are really looking out for our health……NO!!!!
Borax helps arthritis in a big way. Search borax, arthritis, Australia
Boron works to stop arthritis. Google borax arthritis Australia
Thank you for the information on Borax. I accidently ingested a very small amount and was freaking out. I drank a huge glass of water afterward and feel o.k. After reading this information I feel much better. I do not take it as complete medical information of course but it has calmed my nerves. Thanks again.
I appreciate your research on this. It has cleared up some of my questions.
However; It seems as though you are saying that Borax (Boron) is natural and safe, but adding chemicals makes Boric Acid ~ which is not safe.
Do you know which household chemicals, like peroxide, lemon juice, vinegar, or even baking soda, can create Boric Acid?
the borax killed the bird? 1) why was the bird free to get to the “borax” 2) if cleaning paint from steel girders is neeed mix gillettes lye with borax a cup of dishsoap and calgon watch the stuff bubble when a strong spray of hot water hits the paint surface so don’t blame the borax clean up yer own act first 3 borax is used to clean and when done right set iron in a blacksmiths forge up to be able to weld two pieces of it together 4) taking the stuff withg a 1/4 teaspoon MEASURED along with 1/2 teaspoon of liquid honey doesn’t matter what grade along with a tablespoon of plain youghurt and a 1/4 cup of seal oil put over top aof a grade 2 skin burn for areound a week. after another week whoever looks at the skin will have a hard time telling where it was. the skin outside the burned area will be cleaner and softer than the rest of the part that was burnt.
Boron is an antidote for Fluoride poisoning.
I am serious, there are studies in Chemical Journals.
Just look it up. Boron binds to Fluoride to form Boron Tetrafluoride (BF4) which is safely excreted from the body. There has been studies on animals using Borax and Sodium Fluoride with controls.
Perhaps the scare campaign has something to do with Fluoride? Boron is the Fluoride detox Element, and there is science behind it.
People say that Iodine is a Fluoride detox Element, but this is mostly a myth to sell Iodine. You will find only one study on this, and it was done by one person who just happens to sell Iodine, books on Iodine, and Iodine Loading Tests. Essentially, it has the hallmarks of propaganda.
Being a halogen, Iodide may displace Fluoride; But Chlorine is also a halogen, which would make NaCl also effective at displacing Fluoride. This hardly matters though since Boron is way more effective that either NaCl or KI.
Iodine is the displacer of Bromine, not Fluoride. NaCl is has chloride, yes, but we have to look at their ranks on the periodic table.
It seems as though we as fishermen are getting a lot thrown at us, the law should put there effort in stopping the rafters cant drink at all on the upper rogue river, and after this goes through the people should all needo matter how old should be wearing there life jacket or (pfd) there is one person that dies on this river each year, id love for it not be on the river, at all, i live on the river and would love to see no drinking and them warring there pfd.
I am going to continue to cure my salmon and steelhead eggs like ive been doing for years. Im not sure why it was banned.
While scrubbing the floor with a mix of borax and an all organic liquid soap one of the parakeets I share the apartment with flew down and landed in the minimal suds. I shooed him away IMMEDIATELY. The next morning, I found him vomitting. Parakeets vomit into each other’s mouths as a sign of affection, but this was just him vomitting up seeds repeatedly but still moving about and eating, making his usual sounds. I went to work concerned but figuring he’d make it through. He didn’t, while he was alive and yet still vomitting when I returned after my 8 hour shift, he died that late night, approximately 30 hours after landing in a what was a pretty diluted amount of borax. It had to be the Borax. My thought is he got it on his feet then ingested it. While not highly poisonous to rats, it killed my little bird friend. Ultimately it’s my fault for thinking it wouldn’t be toxic, and allowing the two boy birds to fly about freely while I cleaned with it.
So you mix sodium tetraborate with a “organic” (non-foods cant be classified as organic, so idk about that) liquid soap, and just blame the tetraborate. Surfactants (soaps) are a specific class of molecule, organic or not. Surfactant molecules break down into many other molecules and atoms, and are highly reactive. Mixing borax and soap is not dangerous to use, but dangerous to ingest. You can (and this is probably what got your lil buddy:( ) produce sodium hydroxide, pottasium hydroxide, and other caustic chemicals by mixing these. Just because things are organic and natural does not mean they are necessarily safe, especially mixed. Many people mixed bleach and ammonia, which are essentially natural, for many years before realizing it produced poisonous gas. BORON HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT OF OUR DIETS AND REPLACED WITH FLOURIDE, AS THEY ARE SIMILARLY METABOLIZED. BORON IS WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BIND TO CALCIUM TO FORM BONE AND ENAMEL, NOT FLOURIDE. YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN BRITTLENESS BY COMPARING BOROSILICATE TO FLOUROSILICATE GLASS! Please do not write borax off, and im sorry for your loss 🙁
I highly doubt it killed your bird. I once had fleas in my carpet years ago. I was at a loss of what to do. I too have a bird, and did not want to set off a bug bomb because of the risk of poison residue throughout the house (very toxic to birdies). So at the advice of an older person I sprinkled borax on my carpet (as you would carpet fresh), left it on over night, and used the vacuum the following day. I had a pretty crappy vacuum, and can promise you that a good amount of the stuff was left behind in the fibers. In fact I could feel it in my bare feet. My bird must have walked on that carpet at least 100 times also. That was 6 or more years ago. Bird is still kicking! Maybe it was the lye in your soap, or even the soap combo could’ve turned the borax acidic. Anyway, the stuff killed the fleas, dried out the eggs and dehydrated them also!!
I have been trying to find a natural emulsifier, and I have finally found one, ysing beeswax and borax. I was concerned about borax, but thanks for putting my concerns to bed
Does this work for my husband’s clothes… He works landscaping and I’m having a hard time finding something that works to get the smell out…HRLP!
Not only will it clean his clothes but it also does a great job keeping old cotton smelling fresh again.
I am an Arborist and use it on my work clothes in every wash. I also find it does not irritate the skin like some scented detergents.
Washing your husbands clothes with 1/2 cup of white vinegar (right in to the washer) along with your detergent will neutralize any smell. It will not smell like vinegar after the clothes are washed and dried either. If the clothes are really smelly 1 cup per load will definitely help.
Thank you for the high-quality info in this post! I’m using Borax to kill fleas in my home. I was wondering if I could leave the dog loose in the house while I let the borax sit in the carpet while I was gone. I’m going to rest easy now, knowing that Borax is just a salt, and my dog will be fine because there aren’t any piles or clumps of it sitting around that she could eat.
Thank you for providing useful information! My hubby has cancer and I’ve been looking for ways to de-toxify our home. Finding any kind of DIY recipes for cleaning supplies that don’t include Borax are few and far between…and the few I did find didn’t work well. (It makes me wonder if some bloggers have even tried it themselves, sheesh.)
After much searching and head scratching, I came across your blog and my confusion is now informed clarity 😀 Thanks for keeping it real.
Such clear and understandable information. Thank you. I love your writing style – light and humorous, not overdone, but strong content!
He didn’t do any research. It is all conjecture. Don’t use it in the house.
why do you think it shouldn’t be used in the house?
I know of a lot of things that an MD will tell you to clean your house with that is not safe. So WHY should we not use a natural product in our house? Because its not from the BIG PHARM?
I have used this stuff for many years and I plan to use it many more.
Maybe the good doctor has not been compensated enough by the Borax Council to earn his endorsement?
Google “the Borax Conspiracy. An MD in Western Australia completely cured his arthritis in weeks with a tiny amount of Borax ingested daily. He informed the local authorities of his discovery…They couldn’t give a toss. He was prescribing and manufacturing capsules of the stuff for his own patients…thousands of them.
When he approached a pharmaceutical Co. to make the capsules for him, the crap hit the fan…Pharma rip off to protect their bottom line…& the public suffers. phoney studies…stooge scare campaign…you get the picture? Same old story.
If it was made in a lab & could be patented, you would be buying it by prescription, & paying an arm & a leg for it.
This is a really good article. I appreciate the research. Thanks for helping
The Chicken Littles should ring alarms about human saliva, which naturally contains substantial nitrates. How do we ever survive?
I have been supplementing with a very small amount daily (150-200 mg or slightly less than 1/16 teaspoon) and all my joint pain was gone within days of starting to take it. This is more like a miracle cure than a poison! It’s almost like the last couple years have been just a really, really bad dream! I can RUN up and down the stairs again! I will continue to take this for maintenance, probably forever. I can remember life without it (when I could hardly walk or move)!
I found an old Victorian advertisement for Mennens borated talcum powder and wondered if they still use it in talcum powder today ? Borax dissolves easily in water so I presume it would transfer easily through the skin.Its only found in desert regions and was hauled out of Death Valley in the 19th century by a twenty mule team.It seems that it makes for a good insect killer roaches ants termites ,but don’t get it on your plants it will kill them too.Taxidermists use it ! I didn’t find my answer but I’m thinking anything in small doses can’t be bad for you right ! I read Ohio has the most concentration of bed bugs ,do I crop dust my mattress with Borax or not ? Perhaps alum salt in deodorant is more of a consern ? Something is going to give us cancer or kill us eventually .Good luck fellow termites.
Hey Graham, Cedar oil is the miracle ingredient you are looking for on the bed bugs. Borax is very impressive, but you won’t finish off the bed bugs or ticks. You can see from the label of a super great product called Wondercide, it is just cedar oil and hydrated silica — to avoid mixing with water and chemicals. Cedar oil can be purchased in larger quantities online. Doesn’t have to be expensive brand type at all.
For bed bugs, I believe food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) would be better, or so I’ve read. It is safe to dust lightly on, around and under your bed and leave there to kill the bugs, and I guess you have to keep it around for quite a while – weeks maybe – to get them all killed off.
DE also works on ants but it’s so messy for counters and floors. For ants I prefer borax.
I mix a spoonful of borax with a half-cup of simple syrup or left-over syrup from fruit canning or diluted honey and pour it near ant trails in/near my house. They’re attracted by the sweets, ingest the borax and take it back to their nest to poison their friends and relatives. If you look at the substances used by professional exterminators who spray the perimeter of your house, one of the main active ingredients is borax.
It can be cleaned up the next day. It seems to clear them up for a time.
certainly like your website however you need to
check the spelling on quite a few of your posts.
Many of them are rife with spelling issues and
I find it very troublesome to tell the reality however I will
definitely come back again.
Thanks. My mind is made up and at rest.
What do you know about fels napyha soap? Its getting the same reviews as borax?
After reading your article, it sounds like you mean “perplexed” rather than “verklempt”. That said, thank you for this info on borax! We were wondering if it was safe for laundry. I’m still going to have to dig a little to find out why we use it in cleaning…
Isn’t borax used in preschools to make a recipe called Flubber to play with and learn from? You mix a certain amount of borax with a certain amount of glue and water, I believe, together. Now, is this safe for children to play with? You can use short PVC pipes and place a wad of this flubber recipe and blow a large bubble, etc….. squishing it, etc.
Above it is stated correctly that the LSD50 test for Borax (Not the acid) is between 4500 to 5000 mg/kg weight. Table salt is about 3000.
It seems that most people here cannot interpret what they’re reading because they’re not trained in these industries. I am a formulation food and cosmetic chemist with over 40 years of experience. Let me explain the obfuscations surrounding Borax.
1) for ease of calculation 1kg = 2lbs.
2) 5000mgs = 5 grams = about 1 teaspoonful
3) thus for a woman weighing 120lbs. the dose to make you deathly sick is 120/2 = about 60kgs, requirement is 60 TEASPOONFULS IN ONE DOSE (~300 gms) that’s more than 2 McDonald’s hamburger putties!!!
4) Table salt requires 1 and 1/2 putties.
Clearly common sense dictates that no-one will ingest this type of amount of Borax or Salt for that matter in one sitting?
Borax has so many uses in health matters as a synergist, that it is an almost panacea. For instance, taken as a synergist to Magnesium supplementation, it seems to cure not just ameliorate a number of ailments that for Big Pharma are staple income earners for Billions per year.
Since I stumbled across this blog and I see it’s mostly a female blog of interest here is a small take away about osteoporosis.
As we age, some minerals from our bones are re-absorbed into the blood stream as they are required in other areas/organs due to slowing metabolism and hormonal imbalances. This leaves a lot of Calcium depositing in soft tissues and is about 50% responsible for heart and other problems.
However, a Boron (Borax) and Magnesium correct supplementation anecdotally seems to lift the calcium from the various soft organs and redeposit it on the bones!! (The correct supplementation is a number of orders higher than the RDA we are led to believe. Do some research)
In fact people who supplemented for this, seem to have stronger bones than expected for their age. (After a couple of years with this type of supplementation do not be surprised as to the difficulty your dentist will find in drilling your teeth even when you are 70!)
Farriers and veterinaries have treated Thrush on horses hooves with Borax for years. We know today, that Thrush is runaway Candida Albicans infection, would it pay you to research this as well if suffering from such an ailment?
Lastly and most importantly, Borax seems to complex Fluorine/Fluorides out of water and bodies. (Research this as well)Research why is fluorine included in our water supply. Vested interests want to dumb us down. Others explain this better than I ever could.
I AM NOT A DOCTOR. But, during my life, I had to learn a number of disparate disciplines and to integrate them in order to produce primary research for products that worked well. I found that not all “Naturals” are benign, nor all laboratory/industrial products used are malignant. A common sense mix of actives and non-actives from both do tend to give very good results.
The problems arise when marketing and accountant types put undue pressure on scientists in their fields to over emphasize one thing or another. It’s bad science, but the scientists if they object, loose their jobs and are then blacklisted and can’t find another, in the meantime they have wives and children to take care of.
A good example of this, is the “Global Warming” smoke and mirrors ponny show which is untrue and that’s why it’s been changed to “Climate Change” now days. Nonsense, the earth in it’s wobbly peripatetic path around the Sun is at present in a closer orbit than it was, this was known that it would happen more than 50 years ago. Earth will move further anyway, CO2 has nothing to do with it except steal more money from the tax payers. CO2 is required by plant life. Let’s stop CO2 let the plant life die and see what we’ll eat. Sanguine nonsense, bad science paid for by special interests.
Good Luck, and do some research it’s easy today with the Webb.
I’m from Boron, California, originally. My father worked at the mine. Borax has always been a part of my world 🙂
@Christina hi thanks for sharing about your dad, did he ever have any health issues after working in the mine? Or did any of the workers? Just curious..
Probably had a very healthy pineal gland…
borax
– Animal studies have shown to cause damage to the
testicles, reduced fertility
Modern detergents do not use borax anymore.
Still very effective in bug control in and outside of the home.
Just be careful when handling it – do not wash your clothes or any kitchen top where food will come in contact.
Just read an article that sodium borate is used in 4 vaccines (Hep A, Hib/Hep B, HPV (Gardasil), HPV (Gardasil 9). Why ? There is very limited to why this is added to an injectable drug. How much is being used and why only in these vaccines to supposedly control pH ? It is banned by the FDA as a food additive and in Europe as well because of reproductive and developmental toxicity concerns. There is a ban on Gardasil in France and concern particularly about the inclusion of sodium borate. I think I will not use this near food or clothing.
Lol, it is a nutrient not a poison, relax and quite believing all the mainstream nonsense. Its banned because it decalcifies the body better than any other known substance, Period. Of which is in direct conflict against all the many years of long hard work put into the dumbing down of society by means of poisoning the air, food and water with Fluoride. Now they can’t have that!….Unless by prescription maybe of course…
Just found your blog yesterday and it’s fantastic so far. We just started ours and my wife is currently in R&D for her personal products. This article was very helpful. Thank you for your digging of the hidden info here and giving it to us!
Thank you for the information and shedding some light on the topic. I’ve been using borax in all sorts of home cleaning recipes for a while now. But recently came across this debate.
Not to get too technical but the lethal dosages for Borax are absurd. It would likely be impossible to ingest that amount unless you were really, really trying to. I think it is more likely that the health benefits scare the pants off of the medical and pharmaceutical establishment so they have to find ways to show how “dangerous” boron is. When you consider table salt or regular H2O is more toxic I just don’t believe you would be able to poison yourself with either Boric acid or Borax such as the 20 Mule team brand.
The health benefits seem to be much greater, it appears to cure Arthritis, yeast infections, candida overgrowth, kills fleas, cleans dishes, you name it Borax does it. Most likely the impetus to demonize the usage comes from an entrenched medical community more bent towards making a profit and less towards addressing the root causes of dis-ease.
To fight scabies/mites, (and/or Lice…?)
I have a household steam cleaner, that holds 11 oz.
I used 1/8 teaspoon each; Borax and salt, in water.
I used a spout-type attachment, and ‘fumigated’ everything, that isn’t metal.
It fit in every nook, cranny, and crevice: couch, mattress….
Around, behind, and under stove, frig, cabinets, and adjoining walls of Nieghbors.
I rinse steamer really well after use, to avoid corrosion of metal parts due to the salt.
Being careful not to cause a burn- I used the same mist on myself, and my Assistant Canine In-Training.
Within minutes of misting my scalp and hair- the itching stopped!
This is my second go-round of varmints in 3 months.
I had been repeatedly exposed to a baby with “a rash”.
That rash turned out to be crusted scabies!
I suspect that the Mother also had body lice.
Initially, I used all the hair, and body treatment chemical that my Dr. recommended, and prescribed.
Only to have it return a few weeks later.
Only time will tell if this will be a long-term success.
It certainly has created immediate relief!
I do not claim that this is safe for everyone.
However, as I am allergic to sulfur,
I’m attempting to be innovative.
I am finding that the info on your site is quite interesting.
Well done!
Thank you.
Best wishes.
Nina & Sullynah-Puppy
If anyone has more info on Boran, I would love to look up on this product. Does anyone know where the best place to order Borax is? Does anyone know about Natures oil brand of borax?
Google the borax conspiracy (http://www.health-science-spirit.com/borax.htm). Also check out ingredients for joint supplements. Blackmores joint formula (in Australia – where borax is listed as a poison) contains borax.
Borax is safe when used in small amounts!
Why all the writings about why borax is unsafe?
Answer money!
Read the article of Rex Newham, the borax consperacy. For instance it is said borax is used in rat poison, that’s correct. However what is missing is that it is forgotten to tell you the function of it, namely to preserve the body of the rat after it dies! If a rat gets on your attick and dies, your whole house will stink. That is why borax is used! About 15 years ago I developed psoriasis and a bit later psoriasis athrtis. Got all kinds of medicine, also metotraxe. Which is lowering your immune system. With all consequences. BUT NOTHING REALLY HELPED. Contacted a naturopath he suggested borax which I did. Have not had any reoccurring of the problem! The Msds shows it clearly borax is about as toxic as seasalt! The spin doctors have put a lot of confusion about borax.please read the article as mentioned before! Good health to you Peter
My Mother has psoriasis and can’t get rid of it and she’s tried everything! How did you use Borax to get rid of it if you don’t mind me asking? She is so insecure about it and it would change her life!
Your mom may want to try a really good probiotic as well. I have heard a lot about them working for skin conditions. It certainly won’t hurt.
Hi Laura,
just google borax conspiracy or luck the following link which will download the pdf of a magazine article and it tells exactly what you can do. https://www.nexusmagazine.com/articles/doc_view/227-the-borax-conspiracy
http://www.health-science-spirit.com/borax.htm
Research on borax
here’s some more interesting things you should know about borax… I’m no scientist and after hearing what I have to say you May call me a conspiracy theorist… but it’s relative information. my guess as to why the fda has banned the use in food is because the fda is not currently a people friendly companay. the thing about borax is that it either iodizes or oxidized fluoride. fluoride of course being added to the American water supply, has been proven to sedate people. while borax in high quantities could proveslightly hazardous to your health… in low quantities it purified your water sources. I’ve recently started adding borax to my water and had just googled borax to see negative side affects (if there are any) but positive side affects are more energy and healthier drinking water… to source me, look up this horrible thing called agenda 21
I remember when borax was removed from pharmacy shelves in the late ’80’s/early ’90’s. The pharmacist told me it was because too many people had tried – unsuccessfully – to make eye drops. It looked like a cheaper alternative and they ended up damaging their eyes.
The item used for eye wash is boric acid, not borax.
I’ve used it and it quickly relieved and cleared up minor eye infections a couple of times (pink eye), but it has to be extremely well diluted in pure water and handled carefully so as to avoid contamination and cross-contamination, and it’s been so long I’d have to research it again to be extra sure of the dosage.
And that’s the key word in almost everything: Dosage. Not whether something is “natural;” many lethal substances are “natural.” You can drink the purest artesian spring water in the world but if you drink too much in too short a time you can die. On the other hand, you could eat a McDonald’s Big Mac every month for your whole life and it probably wouldn’t do you a bit of harm. Dosage is everything.
Is borax okay to use on your carpet and be around it to kill fleas
You are brainwashed ..borax is essential to ingest for human health.without it you may sicken and die.it has HALF the LD50 of table salt.I do a teaspoon with baking soda and ascorbic acid plus mineral mix.
Yeah, we’ve all heard your load of **** about table salt, why don’t you write it a couple more times. I think you should eat a big box of borax for breakfast.
Did anyone think to look up exactly how toxic Borax is (or isn’t)?
The acute LD50 (point at which it kills half the subjects tested with one big dose) is about 2.7 g/kg for rats. Compare that with sodium hypochlorite (bleach); about 0.2g/kg (oral dose). Or alum, an old nail-chewing preventive – about 0.6g/kg. So Borax is definitely not something you want to eat – and it _is_ a ‘poison’ in the usual sense of the word. But it’ll take a relatively big dose to do serious harm and it’s less lethal – and less corrosive – than some other common household products.
Incidentally, I’m looking it up for a school science experiment – it makes good ‘snowflakes’ because of its solubility properties, and the usual substitute is nowhere near as effective for that.
Hi everyone,
I worked in a High School as the laboratory manager, being around hazardous chemicals everyday, up until I finally got pregnant. I’m sorry to say but borax is banned in schools now due to it being too hazardous to use in schools. It’s not bad for anything else except reproductive system and harm to the unborn child. So I would advise pregnant women to not use it until they have given birth if they want to be on the safe side. I just cleaned some walls in my house with it, they look fantastic, I started getting light headed, but then I went on Chemwatch and was worried when I read that, I won’t be using it again while I’m pregnant.
Thanks
Megan
Actually you are wrong.it is banned for propaganda purposes because it CURES 30+ major illnesses and has HALF the danger of table salt..HELLO ANY ONE HOME INSIDE THAT BRAIN OF YOURS?
Did you write that to me Rex? If you did than go stick your response up your a$$! it is banned in schools and you need to get a license to have it in SA schools. Do you even have a brain, that’s what I’m wondering??????
Many things are ‘banned’ that are harmless, or which pose less harm than many legal things.
I sure hope you don’t live according to what some government wank has dictated in the past
You sound very naive and juvenile Megan . At a guess you probably think Bim Laden was responsible for 9/11 . Stop using that fluoride toothpaste it’s calcifying your pineal gland. Peace
yes Megan do your research. It is the complete opposite of poison. It is nothing more than Pure Boron. An essential naturally occurring mineral. I have been taking internally off and on for a while to decalcify the body and remove other toxins and have had wonderful results with absolutely zero times 100 no negative impacts, only positive.
Arsenic is an esential naturally occuring element/nutrient as well, should we all ingest arsenic by the gallon? Stop berating someone else for their stance when yours is not fully supported either. @Megan I urge you to face your fear and research things yourself rather than take what is being fed to you by those who wish to manipulate and control you. @Rex You should be ashamed of your behavior. Being on the internet is NOT an excuse to behave in the lowest fashion possible in man.
But you already eat in many of the foods in a healthy diet. Illogical
Here is a link that may help with understanding why borax has been declared poisonous while baking soda and table salt have not,http://www.health-science-spirit.com/borax.htm. Also if you want to lower your blood pressure naturally and be taking a colloidal mineral supplement at the same time use Redmond Real Salt in place of table salt (an extremely toxic substance)or sea salt.
I started drinking borax in a liter of water after …it of the blue… i started having an auto immune condition calledHydradenitis Supperativa caused me to have HUGE PAINFUL BOILS on my lady garden and booty area. like the butt hole area. golf ball sized debilitatinglypainful nd numerous. i had usually up to 8 at a time. Im hardcore but that shut me down. my whole life stopped. after intense research i decided to try drinking borax to treat mycoplasma and candida, and it worked! i feel great! No Boils! been drinking it for months… 4 months. i did a treatment regimen at first but just drink a little daily for maintenance. just sayin.
