Table of Contents
Borax is a powdery white substance, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate. It’s widely used as a household cleaner and a booster for laundry detergent. It’s a combination of boron, sodium, and oxygen.
What are the uses of sodium tetraborate?
Borax (or sodium tetraborate) is a naturally occurring alkaline compound that is a precursor in the manufacture of boric acid. Used as a preservative, buffer, antiseptic and fungicide, boric acid is also used to manufacture glazes and enamels, and to fireproof textiles and wood.
Is sodium tetraborate toxic?
Instead, its main ingredient is sodium tetraborate, a naturally occurring mineral. While borax may be natural, that doesn’t mean it’s completely safe. Borax often comes in a box with a caution label warning users that the product is an eye irritant and that it may be harmful if swallowed.
Is sodium tetraborate the same as baking soda?
Borax (sodium tetraborate) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) aren’t the same thing. They’re both salts, and they’re both popular as “green” household cleaning agents, but borax has a pH of 9.5, compared to baking soda’s pH of 8. And learn more about how to use baking soda for cleaning here!Aug 12, 2021.
Is sodium borate harmful to humans?
Though sodium borate (aka borax) is often positioned as a “green” ingredient, in fact, it is toxic and can cause numerous health issues including: Organ system toxicity [1] Damage to male reproductive system [3] Respiratory irritation [2] [5].
Does borax make clothes whiter?
Borax will: Whiten your whites: When you add Borax to your washing machine, it acts as a whitening agent. This enhances the action of bleach, whether you add it separately or it’s already present in your laundry detergent. If you don’t like to use bleach, borax is still a good whitener on its own.
Is boric acid harmful to humans?
Boric acid is a dangerous poison. Poisoning from this chemical can be acute or chronic. Acute boric acid poisoning usually occurs when someone swallows powdered roach-killing products that contain the chemical. Chronic poisoning occurs in those who are repeatedly exposed to boric acid.
What is boric acid used for?
Boric acid serves as an excellent cleaner for all types of mold problems and insects such as ants, cockroaches, silverfish, fleas, and others. Boric acid is also used in leather manufacture, and it is used in the jewelry industry in combination with denatured alcohol.
Is borax safe for slime?
Now, the amount of Borax used in most homemade slime recipes is small (usually about a tablespoon, which is a little more than 14 grams) and it is diluted in water and glue. So, while the risk may be small, it’s not zero. Then, of course, put the Borax safely away with any other toxic household items.
What happens if you drink borax water?
Borax health risks Borax can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea if you ingest it by itself, and large amounts can lead to shock and kidney failure. It’s banned in U.S. food products.
Is borax good for cleaning?
From unclogging a drain to cleaning the toilets, borax has found its use as a versatile cleaner. And it is actively used in many cleaning products and homemade recipes. Not only that but borax can also be used to deodorize that smelly garbage can and even keep ants and pests away.
What is a substitute for sodium tetraborate?
Instead of sprinkling borax in the bottom of your trash can, try baking soda or even coffee grinds. They work wonders. You can also use baking soda to clean your trash can. Throw in some vinegar for extra odor fighting action.
Can you mix borax and vinegar?
Nontoxic household cleaners are a great way to keep your home green and clean. Borax and vinegar are two safe ingredients that can be combined to create a good general cleaning solution. Undiluted vinegar and borax can also be used for mildew removal.
Where do you find sodium tetraborate?
Sodium tetraborate occurs naturally as the minerals tincal (pronounced “tinkle;” Na2B4O7·10H2O) and kernite (Na2B4O7·4H2O). Ores containing these minerals are crushed, washed, and processed to obtain the decahydrate of high purity.
Is borate the same as boric acid?
Borax and boric acid are two different formulations of the same compound. Borax is a mineral that is taken straight from the ground (a form of the element Boron) and used in cleaning products. Boric acid is its extracted, processed and refined form, found in a variety of chemical products.
Are borates toxic?
Acute ingestion of boric acid or borate salts in humans has rarely led to severe toxicity. Commonly reported symptoms include nausea, vomiting (often with blue-green coloration), abdominal pain and diarrhea (which may contain blood or have a blue-green color).
What does borax do to ants?
When ants consume the borax bait, it interferes with their digestive system and gradually kills them. This slow kill allows time for the worker ants to consume the bait and head back to the nest to share with the rest of the colony and queen.
Is borax better than bleach for mold?
If the mold is still hanging on, it’s time to bring out the borax, which is an alkaline mineral salt cleaner that’s safer to use than bleach. Combine a tablespoon of borax with a cup of water, then apply this solution to the mold with a soft-bristled brush. Scrub away the mold, leaving the borax solution in the wood.
