What is borax made up of

Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Is Borax Toxic? Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. Safety Safe uses Share on Pinterest. What is borax? It has many uses: It helps get rid of stains, mold, and mildew around the house. It can kill insects such as ants. It can neutralize odors and soften hard water. Is borax safe to ingest or put on your skin? How to safely use borax. Read this next. Isopropyl Alcohol Poisoning. Medically reviewed by Femi Aremu, PharmD. Gasoline and Health.

Medically reviewed by Nancy Hammond, M. The natural mineral, mined from the ground or collected from evaporated deposits, is called borax. When borax is processed, the purified chemical that results is boric acid H 3 BO 3. Borax is a salt of boric acid. While there are some differences between the compounds, either version of the chemical will work for pest control or slime. Borax is found in laundry booster, hand soaps, and in some kinds of toothpaste.

You can also find it in one of these products:. Borax has many uses on its own, plus it is an ingredient in other products. Here are some uses of borax powder and pure borax in water:. Borax is an ingredient in several other products, including:. Borax in the usual form of sodium tetraborate decahydrate is not acutely toxic, which means a large amount would need to be inhaled or ingested to produce health effects.

As far as pesticides go, it's one of the safest chemicals available. A evaluation of the chemical by the U. EPA found no signs of toxicity from exposure and no evidence of cytotoxicity in humans.

Increasingly, people are using baking soda to clean their hair. However, this is not always safe. Learn about risks and other natural hair remedies…. Is borax safe to use? Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. What is borax? Is it safe? Borax and children Borax and pets Risks Precautions Takeaway Borax, a naturally occurring mineral, has been an ingredient in cleaning products for decades.

Share on Pinterest Many household cleaning products include borax as an ingredient. Is borax safe? Borax and children. Share on Pinterest Borax is an ingredient in some slimy play products for children.

Borax and pets. Share on Pinterest Wearing protective clothing while using borax can help reduce health risks. Spring Cleaning. Odor Control. Borax vs. Baking Soda. Boric Acid. Washing Soda.