May I ask is your HS in remission from taking borox?
Kristina-With those symptoms I would talk to my doctor about getting my blood sugar tested to check for diabetes.
I am Thoroughly Convinced that we are “lied to” about so many things. You have to make up your Own Mind. I DRINK small quantities of Borax everyday to help with my Arthritis. I am fine and feeling better everyday. WHY tell you something that is Cheap is GOOD when they can tell you something else . Corporate Greed. So Bad.. : (
There are some you tubers advising to put borax in water to neutralize the flouride.
just go to the videos. very small amount of Borax is used one eighth of a teaspoon to one liter of water. not brave enough to try it. would rater buy Mountain Valley
spring Water. it is used in the white House. have to order it, not in the stores. The water, that is.. Blessings
you can leave your water out for 24 hours, and the chlorine will dissapear, so the story goes. any scientific minds out there.
All this caution about something that is no more harmful than salt or sodium bicarbonate, and yet half the world are happily chowing down on Lord knows how many tons of glyphosate in their food, something that has been categorically proven to be poisonous. Humans display no logic whatsoever.
Borax is also great at killing fleas, which was how i was introduced to it. Sprinkle liberally on your carpet, leave for a few days then vacuum. Also, borate powder can be found at the pharmacy and I have used it in a puffer for my sons constant ear infections. ENT Dr said to use it daily to alleviate water in the ear after his bath, i.e. drying the external ear tube.
You people probably live in bubbles. What the hell is wrong with the world.
Did you NOT read this????
Borax is NOT boric acid.
I’ve made my own detergent for about 7-8 years. My gallon only contains 3 Tbl of borax and 3 Tbl of washing soda (not baking) with 2 Tbl of Dawn. I add about 5 drops of essential oil to give it some aroma. My clothes are always soft enough I have never needed fabric softener, but my whites are very dingy. What will work better for whites?
Use Hydrogen Peroxide to whiten clothes. A cup in a load of whites does a lot of good and it’s safe and it’s cheap
Have you looked at the ingredients in your Dawn dish soap? I would worry about that before the borax.
While borax isn’t poisonous, or carcinogenic, it has been classified by the EU as a reproductive toxicant. Substances containing borax in the EU must be labelled with the warnings “May damage fertility” and “May damage the unborn child”. Source: http://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/13638/svhc_supdoc_disodium_tetraborate_anhydrous_publication_en.pdf
So if your reproductive days are over, use borax around the home with abandon. If not, you may want to rethink it.
I love how you explained everything really well, plus you stated that you did a lot of research. You and I should form the Born Council. Thank you for the time and effort put into this information sharing . I also enjoy sharing advice and money saving tips. Been doing it for years, mostly on Facebook now, but use to update my website CouponPlanter.com. Betty the world would be a better place if we all found a way to connect with each other and contribute to society without expecting anything in return. We need more Crunchy Betties in this world. Thank you again. Your New Friend,- Coupon Planter
Truly when someone doesn’t be aware of then its up to
other people that they will assist, so here it happens.
I add Borax to boost my laundry powder called “Charlie’s Soap.” A fantastic pairing!
A good friend of mine uses borax with his laundry detergent. He adds a cup to his wash. The other day he added an extra cup. Since then he has broken out in a rash every afternoon. Could this be a coincidence or too much borax? Thanks for the input!
The use of Borax is fine. For hands and maybe in a diluted way in laundry. You all need to remember its about how the CLOTHING your washing this harsh abrasive will hold up over time. it won’t. It’s made to break down oils to clean and then it goes after the fabric itself. Take it from a Mom, A Gramma, and someone who kinda has seen it all when it comes to clothing. Your jeans will begin to unravel, thin out, and your nice tops… well kiss them goodbye. Be smart about what you wash with but don’t shoot yourself in the foot at the same time. You will end up buying alot more clothes (as it will eat it up) with all this stuff that was meant to save money in the long run. Cheap is not always right… just look at McDonald’s… worst food on the planet for the human body … and people still line up for it. In this age of finding cheaper better ways, look to ppl who have lived thru not having alot of money, and learn from them on how they did things. Our, you all will repeat the exact same things others in the past had already figured out. Be wise… use your elders.
Thanks for the warning. May I ask what you use for laundry detergent?
I have used it for years in my laundry and still wearing some clothes I’ve had for 15 or 20 years. It has never harmed my clothes in anyway.
I have used it for years in my laundry (1 cup) as well, never an issue. I use it in conjunction with soap nuts, rather than commercial detergent.
same here, I have been using it as a laundry detergent boost for over 10 years. I have a lot of T-shirts, p.j.’s and other clothes that are easily 10+ yrs old and they are in great shape.
It is not made to break down oils, etc, etc. It is natural. It is mined, (not made) and it is cleaned and packaged. It is the same as when it comes out of the ground–similar to how salt is mined. Commercial laundary detergents are made to break down oils and made from petroleum and other chemicals. This is why they can’t call it soap. It even has enzymes added to break down food stains. Who wants that chemical-residue left behind rubbing on your skin? I’ve used borax for years. It has been very gentle on my clothes.
Shut the fuck up lady. Your clothes aren’t lasting because you’re washing them incorrectly. More dangerous than McDonald’s are old coots like you with your better-than-thou attitude problems. Burn in hell, cunt!
Thank you so much for posting this!!!
Thank you so much for this information it helped clear up some of my concerns!
まず、人が本件中にコマンド家族値を可能にします。これは新しい確かなブランドですが、それにもかかわらず、すぐにあなたのサイトを登録した後、この知性は広範囲に爆発しています。シンシアは理解しますが賛美者を助けるためにそれを渡すと私のパーソナライズされた生活を送っているメンバーは、両側に自分自身を容易に
I have a jar of pharmaceutical grade Borax, which has a label stating that it’s useful as a mouthwash and gingivitis preventive, while advising against swallowing it. I’ve been using it as a mouthwash for some weeks now, and it’s cleared up my long-term gingivitis and bad breath. No visible adverse side effects as of yet. I plan on continuing to use it. Note it’s USP pharmaceutical grade vs “technical” grade, which means it’s more highly purified than the 20-Mule-Team stuff.
Well that’s awesome, could you provide me with sources to where I could purchase some?!
You can get it at your local Target where the laundry detergent is found
No u cant find the pharmacy kind thats safevfir mouth wash at target in the laundry section lol.. Talk to ur local pharmacist or have ur doc or dentist write u a script for it..
Reading through the comments- I’m astounded at the lack of maturity that exists for one. Secondly Borax may be a safer alternative to Bleach, but let’s remember that chlorine is one of the top three toxins in households. If you are going to base “safety” on anything it should be on pure scientific research. Read the MSDS sheets on chemical compounds to determine whether or not it is safe to use and store in the home. For example sodium borate (Borax) reads: Special Remarks on Chronic Effects on Humans: May cause adverse reproductive effects.
That in itself is enough for me to read to know use around developing fetuses as well as small children should not be exposed to Borax. The boxes of Borax are rather large that if spilled- animals and small children that consume the product can become extremely ill and even die from. Now if you don’t have pets and/or small children or are not pregnant and the pros of using it outweighs the cons, then that’s up to the consumer. Are there alternatives? Most definitely, in most cases, there are! Keep researching solid scientific information to find the best ingredients for your specific household.
Thanks a lot for sharing this with all people you actually understand what you’re speaking about!
Bookmarked. Kindly also visit my website =).
We may have a hyperlink alternate agreement between us
Its banned in Europe and i think in Australia.
Thats a bunch of bull. I eat a pinch now and then.
It has completeletly cured my bad knees and hips.
Not scared of bullshit. Use it wisely and no problem. Work like charm in washing showerwalls and also hair.
Be aware its quite high pH so use a lot of water to rinse.
Iodine is also ‘poison’ same as ‘ozone’. Bunch of bull. We need it.
Well said Tommy! Theres a reason Borax has been demonized by govts and medical industry. People should Google “borax conspiracy”
hi-we have found a few fleas in our home. wondering if borax put into the carpet and left for a a week before vacuuming would kill any remaining fleas? i have a preschooler and am concerned about using store bought chemicals. have been using essential oils and putting droplets into the carpet… any concern about walking on the carpets with borax? this is the first time we’ve ever had a flea problem. thanks.
be careful my dad was using this to get rid of bugs and he put it all over and made everyone sick.
Diatomaceous earth is a safer and more effective way to treat your carpet for fleas.
Works perfect for fleas. Once and done. It’s no worse than salt. Kills them for good. Drys the eggs and since adults only live a week or so you’ll be flea free in a week because no reinforcements are produced. Sprinkle in carpet, upholstery, cracks in concrete etc. Vacuum up in a week or whatever the life of a flea is. White feet for a week mUchida better than flea bites.
what about bed bugs?
Borax is a trace element low in many soils. Brasiccas, silver beet, beetroot, rhubarb are all plants needing it to grow well. [half a gram/sq.m] Countries with low levels have a lot of joint pains, and countries with high borax or boron levels have little arthritis. In a health group I’m in, several people have cured their sore thumb, ankles, or footaches. by taking a finger lick a day of borax. It works! but may take three months. Once cured a lick a week, may be enough. Stop completely and it will show up again perhaps a year later. David Walpole, NZ.
Could you cite your source in regards to why the EU highly regulates Borax in products and requires warning labels to be placed on products that contain Borax? The link you posted brings me to an international wire lubrication company’s website that advertises Borax-free products. I am confused how concerns about excess boron in the soil would lead them to place warning labels about damage to fertility on their packaging. Thanks for your response!
I can see why it’s classes as dangerous, because it is dangerous, it used to be an additive in food that mrs beeton in the victorian era classes as harmless. It makes you ill and sick, and horrifyingly used to be put in milk to supposedly make it drinkable when it went bad and sour. I mean it probably does amazing things for detergent, but it’s banned in Europe.
You are an absolute moron and are wrong,wrong,wrong about borax.it is an ESSENTIAL mineral for humans.I can only conclude you are a paid whore for big pharmacy because nobody can be that stupid
trying to make my very own aggregate (sand) binder using polysaccharides(starches), or casein for my mud home, and i saw many online articles where it is used as part of the adhesive, but to what extent or purpose i couldt gather. is borax supposed to increase crosslinking or cohesivity – if so, maybe you could share some know-how of quantities or mixing instructions (ph, water content etc). Thanks!
The safest and most secure thing is not to be born. Nothing is 100% this or that, because that is an illusion, which stems from the human desire to achieve perfection. The safest computer is the one that is never switched on … Life entails death and uncertainty and so living is an incurable and deadly disease, but that doesn’t mean one needs to become depressed :-).
Then there is this belief that either health or sickness purely stem from the substances why take in or avoid. Well, that idea is too simplistic as well. Do not underestimate the power of one’s own convictions or beliefs: believing that a pill works often has wonderful results, even though it is merely a sugar tablet.
When it comes to “chemicals” (and everything is chemical, even if it conveys the illusion of being “safe” or “natural”): we are walking chemistry factories ourselves. The idea of substances being “natural”, as if nature would be able to circumvent chemistry when synthesizing all of the necessary compounds, found in our bodies or in the environment itself, is ludicrous. Chemistry is not some kind of evil human-only invention and why would man-made things be “unnatural” (as if humans do not belong to nature)? Nature produces some of the most toxic substances and so-called “safe” materials, such as water, are also potentially dangerous under the right circumstances. Drink 6-8 liters of water at once and you’ll die of water poisoning, guaranteed. This poison flows freely into every house 🙂 … Great for depressed juveniles!
Conclusion:
1. It is impossible to make absolute statements about stuff being either safe or not, because it all depends on circumstances such as exposure rate, concentration, pH, temperature, personal constitution, species, etc. So it is useless to consult the MSDS of individual substances, unless one can interpret the data presented therein.
2. There is also more than just mere matter when it comes to either health or sickness (the latter is not something one should avoid at all cost because it is part of the learning experiences we need to go through).
3. In spite of all our “wealth” and “civilization”, there is one thing we still can not deal with properly in the West, which is the inevitable situation we call “death”. Not that our true being really vanishes, our body is merely a temporary shell (and we are definitely not our body). The superficially observable body purely serves as a conduit to connect our actual being with the nature of this physical realm. Only caring for your material body is like providing the Titanic with fresh supplies 🙂 …
Sanity! sanity! So good to see! Thumbs up on this reality check.
you are a buddhist obviously. i am tibetan buddhist and your comments inspire me and lead me to the inevitable conclusion that you understand impermanence and the fact that we should not see this life as anything but what it is. part of the journey to a more enlightened mindsteam.
Great comment! But one doesn’t need to be a buddist or something like that to have such insights. It’s just plain common sense, if you step back a little bit.
Yes, our physical bodies are chemical plants, but they are also electrical power plants and electrical broadcasting and receiver stations.
Thank you for this! Was just using Borax to make candle wicks and poured some over my hands so was slightly concerned but you have put my mind at ease! Very well researched, saved me heaps of time too as there seems to be nothing else on the internet so concise. I will certainly start looking into using borax in other homemade products now too 🙂 thanks
Dont want to scare the freaks who think Borax or even Boric Acid is somehow dangerous… guess what it is not… Boric Acid AND Borax are used in swimming pools and hot tubs all around the world for stabalizing the PH drift if you swim regularly chances are you are OMG swimming in boric acid and if they are not using boric acid in your pool or hot tub than you are swimming in at least 3 different chemicals which are known to be much more toxic than Boric Acid or Borax…
Boric Acid is also the main ingredient in the eyewashes prescribed to patients with eye infections such as pink eye.
Yes Boric acid is used to kill roaches but also the stuff sold as roach killer is not pure medical grade boric acid and often has other crap mixed in with it.
When choosing between the two (Borax or Boric Acid)… I use 100% pure boric acid which is medical grade and available on Amazon for a decent price. The PH is better than Borax and as such when using it in our pool or hottub I dont have to add a bunch of other chemicals to offset the high PH of Borax.
You people are scared of Borax or Boric Acid but yet it is the safest additive out of anything else that is added to swimming pools. In fact we switched to using Boric Acid because it allowed us to drastically cut down on the number of chemicals we swim in.
Interesting article. I am currently researching ingesting small amount of Borax for treatment of various illnesses, such as Fibromyalgia. I’m not sold on on the idea yet, but still researching it.
Thank you so very much for this informative article. I have just discovered the many uses of borax and I like to use the most natural and non-toxic stuff I can for as much as I can. I was really wondering about borax and your research cleared up my confusion and satisfied my wondering mind. Thanks again!!
I’ve been using borax (nothing else) in my laundry washing now for 2 years. I add a couple of drops of eucalyptus oil for a nice smell. No one in the family has noticed any difference in the quality of the washing!!
I also use it (2 tablespoons) in my dishwasher and nobody has noticed any change in the cleanliness of the dishes.
As for the comment that it kills plants – all my grey water goes onto the garden and the plants are flourishing.
I urge anyone and everyone to search Walter Last and read is research on borax. You may find this very useful and those that think it is a nasty poison may also appreciate the info.
Family has used borax for probably 100 years and nobody or plants died from laundry use on the farm or city life so far and the seniors lived to 80-90 years old and I am in my 60’s . . Remember it goes a long way and use carefully for laundry and pest control – ants , borax and after a couple of hours add water it works every time no sugar . . and mould in bathroom showers borax ,baking soda and vinegar to make paste apply and let sit 2hours and use old toothbrush to agitate and rinse . Laundry – borax , TSP, and oxiclean combo and hot water cleans laundry and no detergent needed and cleans faster as a degreaser and removes all body oils from clothing and usually stains if cleaned immediately just make sure you keep colors separate because you may get a surprise . . . be smart -be safe!
Hi Rosie!…..If you read this reply, I would love to read some of your household formulas. Judy
I would love some household formulas as well Rosie. Cheryl
I was wondering the same thing as another. If the compound changes when mixed with acid then is it safe to mix with vinegar. Many people mix up a spray cleaner with both vinegar and borax.
You’ll notice that she mentioned that it’s dangerous when mixed with a strong acid. Vinegar is a very mild acid, it does not disassociate well enough to produce the toxic byproducts that people are warning you about. Apparently eating a small amount isn’t even toxic, so I assume only hydrochloric and other very strong acids would do it. I would think that if the acidic compound you’re mixing it with is safe to touch, then it should be safe to mix, but if you’re still worried about it there are a lot of alternatives to Borox that you can find online.
You’ll notice that she mentioned that it’s dangerous when mixed with a strong acid. Vinegar is a very mild acid, it does not disassociate well enough to produce the toxic byproducts that people are warning you about. Apparently eating a small amount isn’t even toxic, so I assume only hydrochloric and other very strong acids would do it. I would think that if the acidic compound you’re mixing it with is safe to touch, then it should be safe to mix, but if you’re still worried about it there are a lot of alternatives to Borox that you can find online.jb
Thank you so much for this well reasoned, thought out, and researched info!
Its not well thought out.. and is missing lifesaving info .just how stupid are you?readbwalter last on borax
ANY naysaying about using natural elements v.s. commercial synthetic products is Highly suspicious for that very reason! NEVER EVER listen to snake oil salesmen!
Yeah, I’m taking a permaculture class utilizing grey water (legal & coded here in California). #1 thing NOT to use in laundry, etc., is borax–as the boron element is too high even for your garden plants. It will kill your fruit trees, lawn, etc. The amount of boron needed fir plants to live, is miniscule. That’s why borax works so well as an herbicide, fungicide, & pesticide!
Also, it takes around 15-20 grams to kill a human, only 5 grams to kill a pet the size of a cat. It should be stored up and out of the reach of children, pets, or anyone mentally infirm.
It has been known to also kill the beneficial algae in municipal water treatment facilities.
The problem is, borax is naturally occurring, and has been used for around 4,000 years. But so has lead. So has a lot of other things, that have been used in beauty products and whatnot. Just cuz it’s natural, and can be used in a lot of things, doesn’t mean it should be.
If using it, use with caution.
15-20 grams to kill a human? Maybe an infant. The average 62 kg adult human could eat more than 300 grams (imagine a coffee mug full) and still have a 50/50 chance of surviving.
When you say it takes around 15-20 grams to kill a human, I assume you are referring to Boron, not borax. It could be useful to find out how much boron is in borax.
I myself have been experimenting using 1 teaspoon of borax in one liter of water, then drinking two teaspoons a day of this concentrate, which is about 6mg of boron a day. Putting the borax in water makes the boron ionic, ie, easy to assimilate by the body.
I have found the following document by Last to be very interesting, especially because it is full of scientific references and because boron helps the body to decalcify, something that is quite crucial for anyone like myself who has migraines, gallstones, or kidney stones. I’m very excited about it! As Last describes it, boron is for the parathyroid glands what iodine is to the thyroid.
http://www.health-science-spirit.com/borax.htm
FIt takes 100-200 grams to kill a human.I take 6 grams a day and its improving my health.20 grams is a heaping tablespoon.SINCE borax is HALF the danger ld50 of table salt it OBVIOUSLY won’t kill you at 20 grams.I cannot believe how ignorant and outright stupid the crunchy Betty crowd is.watch THE BORAX CONSPIRACY on you tube or read at earth clinic.
I take 5mm of boron twice a day and my arthritis is getting better!
I reckon Kroe must work for the FDA or maybe one of the drug companies!
I too have started taking boron for my rheumatoid arthritis and what a difference it has made. Cut my pain down to almost normal. Ive been on it for only 3 weeks.
You are using Boran, and not Borax, right? Where do you get Boran? is there different strengths?
Borax was prescribed to my mother years ago for a skin condition that was dry and itchy, by a dermatologist. I just use it to exfoliate and my son uses it for poison ivy. Came here to see if it was toxic and I am still not worried. I am pretty sure they add what I use to soap powder and call it Boraxo.
I used borax for the first time last week to clean my sink and bath tub. I used 1/4 cup like the box instructions said to and my hand looks and feels like I have poison ivy. It’s been a week and I’m still itchy and red. I’ll not be using it for anything ever again. I am not allergic to anything but I guess maybe this product.
Using cleaning gloves i still a good idea. Even though it is naturally derived it will still irritate your skin on large amounts.
you aren’t allergic, it’s just super-alkaline. You over cleaned your skin. Vinegar water should neutralize the alkali, and gloves are definitely in your future!
Read Walter last on borax.its an essential mineral salt complex that benefits when taken internally 200-500 mg or half teaspoon.I currently take a teaspoon a day following the video – all about ascorbic acid on you tube by Tony pantelleresco. Crunchy Betty is NOT giving the correct info about borax.it is HALF the danger of table salt and fights arthritis.fluoride in the brain and candida. tes and yeast infections.athlete ds sex hormones.osteoporosis.I’m sorry but crunchy Betty is an obediant brainwashed consumer drone who is to be sickened and eliminated as a useless eater( Kissinger and the moriah) read the Georgia guide stones borax also removes radiation.if you TV watchers dont wake up now you will soon be dead.
Hi.
Thanks for your article. I like your site. 8)
I’ve been doing a lot of research into boron/borax, and have been looking for evidence around it’s genome modifying properties (mutagenic?), but have not had any luck.
Can you point to some research around this for me?
Thank you. 8)
Ty
Thank you for your information on Borax. I am also wondering, is pure Borax just as safe on the packet it is also known as sodium tetri- Borate Decahydrate?
You mentioned it’s safe accept if it’s mixed with an acid, what about vinegar? (I apologize if this has already been answered, I didn’t read through all the posts) Thanks in advance!
http://shanghaiist.com/2015/02/24/3_sisters_dead_in_shaanxi_after_gra.php
Death caused by Borax.
Boric acid and sugar, 1: 10 ratio,dissolved in some water is an excellent ant poison, even used professionally by exterminators. Tastes sweet, so it may be poisonous to kids and pets. Best used in nooks and crannies used by ants.
Did you not read the article??? Borax does NOT equal boric acid.
Thank you for the help, my friend brought home made goo to school and it had Borax in it and the science teacher said that was deadly, and she got written up! And it was concerning me.
Back in the day, it is what people used to enhance the cleaning of their clothes. My grandmother always used it. She died of old age, not a cancerous cell in her body.I hate today’s washing detergents. The eco friendly ones are too expensive. Will be making my own using Borax and natural soap that I make. I’m no chemist, but I’d rather use this. Just because some products are labeled natural, that doesn’t mean they can’t be toxic.
Actually, everyone has cancerous cells in their body.
Way to go, tki. You know what she meant.
Actually, no they don’t. You need to study a little more on cancer.
I’d love to go on and on about what BS that statement is, and how angry it makes me that oncologists of all people, are spreading that BS. And Dear tki, it’s not your fault for believing it, since you probably heard it from either a cancer survivor who was fed that BS from their doctors or you heard it straight from one of your own doctors. I would recommend that you deeply research everything your doctor tells you, or simply just take it with a grain of salt, because researching everything they tell you would take forever, and believe me I know, I research it all. However, if you are going to repeat the statements, you should research them first.
A simple google search revealed this right away, I’m sure there is more info like this out there but this is clear and easy to understand. it was cut and pasted from the source.
“Everyone has cells that have mutant proteins from DNA damage, but to say that that’s cancer would be alarmist,” says Jennifer Loros, Ph.D, a professor of biochemistry and genetics at Dartmouth medical school. A cell’s natural cycle has checkpoints when it determines whether it’s in a healthy state and should divide, or is damaged and should repair or kill itself. “Cancer can occur when the normal checkpoints in the cell cycle are misregulated somehow and the [unhealthy] cell starts dividing,” Loros says. Usually, a powerful protein called P-53 will trigger tumor suppression if damage is detected at the checkpoint, causing a potential cancer to stop dead in its tracks.
Hi,
When you comment, give tips and information, NOT waffle!
When you have a full wash, do you add 1 tablespoon of Borax to the wash?
OK
Nope. I add 1/2 cup to every load of laundry. Helps keep my machine clean too. 😀
Do you have a top or front loader washing machine? Is it safe to use in front loader washing machines?
