To Borax, or Not to Borax!

    PURCELL, OK, July 14, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- What IS Borax?

There seems to be quite a lot of confusion about Borax lately. Or maybe I am just catching up to ya'll! Myself, I have always been of the opinion that Borax is natural and so therefore okay to use. But there has been a lot of bantering back and forth, that no...it is not...and shouldn't be used. Well...let's get down to the bottom of this shall we? I mean, before we throw the laundry water out...let's dig a little deeper!

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.

Where does Borax come from?

Borax is an important chemical compound of the element boron. Most of the world's supply comes from Southern California. It has been estimated that there is more than a 100 year supply of borax in just one of California's many mines alone.

Borax is a soft, white, many sided crystal that dissolves readily in water. Borax is well known for its use in washing powders, water softeners and soaps. It is also used in medicines and for ointments and eye washes.

Borax Crystals

Manufacturers mix borax with clay and other substances to make enamel glazes for sinks, stoves, refrigerators and metal tiles. Potters use borax to add strength to their products and to make a hard glaze for dishes.

Glass makers mix borax with sand so that it will melt easily and give strong, brilliant glass. Glass cooking utensils and thermometers are made from glass that contains borax.

Borax is also sometimes used as a food preservative and in the textile industries, in tanning leather and in making paper.

In California, borax may be taken from open pit mines in the Mojave Desert. In these, miners strip away the covering ground to expose the borax bed. Workers use dynamite to blast loose the solid borax.

The large chunks of borax are then crushed and dissolved. This solution goes through many purification steps until borax crystals are obtained.

Borax is also obtained from "dry" or "bitter" lakes. The brine, which contains many salts other than borax, is pumped from the lake into containers. The solution is allowed to stand in vats to separate the borax from the heavier salts, which sink to the bottom. The remaining brine crystallizes and the borax is refined.

Is It Safe?

According the Mountain Rose Herbs' data sheet on Borax, it is a mineral, which "naturally occurs from the repeated evaporation of seasonal lakes." While it is natural, Mountain Rose Herbs does warn that Borax is "Not to be ingested, large doses may be fatal. May cause irritation if exposed to the skin, eyes, or if inhaled. Handle with caution, and keep away from children and pets."

A report published in the International Journal of Toxicology stated that "Sodium Borate and Boric Acid, in concentrations of le To Borax, or Not to Borax! 5%, are safe as cosmetic ingredients when used as currently recommended (not in food products). However, cosmetic formulations containing free Sodium Borate or Boric Acid at this concentration should not be used on infant or injured skin."

And a post on the EcoEtsy team listserv listed one article that advises caution in using Borax, while another says that it is safe to use in your home. Not having a chemistry background, I was not sure how to weigh and balance all of this information.

Here are what other people have to say about Borax:

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.)

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).

So there you have it....a few facts about Borax....and now YOU can make your decision for YOU and your family!

For US? The clincher for me is that Borax has been used for a very, very, very...did I say very(?)....long time! And there is no definitive evidence to suggest that it is harmful UNLESS...UNLESS I INGEST it in large quantities. OR INHALE IT OVER PERIODS OF YEARS AND YEARS, ECT....you get the point.

I feel that there is a lot of misconception and miss-communication around the words Borax and Boric Acid...which are two very different components.

Borax IS sodium tetraborate...period.

AND

Borax is NOT either sodium borate or boric acid...period!

And trust me, I am not planning to mix up Borax for dinner anytime soon either....just for Laundry Soap!!

Homemade Laundry Detergent...this stuff works!
(Yes...this is one of THE recipes that are all over the internet....but there is a reason it is, because.it.works!)

3 Bars of Fel Naptha Soap, Grated

1 Box of Armer & Hammer Washing Soda

1 Box of Borax

2 Boxes (or 1 Lrg) Baking Soda

2 Small tubs of Oxy-Clean

1. Grate your soap, use a manual grater...worked better for me.

2. Combine all ingredients. I used a giant garbage bag to mix it all in thoroughly.

3. Place into containers. This made me 3 Large Jars full.

4. I use 1/3 C per load of laundry, maybe a little more for very stained clothing.

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

2 C. Borax

2 C. Arm and Hammer Washing Soda

4 pkts Sugar Free Lemonade Kool-aide (provides the citric acid)

1. Combine all ingredients

2. Store.

3. Use 1 TBSP per load

4. Makes 100 Loads!

Written By: Kathleen Yorba
www.simplylivingsimply.com
VP of Modern Homesteaders
www.modernhomesteaders.net

Disclaimer
Here at Modern Homesteaders we believe that knowledge is power and enables us to make the right decisions for ourselves and our families. We encourage you to do your own research regarding this subject, to find out what may be most suitable for your use. Viewpoints expressed in this and other posts, are the personal viewpoints of the author, with in their opinion supporting facts. We by no means are stating that this product is for everybody or inherently safe for every use. Please use your good, wise and informed judgement.

Modern Homesteaders is about getting back to basics and becoming self-sufficient and self-reliant in today's uncertain world. With the ever increasing prices of things that are needed on a daily basis to the continual decline of our economy we strive to educate our fans on a simpler way of life.

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