What Is Borax and Where Can You Get It?

Quick Borax Facts

Borax crystal
Borax crystals are clear or white, depending on purity and conditions under which they formed. hdagli / Getty Images

Borax is a natural mineral with a chemical formula Na2B4O7 • 10H2O. Borax also is known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate or disodium tetraborate. It is one of the most important boron compounds. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) name for borax is sodium tetraborate decahydrate. However, the common usage of the term "borax" refers to a group of related compounds, distinguished by their water content:

  • Anhydrous borax or sodium tetraborate (Na2B4O7)
  • Borax pentahydrate (Na2B4O7·5H2O)
  • Borax decahydrate (Na2B4O7·10H2O)

Borax Versus Boric Acid

Borax and boric acid are two related boron compounds. 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 (H3BO3). 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.

Where To Get Borax

Borax is found in laundry booster, certain hand soaps and in some toothpastes. You can find it as one of these products, sold at grocery stores:

  • 20 Mule Team Borax (pure borax)
  • Boraxo powdered hand soap
  • Tooth bleaching formulas (check the label for borax or sodium tetraborate)

Borax Uses

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:

  • Insect killer, particularly in roach killing products and as moth-preventative (10% solution on wool)
  • Fungicide
  • Herbicide
  • Desiccant
  • Laundry booster
  • Household cleaner
  • Water softening agent
  • Food additive as a preservative (banned in some countries)

Borax is an ingredient in several other products, such as:

How Safe Is Borax?

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 safety chemicals available. A 2006 evaluation of the chemical by the U.S. EPA found no signs of toxicity from exposure and no evidence of cytotoxicity in humans. Unlike many salts, skin exposure to borax does not produce skin irritation.

However, this doesn't make borax categorically safe. The most common problem with exposure is that inhaling the dust can cause respiratory irritation, particularly in children. Ingesting large amounts of borax can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The European Union (EU), Canada, and Indonesia consider borax and boric acid exposure a potential health risk, primarily because people are exposed to it from many sources in the diet and from the environment. The concern is that overexposure to a chemical generally deemed safe could increase risk of cancer and damage fertility.

While the findings are somewhat contradictory, it's advisable children and pregnant women limit their exposure to borax if possible.