Absolutely! I have a front loading washing machine. Once the inevitable stink set in I used the expensive commercial “front loading washing machine cleaners. My youngest son has very sensitive skin & was breaking out all of a sudden. I had always been using borax to soak his baby clothes, since he also had reflux. An older friend of mine told me to add Borax to every load of wash & I would not have that problem anymore. She was right!!! I’ve had my washing machine for 7 years & all is well! Not to mention, no nasty stench. Ever! 🙂
When added to a laundry wash, borax makes detergents even more effective. It’s also “quite alkaline, so it kills mold and fungus and softens water,” says Robert Wolke, Ph.D., author of What Einstein Told His Cook: Kitchen Science Explained
Maze Hill Carpet Cleaners Ltd.
get better
I’ve been trying to move toward natural bath and cleaning products, but the borax-free laundry detergent just wasn’t cutting it. I had seen all the mixed messages out there about whether or not borax was safe and had decided it was better to avoid it than to make a new detergent just as toxic as my old one. THANK YOU for the solid information!!! My conclusion from your article is that it’s fine when used with some common sense. Hopefully my detergent can get things clean now! =D
http://chemistry.about.com/od/howthingsworkfaqs/a/howboraxworks.htm
I like to go to the chemistry sites… I wont use it in my dishwasher. I use it in my clothes washer though.
I’m curious if the Borax/Washing Soda is safe to use as a laundry detergent even for baby clothes or people with sensitive skin?
DEE!
”””January 26, 2015 at 1:22 pm”””
“There have not been enough studies to prove this, at present, but there is strong evidence to suggest this.”
Forgive me for i am a little confused with the above statement. If there aren’t enough studies, then where does the strong evidence come from?….. Please i would like to be educated.
Thank you kindly
Ish
Thanks so much for your posting of this information. Borax can also be used to kill ants and roaches. After reading this I feel a little better about putting some borax down in a kitchen cabinet and hidden corner of the coutertop to kill some pests (I’ll vacuum or wash it out later, but am no longer worried that it will kill my whole family if I don’t get every single grain or residue).
There is no need to worry about fluoride in your body-it will leave on its own and cause you no harm in small amounts. However, ingesting a larger amount of borax could cause problems nor should you inhale it.
Borax seems to be a widely useful compound, even used as a low toxicity insecticide again, if you don’t ingest a lot of it or inhale it.
As for “detoxing” your body, that’s nonsense. It is unnecessary and a waste of time and money. Unless you have a serious exposure to a very bad poison, in which case you should be under a doctor’s care, you don’t need it. People who push “detoxing” are just looking out for your money and not for your health and wellbeing.
What about using borax to make “goo” or “slime”. (the recipe w school glue) I would never make it with or give it to a 3yr. or under child; but it is so much fun to make and play with!
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When I moved in with my, now, husband, he was using a homemade laundry detergent with one ingredient being Borax. I loved the stuff.
Simultaneously, I started having sporadic menstrual cycles and couldn’t figure out why suddenly I would not stop having a period (literally for weeks, then would stop a few days and start again out of nowhere).
My honey happened to read an article about the affects of borax when paired with birth control (and specifically progesterone only birth control).
I figured since our skin is the largest organ in the body and absorbs a lot, there may be something to this. Especially at night when I sweat and my pours are open and absorbing the chemical from the bedding.
Within a month of removing the detergent from our home, and re-washing all our clothes and sheets, my menstrual cycles became more regular again.
**NOTE: progesterone only birth control implants, like the one I used, can cause irregular cycles. It did in me for the three years I had it. However, it was never as irregular, heavy or as long as it was during the 4 months I was using the detergent.
Borax is far better than the other chemicals cleaner! For example it is alternative to bleach.
Hello, Have you considered to use Thermomix instead of your food processor?
I’ve done a lot of reading since only yesterday about borax and I, personally, am sold. My boyfriend is still skeptical, but I’m going to try it and he can watch my own progress and decide for himself. I’m going to use it for fluoride detoxification, and I also read a brief story that may or may not be true that it can help with TMJ. But I digress…
My question is, what is your educated and researched opinion about a cancer patient ingesting this? Supposedly it can help prevent cancer in the sense that cancer is believed to start with poor cell membrane (something like that) and borax helps cell membranes, but what about existing cancer patients?
My best friend was diagnosed with Wagners Disease as a young child, kidney transplant at age 12 (she still has both her dead kidneys and they attached one of her mothers kidneys), diagnosed with lymphoma a year ago (at age 22) and underwent chemo and is now in remission. Given that she has relied on medicine and big pharma practically her entire life she shoots down any sort of natural remedy and probably wouldn’t take this, even if she did her own research on the matter, however I am still curious what the consensus is about using borax with her condition.
DOZ BORAX HELP ALL ARTHRITIS IN HIP & IN MY BACK.
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Please could you give me dosage of Borax to dilute in water for preventative use in arthritis/osteoporosis?
Many thanks
go to borax conspiracy or Walter Last borax
conspiracyhttp://www.health-science-spirit.com/borax.htm
one rounded teaspoon borax in one litre of water(this is your concentrate)…….now …take one teaspoon of the solution once a day….if this feels good….you can increase to two teaspoons…or three…….do not overdo as nausea may happen…..have no fear as to the toxix warnings as it is as toxic as tablesalt…..
works well as a piniel gland de-calcifier as well as transporting calcium to the places it belongs(bone and teeth)in stead of hardening arteries……..
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THank you for posting this! I have a 7 month old and have since become more aware of chemicals (I never thought I would)! We have been making our own detergent for laundry and dishes and I don’t like doing research (10 years to get a B.S. Degree)! So thank you thank you thank you for doing the leg work for me!
What about the borax used in making organic mattresses – I’m told it’s used between the layers of cotton that comprise an organic cotton mattress to keep bedbugs and the like at bay. If it has repercussions for the reproductive system, as stated above in Crunchy Betty’s blog, wouldn’t it stand to reason that it would be a health hazard to sleep 8+ hours a night, 35 nights a year, umpteen years in the life of the bed, inhaling the powder in your supposedly non-toxic organic mattress?
There really is no question about the safety/toxicity of boron chemicals be it boric acid or borax. See the following links on Boron toxicity:
http://www.inchem.org/documents/ehc/ehc/ehc204.htm#PartNumber:7
http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/boric_acid_tred.pdf
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ccl/pdfs/reg_determine2/healthadvisory_ccl2-reg2_boron.pdf
and the following video that explains why boron is more toxic to insects than humans:
http://pestweb.com/product-training/a7158/how-borates-kill-insects/how-borates-kill-insects-technical-version-739
The highest No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) in dogs was 8.8 mg/kg/day for long-term acute toxicity and this is what the EPA has used as a basis for human exposure, but with a Margin of Exposure (MOE) factor of 100 for safety (factor of 10 for inter-species variability; factor of 10 for intra-species variability). When boron was used for medical conditions from the mid-1800s until around 1900, the NOAEL in humans appeared to be around 2.5 mg B/kg body weight/day.
As noted in the following link:
http://www.greenfacts.org/en/boron/toolboxes/2.htm
Boron is found in food and may be an essential nutrient in small quantities, but it’s not a chemical you’d want to consume in larger quantities. Basically, the human body has mechanisms for excreting boron, but if you take in too much then you overwhelm that system and can build up boron levels that increases risk to health.
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Thanks for putting this altogether. It is not bad as I thought.
Not a big deal. Just use caution and wisely.
What about organic beds that use borax between the layers inside the mattress? Sleeping on the mattress 8 hours a night, inhaling borax?
Google the Borax Conspiracy. Rex Newnham, Ph.D., D.O., N.D, got arthritis in the 1960s. and realizing that the plants in his area were Boron deficient decided to take Boron. When he couldn’t meet the demand for the number of orders, he was receiving. He took it to a drug company. In 1981 Australia made a regulation, declaring Boron to be poisonous and fined Dr. Newnham for selling poison.
Thanks for this great post! I’ve been looking to make more of my own cleaners and borax shows up in quite a large number of recipes. I was concerned because for every one good idea I found another that said borax was poison. Reading this has definitely made up my mind on the ‘pro’ side.
http://www.health-science-spirit.com/borax.htm
This link lists the benefits of ingesting Borax…
Thank you, Crunchy Betty, this is great food for thought. I’d guess that borax & washing soda isn’t terrific for the environment. Not that it’s poisonous, but boron and ‘soda’ are salts, which means they can build up in the soil and have a negative effect on plant growth. Especially significant if you’re putting gray water directly into your garden. But I’m being a purist here, basically nothing you could wash clothes with will be appreciated by your plants and borax is probably more neutral than most things. Maybe some day they’ll invent a machine for general use that cleans with light, like the sun.
Hi! Love your writing style, GSOH and the site. Only two concerns with Borax. Most of the reports I’ve read say it doesn’t penetrate skin well, but they also qualify this by saying ‘intact skin’, i.e., no rashes or sores etc. That kind of infers that if your skin is not intact, (me, I have dreadful skin on hands and arms due to knocking around in the garden so much, and of course a nine month old kitten who loves to BITE!) then it is possible that the Borax will make it through the skin barrier. My other concern is that I often read of people ingesting (swallowing) Borax as if it were a medicine/health food. What do you think Crunchy? Good idea or not?
I’m a biomedical engineer and this issue is quite interesting. Boron, as many other minerals, is essencial for our metabolism. I have access to reliable scientific articles databases so what I found is based on reliable scientific studies. Boron can’t penetrate intact skin but it is easily absorb by ingestion. For not intact skin, there is some absortion. This doesn’t mean that it is dangerous. The studies also demonstrate that boron is quickly and efficiently excreted by kidneys (with a semi-life of 21 hours). This means than the boron that is not need, leaves your body diluted in urin. Furthermore, as my Pharmacy teacher always said, there is no such thing as toxic substances: there are toxic quantities. This means that boron (or borax) is safe in the appropriate amounts. For my point of view, it is safe for external use (regardless the skin condition). As a matter of fact, boron is also used in some supplements and even in woundcare (for treatment of infected wounds). Some interesting and reliable sources are: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/894.html and http://www.google.pt/books?hl=pt-PT&lr=&id=175vggw0qD0C&oi=fnd&pg=PA73&dq=+pregnancy+boron+in+humans&ots=goDgcG9y0T&sig=TLXaaoAcdL0wTNFE0KtA4mRXCxg&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=pregnancy%20boron%20in%20humans&f=false . Hope it helps!
I think that the folks who are concerned about the use of Borax in homemade dishwasher detergents should be informed of the warnings on the commercial dishwasher detergents. I am not aware of any that are considered safe for contact with skin or clothing, and they are certainly not safe for ingestion! I have no public platform, but, if I did, I would put that at the top of a great page, like this one.
Thanks for all you do, I love that which I have seen of your stuff. Today is the first time I have been on your site, although I have seen your name mentioned several times in the past. 🙂
Have a great day, Crunchy Betty!
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I can’t thank you enough for your wonderful research… and your site! It has become one of my ‘go to’ sites when I need to know about anything homemade =D Like Patrick, I remember my grandma (and great-grandma!) using borax in their daily cleaning and washing. Keep up the good work!
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Substances and mixtures imported into the European Union which contain Borax are now required to be labelled with the warnings “May damage fertility” and “May damage the unborn child”. That is enough of a red flag for me to avoid using Borax as a “detergent booster”.
Pretty much anything is poisonous in sufficient amounts, including water. Look at the lethal dose (50%) for Borax and table salt, salt is MUCH more poisonous. Same for fertility effects, table salt has more fertility effects (and these effects can be passed to the child – not so with borax) than borax and with smaller amounts. Do your research and empower yourself. Borax is no more toxic than table salt.
Too bad you do not give reference to your primary sources. This makes me very suspect.
I am a retired chemist and would like to look at the rat studies and reproductive effects. Can you please post this or send it along?
Haha. Check mate.
The cdc is where to go for that information. I’d also recommend the world health organization as well as the nih. I’m be interested to hear what a retired chemist has to say, although I’m surprised a retired chemist would not have the knowledge or the time to do a quick search. Perhaps this retired chemist is boron deficient.
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp26-c2.pdf
His references are the toxicology data. Look it up on Wikipedia sherlock
http://educate-yourself.org/cn/boraxconspiracy03jul12.shtml
I came across this yesterday in my own research of borax. Best article I’ve read about it.
Why would you want to look at animal studies they have no bearing on how humans would react to something.
The reason they classify borax pentahydrate as toxic is because it creates Hydrogen peroxide (so does honey to put it into perspective)in the body, they just lumped all the other boron derivatives in with it as it cures arthritis and may even cure cancer but they don’t want us living too long (if you have the right genes and eat the right food for your genes you can live a very long time and I’m not talking 1 or 2 hundred years either although you will of been told you only live 120 years (hayflick limit) or do you believe the bible LOL why does the bible say people lived 8-900 years when we only live 70 years nothings changed except for the dumbing down of society)
so back to borax pentahydrate if you are worried about ingesting this you need to increase your catalase production which neutralises HP remember you would be dead if you did not have HP in your body as this is what your white blood cells produce in order to kill pathogens you then need catalase to neutralise the hydroxyl radicals which are formed after this reaction, if you juice one organic lemon and lime every day warm it up to 36 Celsius (Body temperature)this will do wonders for your stomach and liver it produces 6 enzymes one of which is catalase.
The pharmaceutical companies got borax banned in Australia when Rex Newnham discovered it cured arthritis and after 5 years was producing 10000 bottles a month had to approach a pharmaceutical company to make more pills for him they then seemingly bribed the Australian government to ban it.
Here are the facts from the WHO there is one case where a woman took 21 grams of borax and ended up in hospital for 12 days. do not give to infants under 9 months old as the acid in their stomachs hasn’t developed enough.
DON scroll down to 8.1.2 for your fertility info
http://www.inchem.org/documents/ehc/ehc/ehc204.htm#SubSectionNumber:8.1.1
Always take borax after you have eaten you only need small amounts 30 mg is enough the most efficient way is to add tyrosine which aids the uptake of boron/borax. if you have any illnesses work things out yourself see what minerals the area that is diseased needs then work out what foods you get these minerals/chemicals from always look at what aids the uptake. (so iodine and selenium work really well together especially for the thyroid) together and it works very well at relieving arthritis pains and then over a period of time it also removes fluoride from your body you do not want this inside you believe me
if you are very ill get the 90mg boron tablets from your doctor
Hope this helps everyone
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Borax is the best supplement for arthritis. I tried everything, but nothing works like Borax. I had terrible arthritis and could hardly walk, now I am total pain free. Just Google “The Borax Conspiracy”, and you understand why the ban it almost everywhere.
PLS, HOW DO YOU USE IT FOR ARTHRITIS?.
1/8 teaspoon to a liter of distilled water boiled to dissolve and consumed little by little over the course of the whole day. Some said repeat daily some said 5 days on and break a couple days and repeat. It will detox your body so some reported getting headaches for a few days to few weeks. The brand 20 Mule Team can find it most grocery stores in the laundry detergent section. Google THE BORAX CONSPIRACY and it tells you there too how to take it. Hope it helps.
Yes,It’s a huge deal! Awesome. Love the stuff. Parsh and HFCS….that’s what I can do without.
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Also, just want to mention that, in the past, almost all women used borax to wash their hair. I am sure if there had been a problem with it, they would have stopped
Let’s just say that given the contents of long-used cosmetics through history, I sincerely doubt that we can be certain that women would have made good health choices around their beauty routines. Even today it is very hard to convince people that damaging chemicals should not be used on their hair and skin (witness the Brazilian Blow-outs of recent history, just as a start)
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See above comment, re Borax.
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I am just shy of 60 & have a crystal clear recollection, of my grandma using it in her ocular glass cup, for an eyewash. It works, is natural and relatively inexpensive. I rest my case.
I too am just shy of 60. I believe she would have a mild solution of boric acid in her eye cup. My parents always had a can of boric acid crystals in the medicine cabinet. The boric acid crystals are translucent. Borax, the substance used for cleaning, is white.
Both substances are safe when used in the right concentration for the appropriate purpose. (I’m a chemistry teacher.)
^^and what’s sad is that most people won’t take away what is learned in Chemistry and apply it practically instead of going on and creating mass fear in others that also don’t bother to learn. Thank you for clarifying the two!
Connie
What about using it in bottled water Mr science guy? Borax that is. I’ve been using it for about six months (a pinch per gal to bind with fluoride) to help pass the fluoride. I haven’t seen any side effects but I was wondering being sodium does borax have an effect on blood pressure?
Borox is the trade name for a cleaning agent using Boron. I do not know if 20 Mule team is pure Boron. It is safe for cleaning. But ingesting Boron is another story. If you have Kidney problems or are female, be cautious. I have heard it is good for chelation of fluoride but your kidneys have to work very hard to remove boron from your system, so if you have kidney problems, avoid it. Also, if you are female, note that boron may act as estrogen in your system causing reproductive problems. There have not been enough studies to prove this, at present, but there is strong evidence to suggest this. For this reason, pregnant women and those breast feeding should avoid ingesting boron. Also, for those with estrogen fueled cancers (such as some breast cancers) should not ingest Boron for this reason. In an otherwise healthy individual, small amounts – about 3.25 mg.- should not cause harm.
As far as using it as a chelating agent – remember, if it works, and you do not continue to ingest flouride (which is no longer an additive in our water) then you do not need to ingest boron often.
Sorry, I made an error – apparently, only in Portland, Oregon is the water no longer fluoridated. For some reason, I thought that other cities have followed suit. I agree it’s time they do.
Dee, NJ also took the flouride out of the water
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WOW! I can’t thank you enough for this article! I have two toddlers and recently decided to start phasing out the plastics (it started with foods and I’m slowly expanding as I become more educated). I couldn’t believe the load of unclear, misguided information out there, until I came across a recipe on Matt Jab’s site for homemade detergents. I took his advice on reading your article and I can say now, that it has given me a more “holistic” outlook when it comes to Borax. My next mission: Eliminate the darn sugars that keep sneaking in!!!:))) Thank you, to you both, Well Done!
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This is great, it saved me the time and hassle of sifting through the internet for information on borax’s safety. Thanks for the doing the research for us 😉
I’ve recently started using borax in cleaning recipes for my dishwasher and for my laundry. So far, its working great. My dishes are coming out nearly spotless. Before I was using the fancy dancy pod pack detergents and they were cloudy and would still have gunk left over on them. Funny how I can save money and have cleaner dishes if I take the time to mix it up myself.
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It is quite disappointing to invest the company resources to a cleaning service that will bring more harm than good.
Many people who are suffering from scabies have found that Borax and Peroxide are the least toxic cure.
I have used Borax for years to treat yeast outbreaks. I use about a teaspoon of borax to a quart of warm water and rinse myself from head to toe after a shower with this mixture. I have used the same to treat yeast bloom on babies bottoms and had miraculous results.
Thank you so much for this wonderfully informative article it has answered my questions all in one go.
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My husband and I are expecting our first baby in a few weeks. We have recently decided to go with either all homemade cleaners or all green/organic “A” rated cleaners (according to the EWG). I was concerned about using Borax in a homemade laundry detergent as well because of its rating with the EWG but your post has me rethinking my decision now. My new concern now is would I be able to wash baby’s clothes in a homemade detergent with (or even without) Borax? My mother swears by Dreft and tells me constantly that I HAVE to wash baby’s clothes in that and that alone. I am also going to be using cloth diapers so same question applies for them as well.
I’ve made our laundry soap for over 5 years now and have never had any problems. We also have two children and all of their clothes have been washed in it since birth. My sister in law has cloth diapers and uses homemade laundry soap on them. I see Dreft as over priced and preying on the fear of people that if you don’t use their stuff you are somehow harming your baby. On top of it being safe you will save a ton! You can get everything you need for about $10 and the only thing you will have to buy the next time is the bar of soap.
I agree Dreft is the same as every other “safe” laundry detergent out there owned by a huge company. But if you look at the ingredients it has quite a few ingredients that cause developmental problems, cancer, liver toxicity, respiratory failure and organ failure. Whether it is considered to be “medium risk” by our U.S. standards or not that’s a risk I’m not willing to take. I use my homemade with Borax or OnGuard Laundry Cleaner made with essential oils.
Hi! I have had the same concerns regarding washing baby clothes/diapers in homemade laundry detergent (super wash soda, borax, and fels naptha). I am glad to know that some of you have still been using it with your kids. I also feel much better after having read CB’s great article on borax, with many good references. I am going to stick with my homemade laundry detergent…it is so cheap and cleans so great, I was so sad thinking I’d not be able to use it! Thanks Betty!!
This is the most balanced article I have read on the topic of Borax and I appreciate the author’s comments.
I personally have been taken from almost bed-ridden to now living an active, healthy life because of taking Borax internally. My MRI results showed arthritis in my spine and neck causing great difficulty even in such a simple task as rolling over in bed. I had to prepare myself mentally for the pain I knew would come from such a simple movement. Painkillers didn’t make a great deal of difference. By the way, I was 48 years of age at the time.
I have been taking 1/8 teaspoon Borax (internally) daily for 15 months now, along with Magnesium, and amazingly enough I have no sign of the arthritis which was causing me 7/10 to 10/10 pain on a daily basis.
Most people think I am crazy, but as I was suffering that degree of pain what did I have to lose? I would have done ANYTHING just to have be relieved of that pain.
The world can think I’m crazy, that’s ok with me. But I know what I know and that is that the Borax has given me something that nothing else could.
Thank you to Nexus Magazine for bringing this wonderful remedy to my husband’s attention!
Perhaps all the confusion is coming from the companies who make the cleaning products. The greener people get, the less money they make. I remember my mother using products like borax,baking soda & vinegar for cleaning. They were the “green days”, before we were sold on the chemical products.
I am an american living in Thailand. I just asked my Thai lady friend where I could find Borax. She told me in the baking section of the supermarket. They use it in recipes.
If it safe, then eat it.
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Thanks for doing the research for us! I’m feeling much better about using borax for treating scabies.
Rest assured Borax is indeed and unequivocally SAFE when used like common salt. Trace amounts have been used for arthritis for over a hundred years with great results! A pinch a day/every other day has given me amazing results. A trace amount on your dishes is actually good for you. The FDA doesn’t like anything that is cheap, can’t be patented or upset their money making $$ apple cart. Even Dr’s have been brainwashed by these devils. Rant over. Use your Borax to you heart’s content and you may healthily live as long as my Grand parents did to 90+ years old despite chronic smoking for nearly 70 years. Borax was in their household and used for household and medicinal use.
When my nearly one year old DS managed to consume the contents of a Terro indoor ant trap, I immediately called Poison Control. Their response was that the main ingredient in Terro is Borax so we needn’t worry because Borax is not harmful unless ingested in outrageous quantities. So, if Poison Control was happy to chuckle with me about my new Crawlers shenanigans instead of treat his Borax consumption with a long list of “What to do” items, it’s obviously not a worrisome substance.
interesting information, thanks!
As a chemistry teacher, I can tell you a quick and easy way to find the hazard level of any chemical. Search the name of the chemical and MSDS (material safety data sheet). The MSDS for sodium tetraborate gives it a 2 on a scale of 1-4 as a health hazard. We use it every year in chem class to make a silly putty like polymer and the kids handle it with no problem after it bonds with PVA (Elmer’s glue). As a general rule, keep any and all chemicals out of the eyes and mouth no matter what.
This EXACT experiment is what landed my daughter in the hospital with a severe allergic reaction. I can’t beg teachers enough to have their students wear gloves! The borax left her with second degree chemical burns and a hypersensitivity to borax and now other unidentified triggers 🙁
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My husband was a keen rugby player and played loose head (for you none rugby followers he’s in the front of the scrum) one season he came home with quite a rash on his face and a selfdiagnosis of scrum pox.similar looking to chicken pox but very contagious from the liquid in the blisters. I used borax (dissolve in boiled water) to treat the blisters and it was cleared up in days. I purchased my borax from the local chemist without any problems.
I have major skin problems and after many, many, many test, allergist have discovered I am allergic to even minute traces of Borax. Make my own soaps, detergents for dishes and laundry and the problem immediately cleared up. It is NOT for everyone.
I am severely allergic to Tide, Gain and every laundry soap EXCEPT: Arm and Hammer, and Nellie’s.
But I can add Borax to the wash with Arm and Hammer, or Nellie’s and have no allergic reaction.
One of those weird things….
@Lou Hall.. I’m interested in learning about which tests were done to conclude your Borax allergy. My daughter suffered severe skin burns immediately following direct skin exposure to Borax. It also seems to have triggered other skin allergies. She never had an allergy prior to the borax use. 🙁
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Is borax safe for animals??
