Is Borax Harmful or Helpful?

Key Takeaways

In 2017, borax, a common household item, borax-burn.html">made headlines after a young girl suffered second- and third-degree chemical burns on her hands from making homemade slime. With slime being incredibly popular at the time, this incident prompted many concerned parents to seek safer alternatives for the trendy craft. But does borax deserve the widespread criticism it received online? Or should we reconsider its use? The answer largely depends on how you intend to use it.

To begin, let’s explore what borax really is. It’s an alternative name for sodium tetraborate, a naturally occurring compound extracted from deposits in southern and central California. Composed of oxygen, sodium, and boron, sodium tetraborate shares many chemical similarities with common table salt.

Sodium tetraborate is mainly used as a cleaning agent but also serves as a flame retardant, an ingredient in porcelain and glass production, a mildew remover, and more. It’s even found in some cosmetics. Borax is frequently confused with boric acid, which is a distinct chemical compound known as hydrogen borate.

Borax for Cleaning

Borax has been a laundry room staple for decades, and for good reason. Its stain-removing abilities, powered by boron, are highly effective, and it leaves fabrics smelling fresh. "As a laundry additive, borax offers moderate alkalinity buffering and helps loosen dirt and stains," explains Brian Sansoni, a spokesperson for the American Cleaning Institute, via email. "It’s included in small amounts in some laundry detergents and most diaper presoak products, where it helps prevent ammonia-like odors."

Sprinkling pure borax directly into the washing machine can help whiten clothes. It can also be combined with washing soda and a bar of soap to create homemade laundry detergent. Additionally, mixing borax with water in a spray bottle makes it an effective natural cleaner for household surfaces.

Borax for Slime

Borax is a key component in classic slime recipes. However, recent concerns have arisen among parents, especially after the incident involving a child suffering burns, as mentioned earlier in this article.

"Borax ... can be toxic and is even used to eliminate pests like ants," states Megan Boyle on the Environmental Working Group website. "The risks associated with borax are especially concerning for children, making it alarming that it might be present in kids' toys alongside cleaning products." She further explains that children handling slime may touch their eyes or mouths, "potentially allowing chemicals to enter their bodies."

The negative attention surrounding borax in slime has been particularly aggravating for Steve Spangler, an Emmy Award-winning TV personality and STEM expert known for hosting the nationally syndicated show "Xploration DIY Sci."

"The borax controversy highlighted a significant lack of scientific literacy, particularly in chemistry," he explains via email. "Sodium tetraborate (borax) is entirely safe when used correctly and is one of the few chemicals capable of binding long chains of glue molecules to create traditional glue-based slime.

"After unverified news articles in 2017 criticized borax, major glue manufacturers promoted a 'NON-BORAX' alternative using contact lens solution, claiming borax caused burns on children's hands," he says. However, Spangler later posted a video revealing that contact lens solution also contains borax. The video garnered nearly 4.5 million views by April 2019.

Poison control experts agree with Spangler regarding borax's safety. It’s boric acid, not borax, that is typically used as a pesticide.

"Borax is not toxic when used in homemade slime recipes under proper supervision and with instructions followed. Supervision is crucial!" writes Dr. Shireen Banerji, a pharmacist and spokesperson for the American Association of Poison Control Centers, as well as clinical manager of the Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Center (RMPDC). "If ingested accidentally, it could cause gastrointestinal issues or worse, depending on the amount. It can also irritate existing skin abrasions. However, when used correctly with adult supervision, it is not dangerous."

Exposure time during slime preparation and handling is critical, especially for children, whose thinner skin makes them more susceptible to irritation. This was the case with the girl who was burned. Banerji emphasizes that if gloves are recommended in a recipe, they should be used. Additionally, anyone handling borax, whether for slime or laundry, should rinse it off immediately after use.