Great info! Thank you so much! I use borax in just about all of my homemade cleaners! It just irks me when people start yelling “don’t use that! It’s poisonous! ” Okay, seriously…what do you think our grandmothers used in THEIR laundry??? It’s obviously not that harmless if it’s been around and used since 1891. Duh.
It has been a couple years since this post, have you learned anything new ir are you still on board for borax? Thank you for all your research!
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Thank you so much for writing about your findings and your opinion on borax. I completely feel the same way and get a little angry when I read someone saying its toxic!!!
Thanks again ;)))
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Question? Can I use Three Elephant Borax (brand) instead of 20 Mule team borax? Please i’ll be waiting for the reply. Thank you kind mam/sir.
The EU and FDA have banned it because it had been used as an arthritis cure,taking vast amounts of money from the pharmaceutical and health care industry. It can also be used to kill bacteria, instead of using an antibiotic.
Borax, similar to the equally endangered Lugol’s iodine solution, can also be used to remove accumulated fluoride and heavy metals from the body (14). Fluoride not only causes bones to deteriorate, but also the pineal gland to calcify and the thyroid to become underactive. Borax reacts with fluoride ions to form boron fluorides which are then excreted in the urine.
http://www.health-science-spirit.com/borax.htm
Thanks for a really informative article. I read a brilliant suggestion for a natural laundry detergent but had never heard of Borax. Now you have put my mind at rest…I will be making it very soon.
Is boron and the borax that contains it a good answer for arthritis? Read the article “The Borax Conspiracy – How the Arthritis Cure has been Stopped” by Walter Last. Website: http://www.health-science-spirit.com/borax.htm
Very interesting information, Thank you!
Nice post. I learn something neew and challenging on websites I stumbleupon everyday.
It’s always interesting to read through articles from other authors and use a little something from their websites.
My dad has a pest control and insullation company , the insulation they use contains borax it is used to keep the bugs out but only self grooming bugs so ants box elder and other critters of the sort . The reason it works is becaus they cannot process it . I wanna say its because they don’t have a liver but don’t qoute me on that ha . Anyway its pretty cool how it works to keep the bugs out . That being said ,we have livers and borax does not build up in our systems so as long as we are not eating it for breakfast I think we should be ok . I make my own laundry soap that works great and don’t use borax , but that’s only becaue Iuse it for my kids cloth diapers and it can cause rashes if any is left behind . Cheers 🙂
Thanks for the hours of research on this topic and sharing with the rest of us! I am going to put a little borax in my homemade moisturizing lotion as it keeps the oil and water from separating. Again, thanks for the info!!
Thanks CrunchyBetty! I really appreciate your concise well researched info. Your site has so many answers to my questions on the journey to healthier (crunchier) living.
Hi, just wanted to share my personal experience with borax. I am a regenerative farmer and soil consultant. Boron is VERY important for the soil and our bodies. The amount of aluminum that is in the soil currently is at an all time high and is very dangerous. Boron is an essential mineral for plants, and is needed in the soil to keep too much aluminum from being absorbed into plants we may consume. Borax, is a safe and natural mineral. I actuall y eat 1/8 of a teaspoon of it in juice every two days to keep my joint pain away and chelate unwanted toxins in my body and I am just fine. However, I am not saying one should just run out and start using huge amounts of it, because in large doses it can have a salting effect on the soil, and toxic effects in the human body. It is a TRACE mineral for a reason. Everything in moderation folks! I do highly recommend it for arthritic pain though. It does wonders!
I grew up in Boron. Never had any issues being near the mine at all. Decide for yourself…
Sweet Mother Earth! I have been in ‘making my own soap products hell!’ To Borax or not to Borax, To Washing Soda or not to Washing Soda!..am I going to walk around stinking of Ivory…why am I using soap to make?…really, the madness was endless.
Crunchy, you saved the day because I had reached the throw in the towel point.
-xxofm
Good Afternoon,
This article is very interesting, I was recently reading that Borax was a good cure for scalp folliculities. Has anyone heard of this or any other good remedies to get rid of scalp folliculits?
Thank You
Austin
I seldom comment, but i did a few searching and wound
up here Gettingg to the Bottom of Borax: Is it Safe or Not?
| Crunchy Betty. And I actually do have a couple of questions for you if it’s
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profile?
Just found your article while searching for information on the ingredients of my new totally natural pain relief. I have used borax for a while for cleaning and had not heard of it being used as a natural remedy before. The product I am using is sold in chemists so I presume by that that it is safe to be taken. thanks for the interesting article.
thank you, i need this info for school 🙂
Thank you! This info is very helpful. Compared to store bought cleaners I think Borax sounds like a reasonable and safe alternative. Seems fine as long as you aren’t eating it in large quantities and/or working in a factory with it every single day.
Thank you for the info! I have one question though; through your research did you find that using a lab grade sodium borate was better for beauty/skin care products then the borax brand you find in the grocery store? I recently started making lotions and it is (from my research) one of the best natural emulsifiers when used with beeswax, but I can’t convince myself to buy the regular Borax for fear that it has other chemicals in it..
I looked at your site because I am trying to get rid of scabies without resorting to neurotoxins like permethrin (spelled wrong, sorry). Several postings suggested using a peroxide and borax mixture in a hot bath or applied. Have you heard of this use of borax? If it doesn’t work I’ll use it in the laundry.
I just read of a “recipe” for a mix of borax, distilled water, and hydrogen peroxide to spray on cat mange. I found myself here because I was getting concerned that borax would be harmful to my cat. Would it be?
To whom it may concern:
My comment was NOT directed to, nor at, anyone involved in the publishing or owners of this site.
There are people in this world, that are afraid of their own shadow & consistently try to push those fears of on everyone around them. THESE, are the ones my comment was aimed at.
In no way shape or form, did I ever intend to belittle, put down and/or insult anyone on this website or its patrons.
I offer my humble apologies to everyone/anyone who was offended.
Sincerely,
James ‘TULANI’ Reynolds
Hello,
I just want to say I’ve been using this product for my laundry and it has helped me rid it of the micro miasis of Morgellon’s Disease. I’ve also used in my home enviroment, without any issues.
After reading this blog post, I seen a cure remedy that someone else was using mixing baking soda and borax. I’m going to give this a try as it helps with the external, that has to help with the internal.
Thank you again!
Kent C.
Thanks for this info. I have been wondering too since I’ve been switching everything over to homemade, green cleaners. My homemade bathroom cleaner works great, but it doesn’t get off the freezing hairspray that lands all over my cabinets. I decided to use the icky cleaner that makes me cough and my sinuses and lungs hurt to try and get it off. (I believe I used 409 or Mr. Clean) Even the store bought chemicals didn’t get it off, but I did feel sick the rest of the day from using them. So, I decided to do an internet search and found that just 2 Tbsp. of Borax in 2-3 cups of warm water could be used as a cleaner. I sprayed it on my cabinets and immediately wiped it off. It took every bit of hairspray off with no elbow grease. I couldn’t believe how easy it was. I had extra left over, so I’m hoping I can just store it and it work just as well. That way I won’t need to mix up a new batch every week. That was so cheap and easy. I’m hoping to just clean the whole bathroom with it next time. You make me feel better about using it! It had no fumes to make me feel bad, so that alone is a reason for me to use it over store bought.
Shampoo works to remove hairspray spots from walls/cabinets etc.
Borax is great at repealing ants in the home and for washing and deodoriziing exercise clothing (under armor, etc).
For ants I used it under furniture and rubbed into carpet around infestation areas- I live in farm land country and when it rains or is excessively dry ants Ito looking for high ground. Make a pste and rub into clothing for deodorizing clothes.
borax and sugar or honey gets rid of ant infestations .. it kills cockroaches and termites but not other insects. bit powdered under the dishwasher or fridge is great and does no harm
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I read in Wikipedia that Borax is supposed to be a tremendous anti-fungal agent and would be wonderful if used in foot soaks. That’s a plus right there. What a value that would be for stinky feet and athlete’s foot too.
For toenail fungus and foot fungus apply vicks vaporub the nails will turn black as the fungus dies but once they naturally grow out the fungus will be gone for good no harsh anti-fungals needed though it is a side product of petrolium production you all do put gas in your cars right? vaporub is vaseline with added medicinals
Vroom vroom..
Ingesting Borax for health…
An interesting article here.
http://nexusmagazine.co.nz/resources/Nexus1904Borax.pdf
Health Effects of Boron
Borax and boric acid have basically the same health effects with good
antiseptic, antifungal and antiviral properties but only mild antibacterial
action. Boron is essential for the integrity and function of cell walls and for the
way signals are transmitted across membranes. Boron is distributed
throughout the body, with the highest concentration in the parathyroid glands
followed by bones and dental enamel. It is essential for healthy bone and joint
function, regulating the absorption and metabolism of calcium, magnesium
and phosphorus through its influence on the parathyroid gland…
Hello, can I use different brands of borax aside from 20 mule team borax? like Three elephant borax? thank you
Now this is just my personal opinion, so it needs to be taken as such.
These educated people that keep confusing Borax with Boric Acid, are the kind that have so much education, they no longer have any common sense…or just plain idiots if you prefer.
Webster’s definition of boric acid:
Definition of BORIC ACID
: a white crystalline acid B(OH)3 obtained from its salts and used especially as a weak antiseptic and fire-retardant
Origin of BORIC ACID
boron
First Known Use: 1869
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boric%20acid
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Webster’s definition of Borax:
a white crystalline compound that consists of a hydrated sodium borate Na2B4O7·10H2O, that occurs as a mineral or is prepared from other minerals, and that is used especially as a flux, cleansing agent, and water softener, as a preservative, and as a fireproofing agent
Origin of BORAX
Middle English boras, from Anglo-French boreis, from Medieval Latin borac-, borax, from Arabic būraq, from Persian būrah
First Known Use: 14th century
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/borax?show=0&t=1389994103
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As you can see by by the chemical make up, Boric Acid & Borax, are completely different…
Yes they are similar in some ways, but the 2 are totally different.
In the end, it is my personal opinion, that to be afraid to use Borax as a cleaning ingredient, is way off base & total nonsense.
I believe that Borax should be a key ingredient in AT LEAST 80% of one’s green cleaning arsenal, and should be added to the other 10% according to the recipe for that which you will use it.
Again, these are just my personal thoughts on this matter.
I do know the difference between the horrible boric acid and borax or sodium borate. It is listed as having developmental, reproductive and endocrine concerns. It’s also listed as having some concern over allergic reactions to the product, skin irritation and respiratory problems. Since I just had a lung collapse on me, it’s something I worry about.
Omitting the borax and making a natural laundry soap without it is easy to do. I use vinegar, baking soda, washing soda, and natural sea salt. I do add a bit of Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap (just a squirt) and everything turns out great. The sea salt does the same thing the borax does and works wonders for clothing. It will prevent bleeding of colors too and I don’t need to worry about the problems that borax may or may not cause.
Hi Vicki would you please send me ypur washing detergent recipe very very interested as I currently use Borax in mine
Thank you for putting your reply up
Cheers
Esther from Australia
I went on to the Environmental Working Group website (www.ewg.org) and found some ingredients that were rated ‘A’ in terms of the environment, humans and pets. I also grabbed a box of Seventh Generation Laundry soap to find out what ingredients they use. Seventh Generation lavender and citrus is rated ‘A’ although the lavender can cause some concern. It’s not the healthiest for the environment or us. Between the two sources, I came up with this:
Baking Soda
Citric acid
Epsom salt
Washing soda
Coconut oil
orange peel oil
grapefruit peel oil
There are some Oxi Clean solutions that are rated fairly high on the EWG site for safety. I don’t typically use it in mine, but some do. The citric acid you can purchase online. The oils I buy in the health food stores, along with the other essential oils available. I use the oils for cleaning power, not for scent.
At times I will put vinegar in the bleach dispenser and will crumple up a ball of aluminum foil for static cling in the dryer. Both work well. Hope this helps.
Vicky, can you elaborate on this please?
“although the lavender can cause some concern. It’s not the healthiest for the environment or us.”
Vicki, I too am very interested in your washing detergent recipe!
Vicki, I too am very interested in your washing detergent recipe! Specifically the amounts you use?
Wanted to add that borax is toxic to insects as their digestive systems lack the ability to eliminate it, as result it they die as it accumulates to poisonous levels.
I use it regularly in laundry and use “Boraxo” hand cleaner which is great for deep cleaning, leaves the skin soft, too.
Thank you for your extensive research! I, too have researched it, especially in regards to cosmetic chemistry safety and have come to a similar conclusion. I will continue to use it at a less than 1% concentration as an emulsifier in skin lotions with beeswax for my own personal use-on non-broken skin. I imagine that the borax issue will continue to be an on going concern, as more peoples become interested in making their own what-ever.
Would it be toxic if used on the outside of a spoon or fork and then licked a lot?
Why bother with a spoon or fork… just stick your tongue in the bag or box.
Betty, I am a chemistry teacher. Anything you ever want to find about a chemical you can look up its material safety data sheet (MSDS). Borax has never been fully studied so they don’t know effects….other than some irritants….the studies at high doses caused kidney problems and male sperm infertility. But that is high doses…. Just remember just because we have it and need it in our bodies does not mean it is not toxic. Sodium in our bodies is safe in that form…..sodium in water is explosive. But use the MSDS for all substances….there is one for all compounds!
Why are you repeating what she is saying?
I’m wondering if borax home made laundry detergent will be ok for energy efficient laundry machines? I’m assuming yes, but just wanted to check. Anyone has a thought on this?
I have been using it in my HE washer for several months with great results.
I use homemade laundry soap with borax in HE washers all the time. Here is eco-friendly recipe I use: http://cleaningouttheclutter.com/2013/10/eco-friendly-all-natural-homemade-laundry-detergent/
Have used homemade liquid laundry soap with borax in it for a year now in my HE machine with no problems. Just changed to Econuts to be more green – maybe it wasn’t necessary after all!
using Borax to clean mattress is new to me, never saw this product sold in my country, is this still save if people have allergy already?
thanks for the info it was very useful it will surly help my science fair project’s grade
Hey thank you so much, both informative and funny. Yay!
My mother runs her own organic community farm. She was having some issues with ants in the soil so she started using borax to get rid of them and it has worked. Our veggies taste absolutely fine and no one is dying or getting sick. She has been using it for the past 5 years. It works better than pestiside.
Can you tell us how your mom uses it, quantity, etc.? I am an organic home gardener in Alabama, and have horrible problems with ants in the raised beds. They LOVE that loose soil!
Thanks!
Hi there, I can’t tell you how Berlyn’s mom uses it, but I can tell you how we use it to keep ants and caterpillars out of our raised beds: I just make a line of borax about the width of a drinking straw all around the base of anywhere I don’t want the crawlers. If it rains hard, I replace any areas that got washed away. It’s super easy to work it into any mulch you have, as it is a fertilizer for deficient soils as well. It won’t stop weeds or grasshoppers, mind you, but can anything do that really?
Use a hose-end sprayer. Keep increasing, starting at 1 tablespoon in reservoir. If the ants don’t leave in a week, add more until you’re happy. (Every once and a while; Bugs Win.) Doesn’t take much, and keeps our Organic rating at the packers.
Coffee grounds have worked for me as well.
Please; everybody have to say THANKS to TED(earth clinic) about borax………
Great info!! Thank you!!
I agree with you.I think Borax is safe,but it’s depends on borax user.thanks
http://www.dodsonbros.com/blog/borax-and-boric-acid-for-insect-control-228.html
As a little food for thought regarding the differences between boric acid and borax, I thought I’d add the above site and see what people make of it as this is from a company specializing in pest control (where apparently boric acid, not borax, is professionally used).
i cant see boron (borax) being too harmful for humans. there are studies that not enough can damage health and my doctor want me to take it for my arthritic conditions. my only concern is that it can mess with thyroid hormone uptake and can mess with our girly estrogen hormones- for some in a beneficial way but my body don’t like my hormones messed with.
on the plus side there is one group of animals on this planet this stuff is deadly to…. Insects.. so if you have cockroaches tiz a sure fire way to deal with that problem.
Thanks for the article Crunchy
Is it safe to use with dish cleaner? I threw about half a cup in with my dishes and handwashed them. The came out so squeeky clean! Is it OK? I used it on my plastic Tupperware too.Please let me know before I eat out of them l.
I have been sprinkling borax on my carpets for years for flea control. I leave it on there for a few days then vacuum, with 3 cats running in and out it has worked miracles. I love it for cleaning also! Thanks for the great article:)
I bought a cream containing borax a long time ago when I was in Canada and looked it up online to find it was toxic and then freaked out and decided to throw it away . Now while I am in India I went to the organic store and bought some apricot hand cream for sos organics and when reading the contents I got worried cause I saw borax . Then I thought it is so hard to find a cream here in India that I compared the toxic ingredients of a non natural product with chemicals to this and decided to go for it .
I found that when I apply it it takes about a minute or less to absorb and then completely vanishes into the skin .
Here are the ingredients to the cream – apricot oil ,beeswax ,essential oils , floral water, borax , and citric acid .
I wanted to share this so that maybe you can give me insight as to weather it is safe to use this cream despite reading your article . Thanks .
WOW!
Info was good, thx Crunchy Betty!
Comments were…….”entertaining!!”
Just one question, some people mentioned borax was good for rheumatoid arthritis. Anyone one know if it works to prevent joint damage or just for pain?
Thanks! I was in the middle of doing research on making my own laundry detergent after making my own deodorant for the last 3 years…and starting wondering if Borax was safe and green. As a health care provider, I really appreciated the science behind your post. Thanks for taking the time to do a thorough research and pulling this all together. Much appreciated!
Even for those of you who don’t want to eat borax – well, you wouldn’t eat soap, either; does that mean you shouldn’t wash stuff with it?
My DOCTOR once prescribed borax (medical grade from pharmacy) for a bacterial infection.
Yes, you did read that correctly.
I use borax in my homemade laundry detergent. Washing soda, borax, and soap in a 2:2:1 ratio presently. I may up it to a 1:1:1, but we’ll see once my testing is done.
But back to the original point, yes, my doctor prescribed borax for me. The (compounding) pharmacy carried it and put it in capsule form for me.
Thank you, drive through, please.
To really see if Borax is safe and non-toxic,buy some and try putting some on your lawn.
See what happens. It is NOT biodegradable and accumulates in nature—extremely hard to reduce once it is on/in soil.
You are right!
I’ve been struggling with the fact that borax stays in my clothes. And I only used it a few times… Me and my dauther are highly allergic to borax… And when I put new clothes with the ones who are washed with borax a half year ago, the new clothes also get infected. That causes skin and lung allergies.
So I want to say do not use this toxic product!!!
penis. that is all I have to add.
It has been brought to the attention of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) that Borax is occasionally represented and sold as a food in Canada. Borax, also known as Boric Acid, has a history in some cultures of being added to foods as a firming agent, meat rub, preservative, or tenderizer.
The CFIA is concerned about the use and sale of Borax as a food ingredient. Health Canada has advised that based on available data relating to its toxicity, this product could pose an unacceptable risk to a consumer’s health. Consumption of Borax has been documented in literature as causing the death of infants and adults. The use and sale of Borax as a food ingredient is not permitted and is considered a violation of Section 4(a) of the Food and Drugs Act.
Borax should not be used in food preparation and should not be sold or represented as a food ingredient.
Packages of Borax:
should not have any words or phrases suggesting that it is a food, such as consume by; traditional flavour, etc.; and
should not be offered for sale on shelves containing food products.
The CFIA will take appropriate enforcement action should Borax be found to be imported, sold or used as a food ingredient.
If you read your Toothpaste WARNING on Adult & Children it states if a child swallows a pea sized amount call POISON control!!! If its poison for a lab rat its poison for humans of all ages. Fluoride is a neurotoxin Toxicologist outside of our Government has studied all test are negative our Gov has never had any studies for Fluoride O nada FDA has never approved it in water or Toothpaste, This does tie in to Borax is it helps to remove it!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mercola/fluoride_b_2479833.html
http://www.fluoridealert.org/
Boron is a mineral used to build strong bones as is beneficial to prevent osteoporosis and for men to provide prostrate support! This mineral is found in foods and can be bought as a supplement to your daily diet. Research yourself miss noir all!
Boron is a listed mineral required for all woman’s vitamins and EPA is a political group with no clue just whoever bids the most money and then find bad in working scientists to put their names on evidence that isn’t even teste (totally made up). Just like USDA. Find recommended ingredients for women’s vitamins, then check your vitamins!
I daresay the extremist/reactionary/conspiracy types make these postings far from concise; the OP seems well reasoned, researched at a laypersons level, and clear about some of the debates in the current spectrum of opinions. My father was an original Ill. Pollution Control Board member, and they set many standards that the later EPA utilized. After his 3 year tenure, one entire wall of our basement, floor to ceiling, was stacked with just testimony from various expert witnesses who presented opinions to the Board. To say that I personally resent the insulting, dismissive, and beyond-ignorant who call agencies like the EPA fronts for industry is a huge understatement.
I am rather of the opinion that constant politicizing, underfunding, and pressure from lobbyists and elected officials make the work of honest researchers much harder. Imagine if you spent 30 years in some profession, only to be dismissed offhand by a person with zero qualifications beyond a casual internet search. Welcome to the new dark ages.
1. “Natural”= meaningless; arsenic, plutonium, and anthrax are natural.
2. Dismissing scientific recommendations while self-dosing and experimenting by ingesting a variety of materials, then assessing the consequences entirely subjectively and anecdotally, is basically what people did before 1200A.D. Fable, superstition, and myth gave us very little in terms of medical, nutritional, or biological understanding.
I am so flippin’ grateful for the time you took to research
Borax. I believe you have done a great job
and I too will continue to use it. Thanks!
Thanks for sharing! I’m not sure how I feel about borax but you have provided some great findings. Seems more benign than a lot of ingredients that I find in store bought cleaners!
Interestingly, there were human studies done in 1902 when borax was a common US food preservative.
The results were negative (for Borax). One of the takeaway messages was that small quantities over time resulted in loss of appetite, persistent headaches, and fatigue. These symptoms usually kicked in after 15-20 days.
For the tests, 12 healthy men (most working for the Dept. of Agriculture) ate all of their meals in a “test” kitchen. e.g., all meals were meticulously prepared, with portions adjusted to each person’s weight/metabolism. Each day, small quantities of borax were mixed into the meal–in proportion to what a consumer would eat from store bought products. In addition to measuring food intake, the men’s waste was collected for analysis.
The highly publicized results of these tests resulted in the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act. If this law remained in effect, the goods at Whole Foods would have been the norm. Unfortunately, the Pure Food Act was dismantled within a few years as food manufacturers, drug makers, sugar trust, and whiskey makers combined their efforts to stop it.
One of the lasting legacies is that we do have food labeling laws and their enforcement. However, the other part of the 1906 Act–removing harmful additives from the market–never fully took hold.
* look up Dr. Harvey Wiley and the Poison Squad
I’ve been wanting to make laundry detergent at home for a long time and recently received a “recipe” containing borax. That site sent me to your website and after reading your post I thought it was safe but I wanted to do some more research since I have a baby and a toddler at home. In the NIH website I read the human toxicity excerpts and found this statement: “Fatal doses for humans are variously estimated to be 5 to 6 g for children and 10 to 25 g for adults. [Clayton, G. D. and F. E. Clayton (eds.). Patty’s Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology: Volume 2A, 2B, 2C: Toxicology. 3rd ed. New York: John Wiley Sons, 1981-1982., p. 3059]” In other words 1 teaspoon of borax can kill my children. So if this does not concern you, please bring borax into your home. I will do without it. Too much of a risk for my children.
Here is the NIH website:
http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/f?./temp/~MZysu2:2
A few months ago after reading lots about Borax on the net I started consuming it at 1/8 tsp daily and noticed a reduction in arthritic stiffness within 3 – 4 days. Another week and I had some urinary tract irritation. Then a few weeks ago stopped taking it internally and added it to my homemade magnesium oil, along with some iodine. Wow, certainly increases my feelings of well being and relaxation. Just wanted to share my experience, Crunchy Betty.
I have never ever ever in all my 30 years had much to say on any posts I’ve come across, so therefore never commented online. I just felt somewhat compelled to say thank you for taking the time and effort in writing this and thus answering my questions about this product!
You’ve saved me countless hours trolling the Internet for answers, not to mention saving my friends sanity by stifling my need to wonder aloud about this subject.
You’re awesome!!
Since this website deleted by link, please find this information at growyouthful dot com slash remedy slash borax dot php
This website has a lot of footnoted research about the health benefits of boron.
“Borax (sodium tetraborate hexahydrate or sodium borate) is a naturally-occurring mineral composed of sodium, boron, oxygen and water. It has been used as a remedy for over 4000 years. It is found in large quantities in the Western United States, in Mediterranean countries, Kazakhstan, and the Tibet region of China. Turkey is one of the largest commercial producers of borates.
Most people only get between 1.7 and 7 mg of boron per day, mainly from fruits, nuts, legumes, and vegetables. It is likely that this level represents a severe deficiency, with the deficiency being worse for people living in those areas where there is little or no boron in the soil. Chemical fertilisers inhibit the extraction of boron from the soil, so conventionally grown fruit and vegetables are low in boron. In contrast, an organic apple grown in boron-rich soils may have 20 mg of boron. The traditional French diet contains about 36 mg of boron per day, and most other traditional diets using naturally-grown no fertiliser fruits and vegetables would deliver a similar amount of boron.”
I’ve personally been using a large capsule of 20 Mule Team Borax twice a day for several months to help with joint pain from a fall. After reading a medical study conducted on dogs and realizing after further research that the benefits are many and that the toxic level would be an EXTREMELY large dose, it became clear to me that the benefits of boron clearly outweigh any small possibility of a negative reaction (usually very temporary).
Here are two links about the safety of Borax. The first link is an article and the second link is to Earthclinic.com, which is a wonderful resource for natural health remedies for people and pets.
http://www.health-science-spirit.com/borax.htm
http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/borax.html
Sprinkled into cracks and crevices, inside kitchen cupboards, behind the fridge, stove etc, Borax is a great deterrent to cockroaches
.
Waiting in the Doctor’s surgery I was reading a copy of Australian Geographic and there was a small article written by an Entomologist who gave this advice
.
And it works … cockies hate the stuff ! (and I hate cockies)
.
I would much rather sprinkle some borax around, than spraying toxic chemical sprays that “last up to six months”
.
Johnno
Ps.. Thank you Betty! And Thank you for everyone else for sharing your knowledge! I am very new to the Do-it-yourself natural way of living.. I cannot believe it took 26 years to truly wake up. I love this website!
This is amusing.. People like Lucy need to wake up..do you not realize people use these websites because they have lost faith in the EPA and the FDA and rightfully so. (If you have done your research) We use these websites because we have come to this realization they cannot be trusted. We would much rather share home remedies that have been passed down from generation to generation. Because really, we have survived on this rock for tens of thousands of years with out the Epa and the FDA’s “help”. I, personally, would much rather trust a remedy that has been passed down for the last 150 years or use a product that didn’t come from a Lab. Natural products do not benefit these establishments there for why would they promote them? They are not going to throw money at research that isn’t in return going to make them that money back ten fold. The Earth where borax comes from does not make them money. Laboratories make them money.
To cure flu, bronchitis, tonsolitis and even pneumonia.
Try 1/8th of a teaspoon of borax in spring water.
Add freshly squeezes lemon juice to taste and drink throughout day.
You should be pain free within a day.
So much better for you than antibiotics.
Reading about borax as its been adviced to help with fibromyalgia the article emailed to me was by some one who developed arthritis in 1972 after curing himself started helping others when drug companies found out they quickly put at stop to it because of the loss of income such a cheap product would cause. The governing bodies also rely on sick people to keep industries going and developing new ones. We all need to read between the lines and go back to natural living or greed will be the death of most.
Its so funny that you had this response. After reading so many comments and the articles of the links provided, I came to a conclusion related to what you are saying. People have found that Borax is helpful in curing or helping their ailments so what better way to scare them than to say that it is harmful to them. After a month of debating in my mind about this product I am wholeheartedly convinced that they are saying this about this product to keep money in their pockets. I mean think about it. If it has the health benefits that people claim it has it would drop the sales of pharmaceuticals, detergents, household cleaners and etc. They are not going to let that happen so what better tactic than a scare. Almost every product we use is hazardous; some of them cause cancers, allergies, skin irritations, respiratory problems and many other things. There are some products that they know are causing more harm to us that they will not tell us about because its financially beneficial to them,
Not to mention… many pharmaceuticals have huge risks. HUGE. Even death. And despite being required by law to list those risks in grueling detail, most people who respond to scare tactics about natural remedies wouldn’t hesitate to ingest any pharmaceutical prescribed by their doctor. It boggles the mind.
You said that Borax isn’t boric acid. While this is true…in its dry powder form. When borax enters into the body (either though absorption, ingestion, or otherwise) it become boric acid (according to the Hazardous Substances Data Bank of the National Library of Medicine)…
According to their studies and reports, it produces developmental effects, including reduced body weight, malformations and even death in unborn/newborns when ingested through the mother.
Interestingly, borax will also melt under heat (fire) into a molten liquid substance that can flow in large quantities and ignite surrounding combustible materials.
When using borax, you are supposed to wear protective clothing, respirators, gloves and eye protection.
I’ll kill your grass too.
Had I been Betty, I would have disabled comments after her last post, because she was thoughtful, did research to address concerns, and she spoke ONLY for herself. She has a very well worded disclaimer on the bottom of each page of comments.
I’ve been on the internet since it began. I know a TROLL when I see one.
Betty, just keep on doing what you are doing. Take the cream and leave the milk. Cream rises to the top. Unfortunately, sometimes a turd will too.
Absolutely! Thank you! I do wish sometimes that folks would remove these types of comments. All of the negativity and name calling is unecessary and so juvenile. It really is an excellent article, well written and researched. I’m sure it will prove to be quite helpful to many people
Kevin – I’ve read all the posts and responses to this point. Yours made me LOL. Great sense of humor and I totally agree with you!
First of all, borax (sodium tetraborate decahydrate) in water produces boric acid and raises the pH. So the studies on boron toxicity that refer to boric acid are absolutely relevant for Borax as well. The No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) is 8.8 mg/kg/day (for male dogs) where doses at 29 mg/kg/day resulted in smaller testicles in male dogs when fed boric acid at this level for months. The lethal dose for a 50% kill is 3450 mg/kg (for male rats) compared to 3000 mg/kg for ordinary table salt. So from a single dose toxicity point of view it is not worse than table salt, but from a chronic regular exposure point of view it is worse.
For a 50 kg (110 pound) person, the lethal dose for half the people is 172.5 grams (6 ounces weight). However, that assumes that people are the same as rats and dogs. The EPA uses a factor of 10 inter-species safety factor and a factor of 10 intra-species variation factor for an overall factor of 100 Margin Of Exposure (MOE) which is likely to be overly conservative.
Boron is excreted from the body, but the human body is limited in its rate of excretion of boron. You can see the following video for why boric acid is toxic to insects in very small quantities but not to humans except in much larger quantities:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jjy3KujkXV0
As for why boric acid and related compounds are not sold to consumers in Europe, it is due to its toxicity for reproduction (related to what was seen with the smaller male dog testicles in the chronic tests as well as reproductive tests with rats) which requires the concentrated products (> 5.5% concentration) to be labeled with “May impair fertility. May cause harm to the unborn child.” Rather than do that, the manufacturers of such products decided not to offer them to the consumer in Europe.
http://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/13638/svhc_supdoc_boric_acid_publication_en.pdf
Through ordinary use of the product, the exposure is well below the NOAEL limits. You aren’t eating or drinking it and exposure to skin would normally be limited.
Not sure why Lucy would want to put her trust in another failed government agency such as the EPA.
This is a great article! Thank you for doing some research! EWG lists borax in the cleaning products database as an F. Worst possible rating. The ingredient list does not say anything about boric acid. The ingredient in 20 Mule Borax is sodium borate. I do question why it gets such a horrible rating and feel like any compound with such an extreme debate surrounding it might be one that I eliminate from my life, especially if I don’t particularly need it for anything. BUT THEN, I just read something about people with fibromyalgia supplementing with borax, seemingly as a way to remove flouride from the body….and THAT I am definitely interested in. *sigh* So much conflicting information…..
EWG is not known for strong science. Try to find any solid scientific source that replicates their studies — you’ll come up empty. What they are great at is media.
So I want to kill fleas in my house wondering what others think on the top of putting it my children’s carpet keeping room vacant for 4 days.. And vaccuming it up!?
I would not use it in the carpets if you have cats or dogs, it can cause severe dehydration if they get to much of it in their system just by licking small amounts off of their paws.
Hello all and thanks to Crunchy Betty for a great Blog! I love it. Re: Borax, I eat the stuff too – I lick the tip of my finger and dip it in the Borax, so I’m getting what is not an awful lot of it, but enough to help me feel much better. I have Rheumatoid ARthritis, and taking Borax daily gets rid of a lot of my pains. I also found a supplement in my health foods store, containing vitamin D3 and borax combined, which is wonderful also. Once i took too much borax – i got a bit carried away with myself by experimenting with dosages etc, and I did feel quite ill for a day or two. But I didn’t die and I recovered fine. So I know borax is toxic in larger doses, and one should tread carefully in this respect. It is advised to make sure little kids don’t get into the stuff because they obviously couldn’t handle to toxicity of it. Apart from that, I reckon it’s jolly good stuff that is quite safe when used properly – and as with anything you do in life, use common sense and you will stay healthy. Let’s face it, most of the personal care and cleaning products we use as humans are toxic to some degree – from shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste, deodorant, hand soaps, to cleaning products – they look and smell lovely and harmless, but take a closer look and you’ll find that they are far more toxic than a bit of silly old Borax !! All the best to everyone…. Leonie 🙂
Hi Leonie, I suffer from RA and would really care to know how you take the borax for the pains. Thank you. Mary
Thank you for this great info, really appreciate all your work on the subject. It made it easy for us…
Thanks for the info. It’s always nice when people can research and find out what a product really is. I think when people are able to start a conversation about a product, it definitely leads to researching farther about a product. Thanks for the post.
This is useful information but does not include a lot ofwhat Ive found in recent months. Nevrrtheless weareall indeed able to research read and come to our own conclusions. I just want to know what your opinioni in relation to cloth diapers specifically. With all you have read, as much as youve learned and with your personal thoughts being that it is okay as a laundry detergent, do you include the cloth diapers that are going directly up to babys skin to be okay to wash with it. Also what ia your exact rexepie
Please note Im not rude, sarcastic, or illiterate! lol My phone is giving me fits and not the proper letters and/or completeting other commands properly. Therefore made me decide to just rush and not worry about it hoping it would make enough sense. My pounding headache does not help. Thanks in advance for ypur ibfo!! 🙂
Nichole I used one half (1/2) cup borax mixed into one (1) gallon of hot water, let sit for about 30 minutes any borax that did not dissolve will settle and you pour the clear liquid into wash water (leaving un-dissolved crystals in the container) add preferred detergent. Then I did Two (2) Rinses,
The first with plain water. the second rinse I added one(1) cup White vinegar.
The vinegar removes any detergent residue and softens clothes. Hang out on clothes line in the sun until dry unless pollen counts are up then dry in dryer. If Diapers are stained soak in a mixture of the water and peroxide, I think I used a 32 Ounce bottle per gallon of borax water. the peroxide should bleach out the stain, some rubbing may be needed so use gloves because the peroxide acts as a catalyst to the borax helping it to absorb into the skin.
THis is well written and very helpful!! Thank you! I also found this article that is similar and lists some links to studies and the Materials Safety Data Sheets: http://herbanlifestyle.wordpress.com/2010/04/01/borax-safe-or-not/
Here is a sixteen page article on Borax as a cure for arthritis, and it works. Complete with an extensive discussion about what borax is and does — enjoy! http://www.health-science-spirit.com/borax.htm
Thanks for such an informative post!
Thank you so much for putting all this information together in one spot! I had never heard before that someone would claim Borax as as an unnatural, toxic substance not to be used in “green” cleaning. Here’s why: My whole family and I had been showing signs of skin irritation and mild allergies due to the commercial laundry detergent we were using, even pH balanced dye free stuff was irritating. My mom then started making a homemade laundry detergent with a relatively-low-percentage-for-volume amount of 20 Mule Team Borax and not only were our clothes cleaner and smelled fresher but our skin irritations were gone! I personally wouldn’t recommend Borax in hair or used directly on the body’s surface because of the alkalinity of it, but in detergents that get rinsed out thoroughly (we also put white vinegar in the fabric softener compartment so the clothes get an extra rinse and pH balance) it’s wonderful. 🙂
i use the same but the 10% one.
I have been eating 1/8 tsp. daily and feeling so much better. Achy joints gone and a spring in my step. I believe if you stay at this dose age it’s safe and beneficial for adults.
And one last thing about the people who have issues with borax. Since what’s causing the problems is the tiny crystals that are alkaline, the supersensitivity of the skin is the real issue. Hint: it’s most likely what’s eaten. Or what your food has eaten in the case of animals.
Here’s how i use borax: clothes washing wash cycle, additive to boiling water for pasta or vegetables, as a really good ant killer(1/2 cup of fructose, 1/2 cup of borax, boiled up in enough water, add a couple teaspoons of honey when cooling). The sweet eating ants love it the same as Terro, and the whole ant group quickly dies from dehydration and maybe crystalization if sufficient amounts were put out. It’s funny some are worried about too much boron in soil, because too much is bad for plants(just like too much of any salt is bad), but what about us humans? Too much florine is bad for us, yet we put more and more florine into our water systems for the sake of those who don’t brush their teeth. Too much florine in soils lessens the ability of plants to uptake the boron they need. When plants get less, we get less, we need boron, but plants and humans don’t need floride.
Thankyou for the ant killer recipe Keith, but will regular white or brown sugar work instead of fructose? And, how much water is “enough” water? How do you put it out for them? Just a drop, as with Terro?
Thanks for posting this! I have been increasingly paranoid about the use of Borax in the home and have been thinking about switching to only baking soda (I use both currently). I only use the Borax for cleaning the bathroom, kitchen and as a laundry booster. I wouldn’t say I would eat it. But then again, I didn’t think I would every ingest drops of medical grade hydrogen peroxide either. 🙂 Ahhh such a fun adventure all of this clean living is! 🙂 Thanks for doing all of the research for us!!! Much appreciated!
I ve recently started using Borax in my laundry especially in the final rinse, but I’ve started breaking out around my neck are arms, do you think maybe I’ve used too much or I am just having a bad reaction to the Borax.
It should be added with the wash cycle…not the rinse cycle.
I got this very unfortunate reaction from handling borax. Never had an allergic reaction to any household chemicals since birth until I’ve used this borax thing. In a way I feel very disappointed and angry because I trusted all this stuff written in internet about the “safety” of borax.. Its been 2 weeks now since I’ve used borax, sadly my allergies are getting worse.
@Rx… I’m very sorry to hear that you are suffering from an allergic reaction to Borax. My daughter used Borax in school and had an awful reaction. Her hand developed burns within the first hour of exposure and the burns continued to spread up her arm. Long story short, that was 43 days ago and her body is still reacting to the Borax. Numerous doctors have told us that she has now developed a “hypersensitivity” to Borax. Please feel free to contact me via email if you want to exchange notes about this. It’s frustrating and I strongly suggest people use it with care if they must use it at all! My poor daughter is burning alive from this stuff!
A reaction to Borax that appears to be allergic can be a Herxheimer reaction. While Borax is usually gentle on people, it kills insects, fungus and bacteria. I say this because what people often think is an allergic reaction to a substance is in fact a cleansing response. Modern doctors are not used to thinking in this manner and might make the same mistake. When things go back to normal. You might want consider a cleanse. If a person feels fine on the cleanse, it was probably a reaction to Borax. But, if she develops symptoms on the cleanse the Borax was probably killing something thus the reaction. Dr. Oz recently did a show explaining how prevelant parasites are in America but very difficult to diagnose. He advocated that people should cleanse at least once a year regardless. On a side note, when I cleansed both of my children with Diatomaceous Earth they had several rash outbreaks, nausea, eye pain, earache etc. I thought the DE was hurting them and thats when I learned about Herxheimer reactions – which can happen internally or externally – kind of scary. But, I gave them lots of liquids, reduced their DE for a day or two and they would bounce back after a month they lost all previous allergies and intolerances, no more stomach aches, bumps on their skin etc. they are so healthy now.
I have done DE with my kids for deworming…. how much did you give your kids for the cleanse? I did a tsp per ft of child 1x/day for a week and then every 6 months. But I would love to have them do a cleanse.
Thankx…
A follow up to my previous post.. The severe allergic reaction that my daughter suffered when exposed to 20 Mule Team Borax apparently triggered additional allergies in the form of contact dermatitis. Her body continued to burn from the date of initial contact, May 2013 until November 2013. What changed? She was pulled from school by her doctor. Her body was not responding to antibiotics that she had to take as the borax burns left her prone to recurring staph infections. The products that she uses now are all Borax free and being that the FDA does not require that Borax be listed as an “active ingredient”, we are limited on what she can be exposed to without extensively researching it with sometimes uncooperative companies. PLEASE know that you can “just develop” an allergy to Borax. She’s never had an allergy prior to this. A simple sensitive reaction could be just a warning sign. She is now healing but is covered with scars from head to toe! People think Borax is safe because it’s “all natural”, but so is mercury and we don’t bathe in that! Be safe friends!
LD50 is a medical code….”Lethal Dose over %50″ meaning at a specified dose over 50percent died. Its the code they use to ….Uuuuum… For example “Gabapentin” 60 years ago was a medication to treat epilepcy (SP) then it hit LD50 for that “Approved” treatment….So it was “Approved” for being an antiphycotic…Boom LD50 we’ll approve it as a Mood disorders…But can still use it as “Off label treatment of the former!” LD50 again…!!! Well we havent found anything that seems to do much for Nerve Pain…So women with Fibromyalgia and Men with siatica…Line up…. Its quit an efficient system.!! Never have to out law it. Oh..P.S. “Long Term” on medical statistic and terminology is a “Medical Term” …… It does NOT mean what Websters dictionary and your grade school teachers taught us. “Long Term” means 5.5 Years… So when you get there “Long Term” success rate a %3 Cancer success or Heart Surgery…. Now you know why..They cant really tell you what the real number is…That would keep them juggling those deadly meds way to much. Look it up.! Its crazy..Heart bypasses are handed out like adderall to toddlers in the hospitals now…. Do they work..? NO..! Every single heart Dr. in the world will tell you over drinks when no wearing a white coat…well what ever clogged his human artery was clogging the new one before i got him put back together…we’ll see him again. If they live a long healthy life..its because of how there living it.
Ooops..Sorry, my reply went to the wrong person.
About your allergic reaction…What type? Maybe try some Extra Virgin Coconut oil if it is a skin reaction only. The top layer of your skin is actual flat dead skin cells held together as a protective shell to invasion by a medium chain fat…coconut oil has a medium chain fat that is extremely helpful in many ailments and skin irritants.
I dont really use it for cleaning or anything, however I do use it for taxidermy. For bird taxidermy just touching the skin with this is all you need to keep the skin preserved. Also borax is good for making mummies and other dried creature things.
After extensive research I am trialling borax to detox from fluoride. Its been a long road to get to this point. My research has uncovered enough proof for me that Borax is not toxic. No more so than common household salt. One interesting article to share is about its effect on arthritis. This is not definitive, but interesting. Also puts an angle on some possible reasons for demonising this chemical.
http://www.health-science-spirit.com/borax.htm
good luck all – I am just glad that the fluoride in our local water is not as bad as some types of fluoride (eg that delivered to 63% of US homes). I only discovered borax through fluoride. I am not a chemist so this is quite mysterious to me– but I do at least have a science degree.
Billi
One more thing about borax relating to pest control, natural soap is toted for it’s natural pesticide qualities. It’s advertised that you can spray soapy (i.e. all-natural soapy, not synthetic detergent soapy) water on plants instead of spraying the alternative synthetic pesticides. To me, this seems to fall in the same category. A natural, relatively harmless ingredient to accomplish the same task as the more harmful, synthetic versions! Am I right? (Maybe I’m wrong, but don’t rub it in my face too much.)
THANK-YOU for this post! I use borax all the time and I love it! I would hate to give it up. Secondly, in selling cosmetics, people are beginning to question the use of borax. Now I feel I have an answer to their fears and hopefully be able to help squelch the overreaction to it.
Hello. Borax + hand soap is good for cleaning hands with grease. I even use the mixture as a body scrub when I take a bath. I also found baking soda + hand soap does the same effect.
As a young woman, I worked at a shipyard, and my skin was exposed to oil, soot and grease. Boraxo powdered hand soap was provided in dispensers at work, and I used it on both my hands AND my face for ten years. It was a great (and cheap) facial scrub.
I think what people are thinking of is Boric Acid, which is NOT the same. Boric acid is an ingredient in pest control. We use it in powder form at my house for ants and palmetto bugs (much like roaches).
A cockroach species commonly called a “palmetto bug” is the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana).
Hi Stephanie, i am not from the USA and we don’t have Walmart or Costco. I am actually buying from a private buyer who owns a laundry shop but does not have 20 Mule brand. They only has 3 Elephant brand (which is also from USA California) and sells it in 25kg sack. Thus i am wondering if anyone ever tried the 3 Elephant brand.
Hi Betty,
I can’t find 20 Mule team brand of borax here in our country. However, I did find the Three Elephant brand made by Searles Valley Mineral Company, also from California USA.
My question is, do you know whether they have the same ingredients except for the brand name? In order words, can I use 3 Elephant brand borax as an alternative to 20 Mule brand?
Hope to hear from you soon.
My local Walmarts (and the grocery store) carry 20 Mule Team
Hi Cherry. I have done extensive research regarding borax as well. For some reason (and my dr. doesn’t know why) my testosterone levels have plummeted. I have seen a few studies dating very far back that show some really good results for quite a few ailments one of which is testosterone. In my opinion these studies done long ago before the pharmaceutical industry put much effort into making such things natural or holistic seem like a joke or even as with the extent of borax they have accomplished to get it banned completely in many countries. I just started today to use it as a food supplement to see if I can achieve the study results for increasing free testosterone levels. Anyway the point I am trying to make is it depends on the country you live in as to whether it is completely banned or labelled as toxic and not readily available. If you have access to a brand alternate than 20 Mule, just look for it to say “all natural” u will see only one ingredient as well, which of course will be borax or sodium tetraborate.Betty is 100% accurate in the statement that it truly is not anymore toxic than regular table salt.
Your testosterone level may have dropped for a number of reasons. I’m sure your doctor told you this. It could be your pituitary gland is not producing the necessary hormones like luteinizing hormone that tells your testicles to make testosterone. This is nothing you should be self-treating. If the pituitary hormones in your blood have not been tested, you should have this done. Then your pituitary gland should be checked for a possible tumor.
Jeff
Well at least your two kids and your cats will survive. You are an irresponsible ignorant fool. I suggest you do more than your brief housewife research before recommending innocent people consume or be subject to such a harmful neurotoxin. You stupid bimbo idiot.
Well, Lucy, I’m not sure why you are so angry and rude (maybe you need more borax in your life!) but, perhaps, you should read Crunchy Betty’s article again. She is NOT recommending that people consume borax or otherwise be “subjected” to borax. She gave us some facts. She is letting us make up our own mind. Like intelligent human beings (yes, consider yourself exempt), it is up to us to make informed decisions. Use it – don’t use it . . . it’s entirely up to you. Thank you Crunchy Betty for your research. I have used borax for many years and plan to keep using it for many more years (just like they did in the “olden” days)! Cheers, Bess
Yes, perhaps a bit rude, but I’m tired of people taking no responsibility on the internet for giving advice that could put others in danger. Please read this from the US EPA. Please read it carefully!
“Boric acid and sodium borate salts exist as undissociated boric acid in aqueous solution at physiological pH. For this reason, they are considered together as a group for purposes of hazard and risk characterization and individual toxicology studies on each active ingredient are not required. The moiety of toxicological concern is boron. Dose comparisons are normalized by conversion to boron equivalents, allowing comparison of studies on boric acid or borax. Boric acid/sodium borate salts are well absorbed via the gastrointestinal tract and via inhalation, but not via the dermal route through INTACT skin. Boric acid/sodium borate salts distribute evenly across the body and do not accumulate in the soft tissue. A limited amount of literature exists on the mechanism of action on the testes and skeletal abnormalities and growth retardation. However, the exact mechanism of action is unknown.”
If you have any kind of skin disorder, eczema, acne, rash, chafed or irritated skin, your epidermal layer is most likely NOT intact. Then it gets in. Both are toxins.
Sodium Borate Salts (such as Borax)exist as undissociated boric acid in aqueous solution at physiological pH. i.e. in the human body. Boric acid is a neurotoxin.
Now if the EPA have conducted all of this strictly controlled scientific testing, why would you continue to take such a risk?
The abstract I linked to below showed boron/boric acid added to rat chow showed some health benefits in the rats.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20569927
“The B compounds decreased malondialdehyde (MDA), DNA damage, the protein carbonyl content (PCO) level in blood, and glutathione (GSH) concentration in the liver, Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activity in the kidney. The B compounds increased GSH concentration in blood and the vitamin C level in plasma. Consequently, our results demonstrate that B supplementation (100 mg/kg) in diet decreases LPO, and enhances the antioxidant defense mechanism and vitamin status.”
Dear Lucy,
While it’s nice of you to be trolling the internet and exposing those that provide “irresponsible advice” may I suggest that it is the responsibility of the consumer to educate him/herself on the products and routines he or she decides to implement. While the internet provides us with information at our fingertips, it is up to us to discern the validity and appropriateness of the content. Suggesting that people take responsibility for “bad” advice is akin to forfeiting your own responsibility as a consumer of that advice to do your homework. Furthermore, in an attempt to disseminate more reliable information, you have selectively left out the remainder of the EPA report that goes on to say that neurotoxicity was reported in rats only at high levels of ingested doses. It also says, “For inert uses, such as laundry detergent and general purpose cleaners, the residential exposures were calculated and the risks were not of concern for children.” In the spirit of educated consumerism, here is the entire EPA report: http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/boric_acid_tred.pdf
Cheers to Crunchy Betty for providing enlightening avenues to crunchiness (and a welcoming forum for discussion) while trusting that her readers are smart enough to come to their own conclusions.
Wow you have a little bit of misinformation there. I’m not going to go into it, suffice to say I think you’r a bit off track and kind of ornery young lady. I’ve been in the chemistry field for 51 years, and I hold 3 bachelors degrees a masters and a PH.D. Trust me when I say you are completely off your rocker dear.
Those if you who don’t know our water contains boron? Well it does. There are more harmful agents in man made washing detergents thine this natural one. The government is ran by big business so of course they don’t want you to use something natural and inexpensive. You negative people should really find something better to do. For me this was very helpful. Thanks
Wow Lucy…and I thought I was the only one who cared about the EPA…and their strictly controlled scientific testing procedures…
EPA! If you only knew how ridiculous this governmental controlled organization really is. I use to get hired to review their work, but they didn’t want someone that disagreed with anything, so I no longer am associated w/them. Considering our government’s present status and much of their past, I would take everything said w/a extra large grain of salt, maybe a whole mine of salt.
When you have the FDA and other government entities, dressed in full riot gear armed to the teeth raiding Amish farmers and others for selling raw milk to INFORMED, WILLING buyers, or the EPA using every means possible to steal private property from people, or skewing data in order to lie to the American people, I wouldn’t believe them no matter WHAT they wrote.
Oh, Lucy, Lucy, Lucy, I can see that you have passed the core competency test for “cut and paste.” Soon you will be working on your reading and comprehension. You will feel like such a big girl when you can read a big article like this one, and understand what they are saying.
For instance, today, you cut and pasted a whole paragraph that confirmed what Betty’s research showed; then, mistakenly argued against the very facts you pasted.
Here’s what I mean. Your post says, “Boric acid and sodium borate salts exist as undissociated boric acid in aqueous solution at physiological pH. … The moiety of toxicological concern is boron.”
Here is what Betty said: “Borax is not boric acid.”
So, good for you for confirming her assertion. And, you can use the dictionary to look up any words you don’t understand.
Oh, and when you read it again, you will see that she also said, “Sad hint: You still have to make up your own mind. I cannot say yes. And I cannot say no.”
Lastly, I suggest that you check out this link: http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/25-manners-every-kid-should-know-by-age-9-2480238.html
I hope you will, especially, notice #3 and #13; and both of us could work on #15.
Lucy…. SOME BODY BUILDERS AND PEOPLE IN THE OLYMPICS for decades….Supplement with it. Farmers used to take it to cure bone pain. If you have such trust in EPA studies and what the public gets to have or not depending on who makes the money on it…Look up one of the FDA approved blood pressure meds that have been used for decades as being perfectly safe…”Cumidine” then ask any old farmer “What is Cumidine…? He’ll tell you to where big rubber gloves when you put it in the barn to KILL THE RATS…! In ALL lab studies….%100 of rats died of bleeding to death if they kept giving them doses of cumidine..Its Rat poison. Wonder why they dont feed the rats Borax…? or prescribe Borax for bone disease, fungal infection, hormone imbalances…….because its all natural and they can NOT patent it. Cumidine is patented….Thats why most of our relatives on blood pressure meds will definately die from a stroke or heart attack… But it keeps them coming back…they never get better.
I agree. It isn’t worth the risk. Just because something is natural, does not mean it is good. Used to use borax on carpet stains / pet accidents. Wish I had heard the EPA information earlier. Just kept hearing how wonderfully old-fashioned and natural Borax is.
I do not see the necessity for name calling for any reason. I am an over 60 year old male that loves drinking green tea (iced) which does contain naturally, quite a bit of flouride. I drink several gallons per week and add 1/2 teaspoon of borax to each gallon of tea. I have been doing this for seven years. I am in perfect health and take no prescription medications. At each annual checkup I ask my doctor if I need to change anything in my diet and the answer is always the same. “Whatever you are doing keep it up” He has never asked about taking borax and it is such a non event I have never told him. However I assume his advice means to keep taking the borax. I am not a chemist, however I have a brother that is. The borax molecule is composted of sodium, boron, water and oxygen hardly anything to be calling anyone bad names over. Boron is a very important mineral but please do not over do it. Of course the same goes for the sodium, water and oxygen.
I agree with wht you said,I have been taking borax in small doses throughout my day
For months now,it only has one ingrediant and it’s natural from the earth
I think borax is the least of everyone’s problems,take a close look at our water,
And our genetically modified foods that people consume everyday,do the metal test on any box of cereal and see what you find(iron) actual metal not the absorbable supplement but iron the will stick to a magnet,look up truth about cereal .
The reason it says poison on it is to keep everyone from taking it internally,(it’s called being brainwashed), besides being a natural testosterone booster it also removes fluoride from the body,I could defiantly understand why a certain. Group of people would not want us to remove fluoride from the water,because they spend millions of dollars getting it in there. IfI put a skull and crossbones on mayonnaise and told you it keeps cockaroaches away
You would be very weary to put it on your sandwich(right??) there are tons of natural unorthodox ways of healing our body’s that have nothing to do with a prescription medications.(open your eyes everyone and really see the truth about what’s going in all around us,it will make you sick to your stomach on how we are getting brain washed every day from t.v and radio advertisements .
Thank you so much for this great article in Crunchybetty.
I would like to know how you ingest the borax for I have reumatoid arthritis and do not want to take meds. Thanks
Lucy,
You obviously have not clue what you are talking about. sodium tetraborate is NOT a neurotoxin, period. I am actually a healthcare practitioner well versed in neurotoxins, you must be the “brief housewife research” type. You should do some actually research in scientific articles, in an actual book and not the internet.
Boric acid and sodium borate salsas the author pointed out is a completely different compound all together. Never once did the author say anyone should consume sodium tetraborate. Your quotation you have taken from the EPA actually reaffirms the authors stand point. You should also do some more research about the EPA before you make many more decisions about the validity of any of their literature.
Kudos to you Annonymous. Very nicely said. Now can we refer Lucy to some research on manners and or proper research methods. Maybe even turn some of the passion she has for her beliefs into some regard for common feeling.
“You are an irresponsible ignorant fool. I suggest you do more than your brief housewife research before recommending innocent people consume or be subject to such a harmful neurotoxin. You stupid bimbo idiot.”
The Correct response would be……
“I believe that you have inadvertantly missed some information in your research. Here is a link to some more information you may have missed that could be of great help to your readers. I hope you will find this helpfull in your future research.”
However I do understand that sometimes the uneducated, unkind and unruly general public feel that manners are no longer important. Just rememnber this ignorant housefife quote “You can attract more flies with honey than you can vinegar”. Translation for the ignorant “If you want people to understand and see your side of things you should type it in a way that people will actual appreciate and acknowledge your statements.” As for now I feel your dim advise is as relevent as your bad attitude. Good Day to you and best regards.
Whilst trying to be polite, might I suggest that your repeated references to the “uneducated” and “dim” makes it sound as if you are elitist? Lucy may well be educated and arrogant, or educated but employed by a cleaning product firm. Being educated does not provide someone with automatic manners, just as being uneducated doesn’t bar someone from them. Might I also add that many people in the disability rights movement also find words like “dim” to be ableist and offensive. I hope we can all learn to speak in a more responsible manner.
Just another blip about our precious EPA. While in China, many Chinese companies showed me how to deal with th EPA and approvals. You just copy what large older companies have in their product submissions to the EPA and submit yours to read the same, even if it is loaded w/listed toxins. It is a submittal method that by passes all testing. And just think, we as TAX Payers, pay the EPA to pass the possible dangerous products from other countries and our own to end up on our grocery shelves looking like safe products. These submittal methods also exist in USDA, FDA, UL, NSF and many other government and private evaluation outfits that we, the public depend on to keep us safe. Want safe, grow it as close to organic and add nothing bought.
I began ingesting borax 5 months ago to treat candida that was causinga horrible autoimmunedisease. it worked. i feel great, zero negative effects side from the original die off effects.
Wow, I am completely caught off guard that someone would be so nasty about someone giving their opinion on a topic such as this based off information she found. She never once suggested anyone consume it. Actually, she said she didn’t recommend it. Anyone who reads this article is perfectly capable of doing their own research. They would have no one to blame but themselves if they don’t look into it for more before deciding. I would love to know what brief housewife research is? Housewives are unintelligent and/or don’t know how to do research?? I find it not only sad that rather than give more information on the topic you chose to spit venom and put down an entire group of people, housewives, and I haven’t the slightest clue what good any of that did for your concern or how it made anyone look stupid but you.
Wow.Just wow. Were you born with a toxic warning label attached? Just out of curiosity, what is the L.D. 50 for exposure to you?
LD50 is a medical code….”Lethal Dose over %50″ meaning at a specified dose over 50percent died. Its the code they use to ….Uuuuum… For example “Gabapentin” 60 years ago was a medication to treat epilepcy (SP) then it hit LD50 for that “Approved” treatment….So it was “Approved” for being an antiphycotic…Boom LD50 we’ll approve it as a Mood disorders…But can still use it as “Off label treatment of the former!” LD50 again…!!! Well we havent found anything that seems to do much for Nerve Pain…So women with Fibromyalgia and Men with siatica…Line up…. Its quit an efficient system.!! Never have to out law it. Oh..P.S. “Long Term” on medical statistic and terminology is a “Medical Term” …… It does NOT mean what Websters dictionary and your grade school teachers taught us. “Long Term” means 5.5 Years… So when you get there “Long Term” success rate a %3 Cancer success or Heart Surgery…. Now you know why..They cant really tell you what the real number is…That would keep them juggling those deadly meds way to much. Look it up.! Its crazy..Heart bypasses are handed out like adderall to toddlers in the hospitals now…. Do they work..? NO..! Every single heart Dr. in the world will tell you over drinks when no wearing a white coat…well what ever clogged his human artery was clogging the new one before i got him put back together…we’ll see him again. If they live a long healthy life..its because of how there living it.
Luni Lucy, it would have made so much more sense if you brought your knowledge about borax to this table. Anyways, it takes one Bimbo Idiot to know another but it’s never a good idea to judge. You may be totally off and find that you’re the only Bimbo Idiot at this table.
Ive researched 20 mule team borax for years, supplemented with it, used it for many, many things. Also a 45 year old former pro level boxer, former U.S.M.C. as well…. Myself and all of the bodybuilders ive known to use it…Have had nothing but better health and less sickness as well as all are Alpha types with high Male Hormone levels..How much research have you ever truly done on it Lucy. Are you by chance in the medical field….????? Im also a natural healing expert and do consulting with Scientist that are world renowned as in they go from country to country sharing the most effective and cheapest hidden forms of healing. “The Borax Conspiracy” is a good read for you to start with Lucy. Maybe even help you.
In Canada (I do not know what country Cherri is) you can get 20 Mule Borax in NoFrills stores. On the lowest shelf in detergents:)) Walmart does not carry it in my country
Hope this help a little
http://educate-yourself.org/cn/boraxconspiracy03jul12.shtml
How confusing! I read someplace on line about putting Borax on the carpet for fleas. Now I don’t know if I should do it or not. I have two house dogs. 10 and 14 years old. Frontline works for about 2 weeks and then we start seeing fleas. Should I use it on the carpet or not?
I don’t know for sure or if there was a mistype, but I think the comment in question was regarding boric acid, which isn’t the same as borax (see post). That said, I don’t know much about fleas/dogs/borax all together, so there’s not much else I can add to the conversation. 😉
https://www.omsi.edu/sites/all/FTP/files/kids/Borax-msds.pdf
Hey CBetty,
I have been doing research to try and inform people that using Sodium Borate in our products is okay and I had a smile on my face the whole time I read your article. You have just put everything together that I have just read on several (heaps) of articles in one informative place.
*Thank You*
Sodium Borate is the only preservative we use in our products other than essential oils and people question us. So for me to be able to reference your site as yet another balance article for our potential customers to read makes me very happy.
Can’t wait to read more. 🙂
xo
Anna
Thank you, Betty. That bit was very helpful. I am planning to make my own detergent, but boric acid was making me nervous, and I wasn’t sure how borax was different/different enough. You’ve been a big help.
THANK YOU FOR THIS POST!!! thankyouthankyouthankyou, this answered about a gazillion and one questions!
Boric Acid is not harmfull to humans. Insects such as ants are poisoned by boric acid. Eye drops are often based from boric acid. Check the ingredients on Murine and Visine and many more eye drop products especially those meant to treat pink eye.
Based on this assumption that boric acid is not harmful to humans, I used it to rid my dog from fleas. I dusted the carpet in the area where the dog slept, left it for week, vacuumed the carpet and reapplied it. After more than a month, the dog got better, after three months he was free from fleas.
Meanwhile, I began experiencing some symptoms that worsened as the months went on. I also noticed that the dog began having very dry, scaly skin. After six months, the symptoms became almost debilitating, and yet not for a moment did I make the connection to the boric acid, because after all, it was safe for humans.
After six months, I stumbled by accident on a website that said that boric acid is not safe for humans and listed the symptoms of boric acid poisoning. I had almost all of the symptoms.
I stopped using boric acid. After two months, all the symptoms subsided. Also, the dog’s skin is back to normal.
Now we use diatomaceous earth once in a couple of months. No more fleas on the dog.
Yes. While it is safe, it is very irritating. You can see that listed as a side effect if you do some digging.
I have had excellent results with Borax on all kinds of ants. A couple heaping teaspoons on the mound usually does the trick, huge mounds might require a second pass. Pets ignore it once an initial unpleasant sniff is done.
Thanks – I found this while researching Borax myself today.
Thanks for this! I feel better now.
I mean… REALLY?? What CAN we use, eh?
Bicarbonate of soda is also an old product that was used years ago, does the same as Borax
Thank you so much for this! I had the same concerns seeing all this “homemade, organic” laundry soap and stuff! Thanks for taking a TON of time to find all this info! I’m saving this page and will be sharing with everyone!
Thank you very much for the research and posting of your thoughts. I was going to use it to make “goo” or “slime” for my 2.5 year old. I will not leave him alone with it. Was your only concern with kids the possibility of them eating it or would you also keep them away from touching it? Thanks again!!
any thoughts on how it does to treat a lice out break?….. Anyone? I am sick of dealing with this with my kids (all 3 girls so shaving their heads IS NOT an option) because other parents don’t take the necessary actions to rid their children of them so they bring them to school and my kids get them, on the bright side, atleast i know my kids are clean enough to get them because lice prefer clean hair as opposed to dirty hair (of which i have already tried letting them go without washing it for 2 weeks, it’s all i could stand). Please if there’s anyone that knows if this is affective on lice, let me know 🙂
We have used diatomaceous earth (food grade). My daughter has very long hair and cutting it short or shaving it was not an option (as you mentioned). So, after all kinds of natural remedies attempts, my daughter decided to use the DE. After a week, she started to have bites again, though we couldn’t find any eggs or lice, so there must have been a couple of lice that emerged somewhere. She repeated the treatment three more times at 4 days intervals and she has not had bites and itching since then.
I told her to apply it sparingly, as I saw it recommended online. But she was so determined to be done with these pests, that she doused her hair with the powder and left it on for about 4-6 hours, and then washed it off.
She did not have the option of leaving it longer because she had to go to school, work, etc. and she did not want to sleep on it and breathe it in. But, since the school is over for the summer, maybe your daughters should apply the DE sparingly in the hair and let it stay for a day or two.
Thanks for doing the research!
I’m not worried about borax. From everything I have been able to find about it, it seems to me that the EU’s ban is a tad bit of an overreaction. (I went through college organic chemistry so I can read a lot of scientific literature and understand it.) To be on the safe side, I will refrain from eating it, I will be careful about breathing too much in when I am making laundry detergent, and I won’t give it to children to play with. 3 generations of my husband’s family used borax in their households and the youngest of them that died of natural causes was 83. (The oldest was 107, most lived into their early 90s.)
no not a big deal. Borax is great but I wouldn’t eat it, there are other options to get your alkalinity up. 😉
I’ve noticed when I use my homemade laundry soap (with borax) then switch to a store bought detergent, my washer smells so bad! I often wondered if the borax kept my washer clean and the store stuff mucks it up!?
I tried to buy Borax here in Germany, they only sell it in Chemists and don’t sell it customers of they want to use it for cleaning purposes. If it is practically banned here, I can’t imagine that it is totally without reason. Is it possible that Americans search for reasons why Borax is safe because it is mined in America – support local and all?? Not wanting to stir the pot, just putting a thought out there!
Very interesting article, thanks for posting. I have been reading up on greywater systems and they recommend not using borax in laundry due to its toxicity to plants and insects.
Better late than never 😉 thank you for this informative article!
I´m just researching over borax to write a blog post about it, too, Since I see it beeing reccomended on Pintersest for many things, like laundry detergent or even as ingredient for a winter kids craft.
Borax is banned here in the EU since 2010 for any private use, meaning, one can´t buy it in stores anymore. Reason behind this ban is, that borax seems to affect the human body in many ways – negatvely: it changes the human genome, threatens unborn children, pregnant, breastfeeding and menopause having women. The worst points are the genome changnig thing and the danger of miscarriage or defects during pregnancy for unborn life, I think.
So I personally would not use it in my for what ever detergentand, even if I could buy it anymore and I usually look for my cosmetics beeing borax free. And I surely never would use it for kids crafts.
A chemical (and borax is one, even if it´s made by nature) that can harm ones genomes usually won´t show any visible health issues at the affected person, But it could cause serious future health issues for their children, as they grow up. Maybe this could make us rethink, if we really want/ need to use borax? I dont talk about Borax as a supplement for any health treatment, I´m thinking of the amounts used for washing your clothes ( just think about your baby sucking on their bib or burb clothes, which – to think this further- could affect your future grandchildren in some decades), for washing your dishes, cleaning your floor, putting it in your cosmetics and so on… how much of it ends on and finally in our body? I don´t think, we can count this, so I personally prefer to play safe here and skip it. I make my own laundry detergent for example – without borax – only washing soda, soap and water, and I never heard any complains about it 😉
xoxo, Mone
Can’t tell how old this comment is but I’d feel bad if I didn’t say anything, at the thought of all the effort you may be spending trying to avoid this and/or the risk of you sharing misinformation and perhaps the wrong person resorts to using actual carcinogenic products instead of Borax.
I’m not sure if the studies cited here incite the exact studies I found in my research, but her conclusion and Shaukat are the same (than you, by the way, this really helped compliment my findings!!)
I urge you to research directly instead of taking the information you mentioned out of context. I don’t have a link to the studies offhand, but I can assure you if you look you will find these ditectly; I’ve taken this from another website as it summarizes well (educate-yourself.org). Sorry, long:
Government health agencies are concerned about boron toxicity. You might be concerned as well if you read the following, pertaining to sodium chloride(or more commonly known as table salt (17):
‘Acute oral toxicity (LD50 – the dose at which half of the tested animals die): 3,000 mg/kg [Rat]. Chronic Effects on Humans: Mutagenic for mammalian somatic cells. Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact, ingestion or inhalation. Lowest Published Lethal Oral Dose in Man: 1000 mg/kg. Causes adverse reproductive effects in humans (fetotoxicity, abortion) by intraplacental route, may increase risk of Toxemia of Pregnancy in susceptible women. May cause adverse reproductive effects and birth defects in animals, particularly rats and mice – fetotoxicity, abortion, musculoskeletal abnormalities, and maternal effects (on ovaries, fallopian tubes). May affect genetic material (mutagenic). Ingestion of large quantities can irritate the stomach with nausea and vomiting. May affect behavior (muscle spasicity/contraction, somnolence), sense organs, metabolism, and cardiovascular system. Continued exposure may produce dehydration, internal organ congestion, and coma.’
Now compare the sodium chloride toxicity with the Material Safety Data Sheet or MSDS for borax (18):
‘Low acute oral toxicity; LD50 in rats 4,500 to 6,000 mg/kg of body weight. Reproductive/developmental toxicity: Animal feeding studies in rat, mouse and dog, at high doses, have demonstrated effects on fertility and testes. Studies with boric acid in the rat, mouse and rabbit, at high doses, demonstrate developmental effects on the fetus, including fetal weight loss and minor skeletal variations. The doses administered were many times in excess of those to which humans would normally be exposed. No evidence of carcinogenicity in mice. No mutagenic activity was observed in a battery of short-term mutagenicity assays. Human epidemiological studies show no increase in pulmonary disease in occupational populations with chronic exposures to borate dust and no effect on fertility.’
Here you see that table salt is 50 to 100% more toxic than borax. Table salt changes the genetic material and is mutagenic, while borax is harmless in this regard. Infants are most at risk from high borax ingestion. It has been estimated that 5 to 10 grams can cause severe vomiting, diarrhoea, shock and even death, but it also says that lethal doses are not well documented in the literature.
The following toxicity data are from documents of the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control(19, 20).
A review of 784 accidental human poisonings from 10 – 88 grams of boric acid reported no fatalities, with 88% of cases being asymptomatic, meaning they did not notice anything. However, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, and central nervous system effects, dermatitis, erythema, and death have been observed in some children and adults exposed to more than 84 mg boron/kg, corresponding to more than 40 grams of borax for 60 kg of body weight.
Animal studies have identified reproductive toxicity as the most sensitive effects of boron ingestion. Exposure of rats, mice, and dogs for several weeks showed some damage to the testes and sperm at doses of more than 26 mg boron/kg which corresponds to 15 grams of borax/day for 60 kg body weight.
Most at risk is the developing foetus, and in the studied animals rats were most affected. In one study slight reductions in the foetal body weight were already found at 13.7 mg boron/kg/day used during pregnancy. The [has] no effect dose was set at less than 13.7 mg/kg/day corresponding to about 7 grams of borax per day for 60 kg body weight. With an added safety factor, a no effect value of 9.6 mg boron/kg/day was calculated corresponding to 5 grams of borax for 60 kg.
However, a rat study lasting for 3 generations found no reproductive toxicity or effect on the parents or offspring at 30 mg boron/kg/day. This dose corresponds to 17 grams of borax for 60 kg ingested for 3 generations! In another 3-generation study no problem was found at 17.5 mg boron/kg/day, corresponding to 9 grams of borax/60 kg, while the next higher tested dose of 58.5 mg/kg/day, corresponding to 30 grams of borax/60 kg, resulted in infertility. Therefore we can assume that the safe reproductive dose is up to about 20 grams/60 kg/day.
Human studies of the possible association between impaired fertility and high boron levels in water, soil and dust in a Turkish populations, and boron mining and processing workers, found no effect. One study even reported elevated fertility rates in borax production workers as compared to the U.S. national average.
All this is important because possible reproductive toxicity is the official reason for the present assault on borax. The sodium chloride MSDS mentioned above also states: “While sodium chloride has been used as a negative control in some reproductive studies, it has also been used as an example that almost any chemical can cause birth defects in experimental animals if studied under the right conditions.” Keep this in mind when you read the following.
It’s good stuff. Sometimes we (some people) obsess over the benign things while we’re not even aware of things that can do serious harm.
I made my first batch of laundry detergent over the weekend, using borax. Thanks for posting this, very helpful information.
If you still have concerns about borax after all this, you can just eliminate it from your diy dish detergent. Washing soda is stronger, so I just use that alone with vinegar in the rinse cycle. Simple, and works well for me!
I’ve been making my laundry powder and wasn’t sure whether I wanted to use the borax recipe. Thank you for sharing your home research results, they have eased my mind and I may try it out.
Thank you for doing all of this research! I recently purchased some borax to make my own laundry detergent. I love all of these great ideas, and I now feel better about using it (I was a little unsure) =).
Just started using Borax with Washing Soda as a detergent. Love, love, love. Especially when I add vinegar in the rinse cycle as a fabric softner. ( 1/2 C vinegar in Downey Ball at beginning of cycle works great)
I started using Borax as a diluted cleaning agent on my granite counter tops. I was shocked at how squeeky clean they were. I washing with the borax solution and then wipe down with a clean wet cloth, dry with a towel. Amazing results and my stainless steel sink sparkles.
My only suggestion would be to use rubber gloves when using as a cleaning solution.
Remember our grandmothers used these products daily because they didn’t have all the fancy, new fangled detergents. All my grandma’s lived very, very long lives.
Thank so much for your article! Between it and all the comments here I feel I can go ahead with my skin cream….I’m using the Borax as an emulsifier for my bees wax that I will be using in my formula. Thanks again!
Very helpful information. Thank you.
Thank you for laying out this info on borax concisely and clearly and helping me to make an informed decision on continuing to use it in the dishwasher and laundry detergents that I make. I had leaned toward fine with it and am now very much at ease with it. Cayenne pepper sounds way more dangerous!
I have been using the Fragrance Crystals from Purex to scent my laundry as well, its pretty strong, so I use the amount for a smaller load on the big loads
I have never cleaned with Borax, never occurred to me. Will definitely be trying it out. But me and my family have always use Boric Acid as an insect killer in the house. We even would finely dust our couches with it, and we had dogs that were allowed on those couches. We never had any problems with it, nor did the dogs. So I’m thinking if the more toxic of the two, Boric Acid, isn’t a horrible as rumors liken to believe, I’m sure as long as you treat it as you would any other cleaner,i.e. keep it on a high shelf away from children, and you know NOT use it as a main ingredient in a dinner, it’s safe. I will def be picking up a box the next time i go to the store.
Thankfully, Borax is toxic to houses and couches infested with fleas! hehe Maybe it is the ratio? I think it is actually a drying process, like that powdered Earth they sell for flea control, which is made out of ground shells??? I think? 🙂
My opinion, is this: compared to all the things out there, everywhere, this is SAFE. Like I would not hesitate to use baking soda, I will not hesitate to use this. I think I will go get a box… *grin*
Just got my first Borax is toxic alert Betty and, I somehow knew you would have the skinny on this! Great research and resources. Regarding dishwasher residue, I use 1/2 teaspoon of citric acid to the powder and add white vinegar to the rinse aid compartment plus 1 TBSP to the load when ready to wash. No residue, best sparkle I’ve seen. .•´.•´¨) ¸.•¨)
(¸.•´(¸.•´ (¸.•* *•♪♫•*¨*
Dear Crunch Betty,
Sadly we are forced to become politically correct when looking at substances from nature while anything stewed up in a laboratory is free from concern when certified by a medicinal producer and quickly rubber stamped approved by the govt. For those who follow Allopathic heroic medicine, take your drugs, do not take minerals and vitamins, avoid fats, eat lots of grains, legumes and high carb vegetable root crops and count on the safe instructions of your doctor.
For those who do their research (hat off to you CBetty) and reach back to the natural practices prior to the relentless onslaught of the Carnegie, Rockefeller, Rothschild conglomerate continue on with your research and avoid the money interests.
Borax is as Betty says, bad only in unreasonable quantities but similarly safe to the mindful use of salt, baking soda, vinegar, water or any other substance one puts in their mouths for nourishment. Chemical fertilizers leech natural minerals from our soils and the uptake is that plants don’t get the natural minerals from soils they used to get and we don’t manufacture minerals and vitamins out of breathing air.
But I have done my research too, and though it took me a while to get over my fears I now dissolve my borax in boiling water, then mix it with a strong solution of vitamin C powder, an acid, and then I imbibe the equivalent of a quarter teaspoon throughout the day with my two meals. The benefits are clear to those who get enough borax/boron in their foods, which is unlikely to happen without such supplementation. I also use the powder in my shoes to stay odour and to be absorbed, if it is possible, through my skin. It is used in our homemade bathing solutions, our dishwasher and our washing machine as well. As happens with salt, that which is not used is excreted.
Here is the insanity, and may be off topic, but it gets to the point. Cutting, burning and poisoning does not get rid of cancer, but it assures billions from our pockets to the interests and miserable death to the partakers sooner rather than later. These three witches have been used for over a century (first radiation to cancer, 1899, the poisons used came from the poisons used in WWII concentration camps) yet the medical profession continues to tout them and spurn any recourse that comes from nature. At what point will this terrorism end? What thoughts go through the mind of doctors on their death bed knowing they earned their fortunes cutting, burning and poisoning and furthering the misery of those whom they professed to help? Some don’t care, some just avoid the thought, others must end their hours in remorse.
Do your own research people or stay fast to your doctor’s hip. The choice is yours but when you see loved ones and friends dying before their times and if the same horror visits you, watch how quickly the doctors close their doors to discussion on what went wrong.
It is time to set political correctness to the bin and take action by doing your own research, as our good Betty has done. There are solutions to medical problems but they will not be found in your doctor’s office.
Mhikl, you really made a thoughtful comment and I’d like to research on what you say about the history of modern medical science. I have been using and learning about essential oils for over a year now, and am amazed at the power that nature has given us in medicinal herbs and other plants. I have gone against my doctor’s prescription recommendation to give my baby boy a synthetic thyroid medicine. At only 2 months old, his thyroid numbers were just barely out of normal range. I started to use frankincense and lemongrass essential oils on him daily. After a month, we had his blood tested and the number was in the normal range! I then informed the doctor that I had not been using the medicine, and told him about the essential oils. He didn’t like it. He was nice, but it made him very insecure because “there hasn’t been much research about those lotions” and “it is hard to measure how much you’re putting on”. I told him that I was okay with getting him tested more often than normal just to set our minds at ease. Essential oils are really the newest (while at the same time, the OLDEST), most exciting advancement in holistic/alternative medicine! Soon everyone will have heard of them and the goal of the company I am affiliated with is to have “a healer in every home”. If you would like to learn more about the safest, purest, “beyond organic” essential oils, post on my facebook page and I’d be happy to help you learn more. There is a GREAT home business opportunity available as well, with fairly minimal startup cost. Thanks for sharing your wisdom!
Robin, I did not get any notice that you had replied to my post so I am not sure you will get this. But regarding your little guy. Essential oils get a big yes from me. Here is another dude who knows his business and he does not charge for his wonderful knowledge. He is a Canadian naturopath and may be the best of his kind, anywhere. He is so well informed he puts most to shame. He is also a character. He also has an answer for your little guy and his thyroid, an addition to what you have been doing that is extremely important. This is the specific site on how to make your own Lugol’s Iodine and how to use it. The rest of his sites are as wonderfully insightful and healthful, especially in these times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3W8SjmA4qw
You will see what a colourful guy he is.
So much of his work is on YouTube-just follow the links.
Here is his own site: http://augmentinforce.50webs.com/index.htm#HOME
Namaste and care,
mhikl
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
The conspiracy theorist in me would argue that ‘borax toxicity’ is an argument used by large corporations/manufacturers of cleaning products…in the hopes that you will ditch any effort to make your own detergent and buy their costly products, most of which use petrochemicals and definitely do contain toxic ingredients….I’m sticking with my borax, thank you very much. My grandparents used it and they lived well and to a ripe old age.
By the way, my favourite method of scrubbing a bathtub is to cut a lemon in half and use it with borax to clean the tub! It removes soap residue and leaves the tub smelling wonderful.
Per the Google search I just did, borax has a lower pH (is less alkaline) than antacids or even baking soda.
Anything can be a skin irritant. Tea tree oil makes my skin blister and peel off; castor oil does that to my mother. Most detergents bother me, too. (Soap nuts don’t, so far…) But if it’s the alkalinity that’s causing then irritation, then baking soda should bother you, too. *shrug*
Thank you for this! I have always wondered the difference between borax and boric acid but so many “pro” sites make it confusing so it is hard to keep track. I want to start making my own homemade everything, just needing more confirmation on borax being safe to use, so this and all the comment are so helpful!
I had a mild skin infection on my face and the dermatologist I saw recommended a hot compress (1 cup warm water + 1/2 tsp Borax). I used it for ~5 days and my skin cleared up! I say it’s safe, but as mentioned multiple times in this article — do not use it excessively.
Thank you, thank you! Trying to reduce toxins in our home, and laundry detergent is next…but all the recipes I found had borax and the danger warnings in the comments. This was so helpful in making up my mind, and as I keep replacing products in my home!
Thank you!!! This was really helpful. Settled a 9 person discussion here at work. 🙂
Thank you for this. I am starting to make my own laundry detergent and had some concerns if whether borax was safe or not. Great article!
How safe is the homemade laundry detergent (1c borax, 1c washing soda, 1 bar soap & 2 gallons water) with Borax for infants & children?
This was super informative. Thank you for such good information!
“In fact, the largest borax (borate) mine in the world – found in Boron, California – is considered by many to be the most ecologically sound and environmentally sustainable mine in the United States. This is also the mine where 20 Mule Team comes from.” Well yes, of course it’s ecologically sound and sustainable. It’s in DEATH VALLEY, where it’s pretty difficult to damage the landscape. Also, if the European Union is on record as flagging Borax as one of it’s ‘Substance(s) of Very High Concern’, I’m going to stay away from it. This labeling will state that Borax “may damage fertility” and “May damage the unborn child”. Europe is leading the way in keeping the Earth a cleaner, healthier place, from labeling Genetically Modified Food to keeping toxic substances out of their food and water supply. Since I use DIY cleaners for health reasons and not just frugality, I’m going to stay away from Borax and I suggest you and all your readers do the same. Isn’t it better to be safe than sorry?
I think if there was something to the whole “damaging fertility” thing, they would have evidence of it by now. People have been using this stuff forever.
I am all for green cleaners, but you’d be surprised at how many “green” cleaners actually hide ingredients that are not so great for you. I read a consumer report recently about green household cleaners, and sadly a majority of them got failing grades for being not so “green” and safe to use.
At least when you make your own detergent this way, you know what’s in it, and you can make an accurate decision as to whether or not you think it’s safe.
Having green products these days is all the rage, so I wouldn’t put it past too many companies to try to push a “green” product that isn’t exactly all that green, just to get into the market. Plus, being a new market, the exact definition of a “green” is evolving, and may have different requirements next year that take whatever product you’re using now, off the market.
If you read an MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for the “green” products you use, they would probably have similar warnings as the one you described for Borax. Most MSDSs over exaggerate the health warnings, so that people who mishandle chemicals will know what the greatest extent of damage could be, should they decide to ingest a gallon of it, or take a bath in it.
I work for a chemical company, so I see warnings like this daily, you just have to put these kinds of warnings in perspective. Anything can be lethal in a large enough dose, so labeling something as “toxic” when you have to ingest 5 pounds of the substance for every 100lbs of body weight is rather ridiculous.
Everyone should do their own research and decide on their own whether they would like to trust a company producing a “green” product, which may or may not list everything contained within, or they can choose to make their own concoction. That’s the beauty of this country… we are free to choose for ourselves.
I put 1 Tsp in a quart of water and take about 2 to 3 Teaspoonfuls a day. The very first day I had more energy, so did my wife. My arthritis pain is almost gone in only 4 days! And it has iincreased both our sex drives wich is a pleasant surprise:) Table salt is 50% more toxic than Borax. Borax is a godsend for painridden people!
Bruce that’s fantastic!
I was very undecided whether Borax was a safe alternative to chemicals too – UNTIL TODAY when I was talking to my naturopath (who is amazingly also a trained medical doctor amongst his masses of natural therapy qualifications). He confirmed that 10-12 drops of borax a day is all that is needed to fix arthritis. He went into an explanation of how it works on a cellular level (which I have forgotten) and to note that if you took it without arthritis it would put a little strain on your liver so you would need to counter this with a liver cleanser.
So, I figure if it’s safe to consume, it’s definitely safe for my cleaning products then!!
Don’t forget to combine the boron with magnesium for a complete treatment for arthritis.
A very informative article! Had to do some research on my own to determine benefits of Borax. Bruce and Zinta, I was wondering where do you guys purchase your borax supplement? Is 20 Mule Team Borax any different from borax supplement? thank you in advance!
The box warns not to take internally.
Europe leads the way in wasting cash and doing foolish things like supporting Kings and Queens – get a grip man.
Now this is actually a convo about borax but since you brought it up—-
You should take a look here about what it really cost to support the Queen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhyYgnhhKFw
Now enough with the diversions and agendas and let’s talk about borax.
Betty, I loved this blog…is it ok that I linked to it on mine? Hope so. Because it is freakin’ good! Nice job with the research!
Yes, I do think it’s a big deal. You shouldn’t have downplayed its toxicity by comparing it to salt. You’re probably not going to die from eating a teaspoon of salt, but a teaspoon of borax could prove fatal (especially for a child); two teaspoons – not much more of a leap, with children and their random handfuls of things – and serious harm or death is even more likely.
Bottom line: KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN AND PETS.
http://crunchybetty.com/still-dont-actually-eat-your-dishwasher-detergent – Please do read that, for a personal story regarding this issue.
In a nutshell, Poison Control very much disagrees with what you just said. However, I’m open to seeing research that shows two teaspoons of borax is fatal for children.
in fact, if you read the post carefully, you’ll see that it was a teaspoon of a dilution of one teaspoon to a quart of water – quite a different matter.
Thank you so much for doing the in-depth research for me! I trust you and the commenters below enough to reach the conclusion that Borax is fine to use moderately.
Wow! Great info… I was definitely wondering about what borax and boric acid have in common. I made my own laundry detergent last week and am loving it. I was worried about using the borax since I also water my yard with what drains. My mother put moth balls (which are made partly of boric acid) in her garden to ward off snakes! I told her, REPEATEDLY, how awful moth balls are but she doesn’t seem to care. Anyway, thanks!
I also use borax to get rid of ants. I think borax is dangerous if you let pets eat it, but so could other household cleaners. Just use common sense and keep the borax away from pets and children who might be tempted to put it in their mouth. Otherwise, I would rather use borax and sugar to kill ants as opposed to costly and truly toxic ant and bug sprays.
thank you! best info i’ve come across after being in the same boat as you!
Hi, I’m inclined to agree with you about borax not being all that toxic but I read something recently that contradicts that. I realize that borax and boric acid are different, and that boric acid is the really toxic of the two. But boric acid is made by combining hydrochloric or sulfuric acid with borax. Well gastric (stomach) acid contains hydrochloric acid. I’m not sure what the concentration of it is, so I don’t really know what effect that has on the toxicity of it. Like many others, I’m just confused and trying to get answers. I’m inclined to think it can’t be all that toxic because people in the olden days used to ingest small amounts of it for (supposed) health benefits. And some people still do that, so I’m not sure how poisonous it really is.
Confused is putting it mildly . Too bad our schools don’t teach chemistry anymore. Wikipedia is one site which tries to be balanced. Read it first.
Some Chemistry : Actually, boric acid is not all that toxic. Dilute solutions are used as an eyewash and the powder has been used for athletes foot. The salt, ‘Borax’ is a very weak alkali, which means it readily turns into the acid under pretty mild conditions. The PKa of Boric acid is 9.2, which means that at body pH (~7.0) borax WILL be in the acid form . The quantities you soak in will be
converted to boric acid by your own body .
You like to be scared ? Not to worry, the EU has recently decided
Boric acid IS hazardous “H360FD (May damage fertility. May damage the unborn child .)”
……………………………………. So it’s safe to panic if you like to panic..
Borax does have the advantage that it is not made by Dow Chemical ;
on the other hand maybe the revolt against chemistry has been a bit overdone …. otherwise we would have banned fire back in the
stone age ( Fire IS a lot more dangerous than your detergent,
and it’s carcinogenic as well ….)
My recommendation? Get some perspective. Use Borax or any other ‘Chemical’ that has a reasonable safety record. Use them as tools for their intended purpose, Follow the instructions on the package
….. oh yes, and don’t sweat over internet cancer warnings . The internet
is a perfect megaphone for every lost soul with a cause . That is why I suggest starting with Wikipedia.
Hate to burst your bubble, but Wikipedia is so unreliable when it comes to any product that competes with Big Pharma or Big Chem. Just beware. I have seen information from published, peer-reviewed, double blind studies removed on Wikipedia because they did not support the drug or the chemical. So just beware, Big Pharma, Big Chem are everywhere and they do give large donations to Wikipedia.
If you think Wikipedia gives honest advise/information on alternative cures or medicine think again and do some research. The likes of quackwatch have people actively dissing alternatives to drugs and what is considered mainstream medicine, they work hard at ensuring the information posted on Wikipedia is biased towards drugs and big pharm.
“on the other hand maybe the revolt against chemistry has been a bit
overdone …. otherwise we would have banned fire back in the
stone age” . . . Yeah, really. I came across this site looking for reports on using granular borax (NOT boric acid; saying borax is boric acid is like saying salt is hydrochloric acid) as a safer alternative to conventional pesticides, and you’d think by hearing some of these people that it’ll render you sterile and give your cat tumors. Frankly, the stuff has a lower LD50 in mice than table salt.
And yes, for a general primer Wikipedia is an invaluable resource. Most people who whinge on about (editorially independent) Wikipedia being manipulated by certain interests (hell, those who whinge on about scientific conspiracy theories in general) either don’t understand how research works (“It’s peer-reviewed”, or my current favorite, “contains a clinically studied ingredient”), create false equivalencies between positions (“Well, 20 well-executed studies say this, but one with questionable methodology says that, so there’s equal proof!”) , or look for boogeymen behind every shadow (Really, Quackwatch is an arm of Big Pharma? A single doctor working out of his home in his spare time?).
In fact, I think QuackWatch explained my position fairly well in a quote from the AMA:
“There is no alternative medicine. There is only scientifically
proven, evidence-based medicine supported by solid data or unproven
medicine, for which scientific evidence is lacking. Whether a
therapeutic practice is “Eastern” or “Western,”
is unconventional or mainstream, or involves mind-body techniques
or molecular genetics is largely irrelevant except for historical
purposes and cultural interest.”
I’ll be the first to try an unconventional (I hate “alternative”; alternative to what?) remedy, but science is science.
Sorry for the threadjack. Excellent article; I’m glad somebody is putting things in perspective and doing a bit of research instead of just stating opinions and feelings.
Make that a HIGHER LD50. Lower toxicity. I swear I know this stuff. 🙂
As an engineer and professional researcher and writer, I have to agree that Wikipedia is a very poor source for research. Biased and propaganda-based. Its on the same level as snopes or factcheck. Worthless. Look at the studies themselves and don’t look to others to spoon-feed you your opinions.
I would like to know if you consider products such as Fleabusters (which are made from a “Borax derivitave” safe for pets when used on carpets in large quantities, as it is when they apply it? Also, if borax is different than boric acid, how do you know if a borax product “has” boric acid in it, or not? Thank you!
Thank you SO much for posting some reliable, scientific material to clarify this matter!!
I read several reports by the FDA & U.S. government that recommended reducing Vitamin D levels in milk and supplements because they “might cause health problems”. Several months later the reports from independent sources began coming out on the immense benefits of Vitamin D. I never saw any FDA or U.S. government recommendations on reducing Vitamin D levels after that. Now when I see This and other governments and their minions suddenly demonizing Borax I immediate bought some and started taking small and sane amounts orally. I can tell the difference in many beneficial ways as I am an old white guy that likes to be VERY physically and mentally active. It seems to help me not be sore after a couple hundred pushups or after doing intense mental exercises (brain sore!).. no kidding. Anyone who depends mostly upon the FDA or government or corporate reports on health information is a lost mental zombie. A soul-less apathetic doomed robotic tape recorder of propaganda. I shouldn’t be too hard on the zombies. I was one once. It takes a lot of work to wake up, but it’s worth it. It just takes a preference for the Truth over convenience, popularity, and easy habits. Good luck to all you Truth seekers and non-zombies! John Eagle
Thanks for a great post. I just found this in my search for a non-borax laundry detergent. I agree with everything you posted. My main issue with borax doesn’t affect everyone – I have eczema and extremely reactive skin. I’m afraid that I’ll have a skin irritation from the borax, and for me it usually takes a few weeks to months to know for sure and then I have to rewash everything in my wardrobe. Ugh. So, I’m looking for something with ingredients that are very low on the skin irritant scale. If you don’t have skin issues, I don’t see the reason to not use Borax.
Walter Last just wrote an article on Borax in Nexus Magazine also…
Thank you very much for doing the legwork on this. I recently rediscovered borax & have been very pleased with how it helps my environmentally-correct laundry habits result in actually clean clothes.
Thank you for this!!!!! Seriously, I have been perplexed by this very question for ages. Now, on to make my laundry detergent! 🙂
Apparently, the accusations of borax being unsafe came from pharmaceutical companies who were informed that borax is an effective treatment at 30mg/day for osteoarthritis.
http://www.health-science-spirit.com/borax.htm
btw, that is for ingestion.
Thank you. I was just going to link this article, myself. 🙂
Thank you. I was just going to link this article, myself. 🙂
I just heard that borax is now supposed to be bad for you and did a search which lead me to your article. I’m 63 years old. All my own baby clothes were washed in Borax (20 Mule Team, thank you) as were all my childrens (8 of them) clothing when they were babies. Common sense told me that it was not dangerous, nor something that caused infertility (7 grand-babies so far) but I just wanted to check further. I do know that it is used as a pesticide (ant, roaches, spiders) when small children and pets are not an issue. I am sure it never occurred to my mother to feed it to us as it never occurred to me to feed it to my children so I think the poison issue is kind of covered.Thanks for the affirmation!
As far as I know, the reason people suggest to use Borax for killing insects like that is because the fine crystals cause tiny cuts in the skin/exoskeleton of the insects which eventually leads to them drying out and dying. Or something to that effect. I’m pretty sure the insects don’t eat it, so it’s just a mechanical use of the chemical structure to get rid of these insects. Either way, I wouldn’t consider Borax a poison. lol
The ants do eat the borax and if you make your dose low enough they will carry it to their nest and the whole colony will die. The reason I found was that borax makes them gassy and since they cant pass gas they die.
Exoskeletons have tiny holes called spiracles. Insects breath through these holes. The fine dust blocks the holes.
That would be the same way diatomaceous earth works. It kills flea larva, but the food grade can be ingested by both humans and animals and will kill internal parasites.
I think the pesticide use is for boric acid. Correct me if I’m wrong, please…
Thank you so much for this informative post! I’ve been experimenting with homemade lotions and was thinking about using Borax to help with emulsification. As it turns out, the amount needed is pretty darn miniscule. The info you’ve provided here has helped me decide to give it a shot despite some of my reservations. Here’s another useful article that comes to the same conclusion as you (also from a natural product aficionada!):
http://www.monave.com/blog/teporahs_corner/campaign-safe-cosmetics-ingredients-discussion-sodium-borate/
I personally use bee wax only although there might be less consistency than mixing with borax because borax is under dispute, and we can not afford to take the risk waiting for the results from science decades later. i make my own face cream small amount each time and keep it in fridge, its 100% healthy and safe and last around one month. But the amount of bee wax depends on the amount of other indifference, you will find out by yourself from time to time.
Thank you for this! I’ve been using borax in my homemade laundry detergent for over a year now and I’ve heard some bad things so I keep meaning to look into it. You have put my mind at ease.
Love your listed out study. And I would really like to link it to my info about how to use it on my little blog. If you don’t like that tell me and I will unlink. Thanks.
Awesome article! Thank you. I’m going to post a link on our FB page and tweet it. I am grateful for the research you’ve done and relieved. I love Borax!
Thank you for giving me all sides to the Borax debate. Now I can use it and still sleep at night. 🙂
I love your site! I came across it while doing research for my blog and referred to you in the post! http://www.mymerrymessylife.com/2012/03/diy-household-cleaning-products-100_06.html. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for this post! I have used Borax for years for a variety of reasons (soaking diapers, cleaning the toilet, laundry detergents, etc). When I heard it “was unsafe” I stopped, but was never quite able to figure out why. I appreciate the time and effort you went to to clarify this.
What a great article!! Thank you!! Although I had not heard the controversy (excuse my ignorance *_*@mscate:disqus …..From my own experience…. I LOVE Borax!
I have 8 kids, 5 cat’s, a dog and no side effects. (obviously, I have 8 kids 🙂 My hubby’s mom used it for years in her own home…so I don’t know about the reproduction issues…obviously insert 8 kid’s…. 😉 In my own home, I’ve used it for years in my laundry routine. It makes our clothes so much brighter in general. And my whites….well I used to use bleach in the early years of my marriage…when everything began to fall apart I began looking for alternatives. About 3 years into my marriage I noticed my mom-in-law’s box of Borax on her washing machine. Years later though, she divulge she used it to kill the ants…. ? So, obviously it’s great at getting rid of things that pester…mice, ants, stains…..hmmm. My cat’s show no interest in it. My son who has cracky hands because his Ph’s get out of balance in the winter with all the hand washing. Well, I have him use it on his hands…clears ’em right up. I’ve also used it to soften my own hands. Because I’m not totally crunchy, and still by hand soap from the store, occasionally I have a bad reaction with hand soap and it’ll make my hands like sand paper. So I’ll put a lil’ borax in my hands and get them wet and use it like an exfoliant. Smooths out the sand paper!
Thank you so much for this post! I’ve read a lot of other blogs condemning Borax or highly praising it and I feel yours is the only one that’s looked at all sides. 🙂
I always raked 20 Mule Borax into carpet, left on at least 1-2 wks before vacuuming so you will never have a flea problem. I even had a little Yorkie and it didn’t bother her. I’ve told others this trick if moving into where there is carpet, and no one ever had a problem with their pets or had a flea in the home. Other places sell it as flea fix at crazy high $$ and its ingredient is Borax.
In regard to the garden, I meant the grey water, but more so if you use grey water on seedlings in the first place (a whole another discussion there, I remember mentioning using shower grey water on the garden and this woman started shouting about the risk of poo in the garden. err ok )
I’d be more worried about the chemicals in the grey water.
i run natural cleaning workshops and my view is similar to yours. It’s fine except you shouldn’t put it near pets (eg clean the floor with it) or use it on the garden.
Why? It doesn’t harm mammals. My dogs have for years had Borax added to their BARF meals (Bones And Raw Foods or Biologically Approved Raw Foods). They have always had extraordinarily strong white teeth and kept their choppers their whole long lives.
Great post, thanks for all the info! I too have got rid of all our plastic except my food processor and my bullet. :O) Won’t part with those. But I don’t use them for hot ingredients. I tell myself this makes it better :O)
The smaller/regular mouthed glass “canning” jars work on most blenders. I don’t have a bullet, but you should try it on it, too.
This is very helpful, thank you. I think it’s also really important to look at what you might be using Borax in place of. At home I’m trying to minimize commercial cleaners which I suspect, although have done no research, are far more lethal than Borax.
Borax, Vinegar, Baking Soda, ammonia are good, and nixing the bleach and chemical cleaners are the only cleaners (other than soap) we use in our home. Water is the true cleansing element and the others just help hurry the moment. Of course you must be careful of breathing in ammonia but it is interesting that the body make ammonia and it is expelled through the kidneys and the skin. Sometimes you can even smell it in socks after heavy exercise. So though I wouldn’t drink it, we are not afraid to use it in our cleaning as apposed to chlorine bleach and man made chemicals. But remember always: never, never mix bleach with ammonia as it burns the lungs and I don’t believe the tissues can be repaired from the assault.
I handcraft lotions and creams all the time and never have to use borax with the water phase of my formula. I use lecithin and lanolin instead and my product has never separated. I don’t think we need to use borax in creating lotions and creams which is often common when using beeswax. Cheers! Thanks for the great article!!
Keep thinking, Fresh. It is how many people run their lives. Others do their research but then that takes time.
My uncle worked for 40-some years at the borax mine in Boron — some of those years he worked underground (before it was an open pit mine) — and he hasn’t had any health or respiratory issues. Which is amazing, when you think about how much of that stuff he inhaled.
Can’t say that about a coal mine, eh? Good point Louchnessnessie. Yup, Borax is a salt of a kind and Boron is a natural element used by the body.
thank you…i needed that
There is some information missing here. The EPA has reassessed Borax and found that there is a developmental issue with testes, and that in solution can cause serious eye problems to infants–consider borax being on a little one’s clothes which get wet (as always happens) and then rub against the eyes. Also, the European Diagnostics Manufacturing Association has changed the classification of Sodium Tetraborate to “toxic for reproduction.”
Research is good, TJ, but one must do a lot of it to weed through the nonsense. Money interests talk and if they can sell more of their chemical products by building fear over natural products they will do so. A heavy salt or baking soda solution in the eyes will sting. A light solution will not. Of course you would rinse out your child’s clothes and a sprinkle of vinegar in the rinse cycle does this well. Remember, the medical profession and commercial sellers make no money off health. The make it by providing solutions that mask the problems and bring you back for more. I would be more fearful of the swiffer products on my floors, the chemical cleaning solutions on my counters and the bleaches in my toilets. Where are the studies and warnings for the examples here? But warnings about a natural product that saves you money? Be suspect and research further.
The best tip with homemade cleaning products, whatever they are, is moderation. Essential oils are safe to use in dilution, but not full strength. The nice thing about borax is that you don’t have to worry about it being a carcinogen in case there’s a residue, and you can touch it with your hands (and then wash them) without the same nasty effects as, say, bleach.
another debatable thought ….. eo’s are safe full strength if you have therapeutic grade oils we use them all the time …
30 years ago, when all the rage was disposable diapers, I insisted on cloth diapers for my kids and soaked them in Borax. It did a marvelous job of removing any ammonia odor and the diapers were super white without using bleach. Rarely had a case of diaper rash. Don’t know what I would have done without it. Must admit that I haven’t used Borax for much else since then. Time to rethink my old friend.
OOh, that was helpful! I was just thinking that if Borax was a skin irritant, I shouldn’t use it for cloth diapers, so thanks for letting us know how it worked for you!
some research from the rumparoos company has shown rockin’ green diaper detergent to deteriorate the elastics in cloth diapers at an accelerated rate. They believe it is the borax. It is safe on flats and any diapers not containing elastics, though. I use borax in my homade laundry soap, but econuts/ soapnut berries for the diaper laundry. It has been the best, laundry decision I have made yet. Also, you can get them cheaper on ebay (as long as you watch out for the whole berries) Only buy seed free berries.
I wonder if it would have a negative affect on clothing with spandex in it. So many of the knits these days have around 2-5% in them.
Over time, it will. When Borax mixes with water it creates Hydrogen Peroxide, which is why it is such an effective cleaner and why it is great for killing bacteria and viruses. The chemical reaction will have an effect on spandex which is why the diaper covers do not recommend it and it will void their warranty. However, it is AWESOME for the cloth diaper inserts. Old diaper covers were made with rubber and rubber does not break down from the H202 reaction which is why people could use it without worry.
I used to use Oxiclean in my laundry, which creates hydrogen peroxide. Not only did it destroy all the elastic in my clothes, the cotton items started wearing out way too soon. The instructions say not to use on latex paint, rubber elastic is made from latex, soooo. I will never again use any hydrogen peroxide in my laundry.
Thirsties brand goes so far a to say that if you use borax in their products it invalidates the warranty. I found a baking soda recipe that does wonders on the ammonia smell. I do love Borax for lots of other things! Only kid/environmentally friendly was to keep pesky Box Elder Beetles out of your house!!
same here .. used it in the diaper pail and my nappies always came out white and fluffy, no issues with rash,etc …
Wouldn’t it be called a nappy pail?
I used cloth diapers with all three of my children, 1974-1982. I used Borax for soaking all of the diapers, and only one of the children got a bad rash from it. I think it may be that she had more sensitive skin. I stopped using it for her and her rash cleared up. She is now married and has 3 healthy children of her own.
Thank for the info. I use it as a cleaner and for laundry.
Wonderful article…seriously taking on all the research for those of us aspiring to be super crunchy like yourself.
I’ll admit, the question has sat there in the back of my mind, but as many above have stated, I haven’t taken the time to do the research. Now that you have, I feel fine using it in cleaning as I have. As we don’t have a dishwasher, I haven’t used it there or anywhere near my dinnerware, so nothing for me to worry about there.
Seriously I cannot imagine ingesting it – good for those people who swear by it above, I’ll take their word for it, but for myself, there are a lot of other natural health ideas out there I think I’ll try (and stick to) first.
LOL! So true huh? I’m still working my way through elderberry, chamomile and other natural items that seem a lot more pleasant than borax. Okay, maybe we can put that on our list of things to try, way at the bottom with newer more important things always written above that.
You are the bomb! thanks for your awesome articles!
Oh I’ve used it for all kinds of things. Dishwasher, my laundry soap, cleaning, and here’s the big one, mites. I somehow contracted mites/scabies. On my arm. It was so itchy I couldn’t sleep, I wanted to cut my arm off. With tons of research, since I knew the med’s from the doctor were not the safest thing I came up with a hydrogen peroxide/borax recipe. I added in tea tree and lavender. Yes, in the concentration I used, it did cause a little bit of irritation, thank goodness for coconut and all the other wonderful oils I used. It worked, but I had to do it just like it was med’s and oh how I hated that, but, like I said, IT WORKED!
I’ve seen on Earth Clinic that some people do take by mouth, very scant amount and recommend it for pets. I haven’t done that.
My take on it, I would avoid breathing the powder as much as possible since breathing any kind of dust is not good. For anything beyond cleaning I recommend research and safety.
And oh yeah, if you go to Macy’s and try on clothes, you have no idea who might have tried it on ahead of you. LOL! Okay, maybe it wasn’t Macy’s, but I don’t shop too often, and that was one of the places on our list of where I might have contracted such a horrible thing, so horrible I couldn’t think about it or I’d freak.
Oh my gosh. I have literally NEVER thought about contracting scabies from TRYING ON CLOTHES, but you are SO RIGHT.
My daughter came home from church camp with LICE, but I didn’t know it for WEEKS. She had never had it before, and we had never really known anyone who had it, so we didn’t recognize what was going on. Before we knew what had happened, she gave it to me too!! GAAAAH!!!!
You better believe I will be uber careful about ever trying on clothes at a store again. ICK.
Yep, I went my whole life not knowing anything about that stuff. Then the kids got lice from other kids, and 3 of my kids were girls, with long hair. I feel horrible now since I didn’t know any better and bought the store shampoo. I remember searching for alternatives at the time. Thank goodness for todays internet, and people willing to share their much safer cures, despite the embarrassment of the whole situation. I got over being embarrassed much quicker than I did with the thought of something alive being on my body. And I totally understand that you went weeks without knowing. It starts out with just a little itch, (in your mind your thinking, dry skin or whatnot) Look at it this way, knowledge is power, we now can spot these horrible things a little bit sooner, and a quicker reaction leads to a quicker cure.
Jill, you are a true thinker. There is so much to learn and so many good places to find knowledge since the advent of the internet. Embarrassment blinds some to knowledge but you are beyond such trifles. Creepy feelings over crawly things on our skin is part of our survival instinct. Keep up your research, an empowering instinct in some.
Good to know, and thanks for doing all that research! I’ve seen Borax listed in some lotion recipes, and I didn’t really know what to think. The only thing I’ve used it for is to get rid of ants. I felt terrible, but they just wouldn’t stop coming into my kitchen.
How did you get rid of ants with borax? I am having that problem.
http://www.stacymakescents.com/homemade-ant-bait
I think what you want is boric acid, not Borax. Boric acid cannot be processed by the ants, and will eventually kill them. Create some kind of sweet bait, like sugar water, and add some boric acid to it. You want just enough so that the ants will live long enough to bring the sugar water back to the whole brood and queen, so by the time they’re all sick, it’s too late. Too much boric acid will kill them before they bring it back to the nest. Sorry I don’t have an exact recipe, but hope this helps.
I read that it needs to be sprinkled onto the ants directly. it affects creatures with exoskeletons, which means it is safe for people and animals. it punctures them through the joints in the exoskeleton and dehydrates them. they will not ingest it.
That is diatomacious earth, not borax (or boric acid).
Recipe is 1 teaspoon borax, 6 tablespoons sugar, 2 cups water. Mix well. Put a little of the mixture on cotton ball and keep the ball moist till ant problem is gone. If you see dead ants near cotton ball your mixture is to strong.
Or just use a sprinkle of polenta. I tried it and no ants for well over a year! They take it back and feed the queen. She can’t digest it, dies and then the colony dies along with her.
Here is what I used to get rid of an ant problem and it seriously WORKS — and fast. These were the tiny ants that come into the house in the Spring. I had them infesting my kitchen AND my bathroom (right behind the kitchen): equal parts borax and strawberry jam. Put a teaspoon on an index card and place these where you see the ants. (watch out if you have pets tho). In one day — ONE DAY — the ant infestation that had plagued us for months was GONE.
I use lavender. Does not kill the ants, they just hate it for some reason and they move on. Has worked inside the house and out. Just sprinkle the little buds around where they hang out.
Borax is used because the tiny crystals make cuts in the insect’s abdomen and thorax as they run across it. They eventually die either from the damage or from drying out.
Boric acid is not necessary to kill insects.
Garlic gets rid of ants.
Brenda W, I think you are right pointing out there are actually different “grades” of borax. My box – very old box, I just used it occasionally along with my laundry detergent – says sodium tetraborate decahydrate… I wish I had taken more chemistry classes. I know my kids reacted to it when they were young and I could not use it for their laundry, still don’t.
Is it like baking soda, I use the regular king for cleaning and the baking kind – aluminium free – for baking and all my crunchy needs. I have a very sensitive skin and I never reacted to it even though I use it daily as a deodorant.
Crunchy B, you have done it again. Thank you for being awesomesauce. I love your thoughfulness into your research and the way you roll it around in your mind in front of us for us to think about it too.
But!
You just toss out there “Oh, you know, just some dishwasher stuff I made up, ho hum, no link here, you know…” Um, deets! Tell us! (Or maybe you did give us the deets on the dishwasher ditty but I airheadded right past it. If so, ahem…sorry.)
And hooray, rock on, Borax!
Oh no! I just saw it! Delete, delete, delete!
(In Grover’s voice: “I am so embarrassed!”)
I was one of those under the impression that borax was bad stuff and since I was too lazy to research it, I simply avoided using it. Thank you, thank you, for doing what I didn’t!
I’ve been using homemade laundry soap without borax for a couple of months now and I love it. So, I don’t know if I’ll change or not, but it’s good to know that if my homemade stuff isn’t up to the challenge of my husband’s grubby work clothes, I can always up the cleaning power with some added borax occasionally.
Hi Stephanie, Borax make food, inside the food, I have eaten for years, before I don’t know much about it ! now maybe? I am 55 years old healthy normal, Borax is good, Martin
Hey, lookie there. Reading my mind again. I was in the store the other day, eyeing up a box of Borax and pondering it’s healthiness and thinking there was a bit of research ahead of me. And lo and behold, what do I find in my inbox this morning? All the research done for me and confusion clarified. So I think I will be trying my hand at laundry detergent, because, quite frankly, I’ve tried three natural, non-toxic, blah blah blah detergents and none get my husband’s eau de soccer game out of his clothes.
Still waiting for MRH to notify me that they have soap nuts in, so a borax detergent is the next step.
Just wanted to say that I have been making homemade detergent for a couple years now and have found that using the Fels Naptha soap is just the ticket for my husband’s super stinky, super dirty, laundry.
Yay Borax! I love that you do all the work for me. I use it in a mixture with vinegar and a tiny bit of castille soap, and water. I love it and I’m not going to stop.
Thank you. This one has been bugging me since I read some of the horror stuff out there. It seemed over hyped, but still… I don’t want to hurt my kids! This seems reasonable! I’m not scared of the borax monster anymore.
Great article! Thanks for writing this. The safety of borax is something I’ve wondered about, but hadn’t yet gotten around to looking into. It really helps clear up the confusion (mine included) about borax vs. boric acid.
I bought a box of 20 Mule Team, and a box of Arm & Hammer washing soda when I saw them mentioned on your site, and put them in the laundry room, while waiting for inspiration on what to do with them.
When laundry seems like soap nuts won’t do it alone, I shake some of one or the other directly in the washing machine. (I hope it isn’t destroying the Soap Nuts?!?).
No problem so far, and I’m intrigued regarding the dish detergent idea. Whatever it is, I will verify, but it seems it must be better that the old Cascade, etc.? Isn’t it?!?
I used it once to wash my hair, like a bs wash when no ‘pooing and lemme tell you, my hair was FABULOUS. I read on some natural living board, a woman used it all the time, and so I tried it and was like omg my hair is great! Of course, then, AFTER the fact, I started reading all the OMG YOU’RE GONNA DIE stuff and worried, and haven’t used it since. But maybe, since I’m rinsing it off, not *eating* it or anything…
HI @Barbara, I feel very much the same way. I was raised very holistically, and have found many things that much of the time the solution is really the opposite of what the media is telling you. I have been taking Borax for about 2-3 years now. I don’t take it all the time, but when I do, I drink a tsp from my pitcher which is a mix of 1 tsp Borax in 1 liter of water. I suffered a head injury and I feel that the Borax has helped my body to sort of “regrow” and nearly everyday I pop and creak and snap and crack out my dents and dings from all my accidents. Just recently though, I have been noticing that I feel the Borax more and more intensely. Like I said, I don’t take it all the time because I think it was around 2013 when I heard about fluoride and I was real scared about it and wanted to do something but didn’t want to be mixing chemical bombs in my head, so I only take it in small bits for small amounts of time and now whenever I take it, I feel like my brain is being rewired back (but also forwards) to the natural evolutionary state of being, rather than being subjected to all the damage it has suffered. Post-trauma, I have noticed that my memory tends to slip away, I tend to lose what I was saying a lot, like grasping for a thought in the open air, but more and more I am able to often times recover it. I have read that Borax helps to decalcify your third eye, or pineal gland, which main operation is cognitive thought, (this is why the Nazi’s used fluoride to make the people docile and are trying to use it again now). My opinion is that the reason the people who are controlling you tell you these things are bad for you is so you can’t actually HEAL yourself! I mean look around, ever since they burned all the witch-doctors and shamans and healers so that white man could be the best doctor, we have been struggling to recover the remedies lost and have only been ailing ourselves more. The pharmaceutical companies only want you to add another expense to your life, only want to keep you coming back forever. Example: You cut your leg, I bop you on the nose so you won’t feel the pain in your leg. Do you want a solution to the symptom or a remedy for the ailment? But to make it even worse, throw in the fact that they are also actually poisoning you for profit! Look at Monsanto, GMO, look what’s actually in your medication, your food, your household products. Methadone, Propylene-glycol, carrageenan, parabens, food-coloring…. BAD BAD BAD! CANCER, SUGAR, HIGH- FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP. Chemicals. CHEMICALS that the FDA was SUPPOSED to catch. CHEMICALS that are giving you the symptoms that make you run to the doctor. So they give you a pill that covers up that symptom. Like putting a cork in one of SpongeBob’s holes, again and again and again until you end up on their table as a experiment. But wait…. I’m missing the actual point where you BECAME an experiment. When did that happen?
My box of 20 Mule Team says the ingredient is Sodium Tetraborate. The Mtn Rose Herbs catalog sells Borax “cosmetic grade sodium borate”.
Are they different products? I don’t know.
Would I consider using 20 Mule Team in my personal care products? Hell no!
Would I consider using cosmetic grade sodium borate? Probably. Something labeled as ‘cosmetic grade’ sounds a lot safer to me than using the stuff I make laundry soap out of.
I watched a video on You Tube of a woman making “wonderful homemade facial cream” using her frickin’ box of 20 Mule Team – yikes! Not for me!!
You will forever be safe if you listen to your doctor, Brenda. Feelings over research is the way for you to feel safe.
Is that a corgi ??
Safe doctor is an oxymoron. To a very large degree, when it comes to remedies, physicians simply do what they are told … by their teachers, mentors and pharmaceutical companies. With all this research going on, we’ve all likely read that the bans in place are a direct result of the potential impact to pharmaceutical industry revenue borax would pose if it were widely accepted as a nutritional supplement in “safe for human consumption” forms (think, zinc, magnesium, iron, etc). Kudos to Batty for doing her homework and coming out with a logical conclusion. I ingest borax at a rate of 125 mg per day and know others who ingest two and three times that amount with only positive things to say about it. It has reduced my arthritis pain and allowed me to get a “Look, Mom! No cavities!” report from my dentist for the first time in over a decade. So, you don’t want to ingest borax. I get it. I was skeptical, too. But come on, folks. Don’t listen to your doctor on these kinds of things. They are part of “the system”, and through no fault of their own, cannot/should not speak to that which they have no unbiased education around.
Thanks Crunchy Betty! I have been using a homemade laundry detergent that includes Borax for years. The “am-I-doing-the-right-thing” fairies have been floating around inside my head all that time. I think I can finally shoo the fairies away! Your research is thorough and sound and just what I needed. As for using it in the dishwasher… well, I’m still looking for an alternative. Keep on Crunching! You’re helping to save the planet one soap bubble at a time!
Thanks for your research!
I agree! Before I read your comment….I was going to post even salt and water can be toxic to the human body if taken in excessive quantities…..truth be told I was never worried about whether it was dangerous or not….I mean seriously if you want a natural cleaner when and where does the madness end? Sometimes even going “natural” has its limits…..as far as Im concerned.
Oh, thank goodness, I can still put some in my mop juice! I’m a little weary about using it in something that I will put on my body in some manner though.
I love how you research! Seriously.
As for Borax, I use it in my homemade laundry detergent and it works. It works WELL!
I have read many recipes with Borax listed in the ingredients. Thus far, I have skipped any recipe with it. I don’t know why exactly. Maybe because I didn’t have any? Maybe because I had read somewhere it was bad for you? Perhaps just because any recipe with Borax also required heating and combining several ingredients and I tend to prefer simpler recipes?
I had slowly begun researching Borax and the more complicated recipes using it and I ran across similar information as you have above. At that point, I decided IF I was going to use Borax, THEN I was going to buy the most healthy (and environmentally-friendly) version I could find in the smallest amount to test first. Baking soda irritates my skin if left on it for longer than a few minutes and I spent many hours searching for homemade deodorant recipes WITHOUT baking soda. My immediate concerns regarding Borax were as simple as that. I have sensitive skin. Period.
But, all that other stuff I started reading… OY! Ultimately, I have decided almost the same as you have. Fine for laundry detergent. Never would consider it internally. Never considered it for dishwasher detergent, but that was a different issue. I am looking for it locally in bulk at a health food store to try a little to see if my skin can tolerate it (in the healthiest form I can find it). Haven’t found any yet and was considering just using the stuff I use for laundry detergent. It doesn’t irritate my skin in that manner, but it is all washed out by the time my clothes touch my skin.
Thank you for finishing my research for me!!! I sincerely appreciate it. I am going to try making something using the stuff I have and, if all goes well, then buy a pound from MRH for future body care products.
Thanks for the research. Hulda Clark, who wrote a book about the cure for cancer, recommends Borax water as a substitute for shampoo. She is firm on removing ALL petroleum products from your home. I don’t think she would recommend something that was harmful.
I have been using it for years, as cleaner and diluted with water as shampoo. I love it.
You are wise Rup. Research before you take anything internally or put on your skin. Thankfully we have the internet and do not have to rely upon ‘experts’ (hamstrung by the pressures of peer review and peer acceptance) and the commercial media where self-interest reigns supreme. Do your research well and you will be rewarded.
PS I suspect you have an iconoclast lurking inside. Knowledge will help set her free. 🙂