Borax (Sodium Borate): What the Sources Say and Safety
Borax (sodium borate) is a laundry and cleaning mineral, not a food or supplement. What the sources say about poisoning, babies, fertility warnings and online health claims.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
What is Borax (Sodium Borate) good for?
What the body uses it for, and how strong the evidence is. A normal job in the body is not proof that extra supplements add benefit; each card says which.
Borax as a health tonic or supplement: claim check
Not enough evidenceViral posts claim a daily pinch in water treats joint pain, kidney stones, osteoporosis or fatigue. PolitiFact rated it Pants on Fire; the FDA does not permit borax as a food additive. Proper evidence not found of any human trial.
Supplements: No good evidence of benefit; seller and social media claim.
Borax baths for detox: claim check
Not enough evidenceA poison center toxicologist linked rising borax and boric acid exposures partly to people bathing in borax solutions after online detox claims. No human evidence of detox was found.
Supplements: No good evidence of benefit.
Connected topics
Open a group to see how each topic connects and how strong the evidence is.
Body systems (6)
- Digestive SystemDocumented risk
Swallowing borates causes vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea, possibly blue-green.
- Nervous SystemDocumented risk
Seizures, confusion and coma are described after large or long-term swallowing, especially in infants.
- Integumentary SystemDocumented risk
Bright red rash with later skin loss in severe poisoning; borax can irritate skin.
- Reproductive SystemDocumented risk
EU classifies borates as toxic to reproduction (category 1B, mostly animal data); a 2023 review of exposed workers found no reported effects. The question is debated.
- Urinary SystemDocumented risk
Greatly reduced urine output and kidney problems are described in severe poisoning; kidney disease may prolong exposure.
- Respiratory SystemDocumented risk
Workers breathing borax dust reported dry mouth, nose and throat, cough and nosebleeds.
Body parts (5)
- EyesDocumented risk
Borax can be corrosive to the eye per NPIC.
- KidneysDocumented risk
Kidney problems in severe poisoning; kidney disease may slow clearance.
- Reproductive OrgansDocumented risk
EU reproductive-toxicity classification; human occupational data reassuring; debated.
- SkinDocumented risk
Irritation and, in severe poisoning, a red rash with skin loss.
- StomachDocumented risk
Stomach and food-pipe damage can continue for weeks after a large swallowed amount.
Root causes (1)
- Environmental ToxinsDocumented risk
Borates are household and industrial chemicals; keep out of children's reach and use labelled containers.
Documented risks and interactions (5)
- Swallowing borax or boric acid: poisoning. Swallowing borates can cause vomiting, diarrhea (possibly blue-green), a bright red skin rash, and in severe cases seizures, coma, kidney and liver problems, and death.
- Babies and infants: seizures and deaths. NPIC reports infants who ate large amounts of boric acid had convulsions, confusion and coma, with past incidents from mislabeled disinfectant in formula and a borax-and-honey pacifier product. MedlinePlus says the infant death rate is high.
- Reproduction and development: EU classification and the debate. Boric acid and sodium borates are classified in the EU as toxic to reproduction (category 1B). A 2023 review of workers in China, Turkiye and Argentina found high exposure with no reported reproductive effects, and argues harmful blood levels are not reachable in daily life.
- Skin, eye and dust hazards. NPIC says borax can irritate skin, can be corrosive to the eye, and that workers breathing borax dust reported dry mouth and throat, cough, shortness of breath and nosebleeds.
- Kidney disease and slower clearance. A case report suggests reduced kidney function may prolong exposure after swallowing boric acid.
Safety first: do not swallow borax, put it in food or drinks, or give it to a baby, and keep it out of children's reach. Poison information from MedlinePlus says boric acid poisoning can cause blue-green vomit, diarrhea and a bright red skin rash, and that the infant death rate from boric acid poisoning is high. [1] If someone has swallowed borax and is unwell, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 or use the online tool, and call 911 if the person collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing or cannot be woken. [3]
Borax is sold as a laundry booster and cleaner. Online posts promote it as a health tonic, "detox" bath or boron supplement. We found no human research supporting those uses. This page keeps seller and social media claims apart from case reports and reviews.
What borax is
Borax is sodium borate (also called sodium tetraborate or disodium tetraborate), a salt of the element boron that is mined or made. It is closely related to boric acid. NPIC (the US National Pesticide Information Center) says boric acid and the sodium borate salts, including borax, are used as pesticides and are also found in cleaners, laundry detergents, fertilizers, and some personal care products. [2] Boron also occurs naturally in foods such as fruits, vegetables and nuts, but borax powder from the laundry aisle is not the same as the boron in food, as a dietitian told PolitiFact. [8] Grades differ (laundry, industrial, pharmaceutical), and none of them is made as a food or supplement in the US: the FDA does not permit borax as a food additive. [8] Common aliases: sodium tetraborate, disodium tetraborate, "laundry booster".For boron as a trace element, see Boron: bone, joint and hormone claims.
Claims and what the sources found
| Claim or use | What the best source found | Evidence label | Route, product and who was studied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laundry, cleaning, insect control | Borates are used in pesticides, cleaners and detergents. [2] | Established (household and industrial use) | Household and industrial products |
| A daily pinch in water treats joint pain, kidney stones, osteoporosis or fatigue | A July 2023 viral video made these claims, and PolitiFact rated it "Pants on Fire." A registered dietitian called eating or drinking borax dangerous. [8] Proper evidence not found in the sources we read of a human trial of swallowed borax for any health condition. | No good evidence of benefit | Swallowed borax solution (seller and social media claim) |
| Borax baths "detox" the body | Proper evidence not found. A National Capital Poison Center toxicologist told PolitiFact the center had seen more borax and boric acid exposures, which she linked in part to borax baths promoted online. [8] | No good evidence of benefit | Bath use (seller and social media claim) |
| Borax is a safe boron supplement | Not supported. The FDA does not permit borax in food. [8] The poisoning reports below involve swallowing borates. [1][4][5] | No good evidence of benefit | Swallowed |
| Borax harms fertility or a developing baby | Boric acid and sodium borates are classified in the EU as toxic to reproduction and development, category 1B ("may damage fertility; may damage the unborn child"). A 2023 review of workers in China, Türkiye and Argentina found very high daily boron exposure but no reported reproductive or developmental effects, and its authors argue that harmful blood levels are not reachable in daily life. [6] | Mixed (animal-based classification; human occupational studies reassuring) | Animal studies drive the classification; workers at mining and processing sites |
| Borax on the skin or in the eyes | NPIC says boric acid is poorly absorbed through unbroken skin, that borax can irritate skin, and that borax can be corrosive to the eye. [2] | Established hazard (agency fact sheet) | Powder or solution on skin or in eyes |
Limits: the poisoning evidence is case reports and agency fact sheets, which show that harm happens, not how often. The reproductive evidence is mainly animal data summarized in classifications; the 2023 review is one side of a debated question.
Safety by group
- Swallowing and poisoning. NPIC says short-term swallowing can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach ache and diarrhea, possibly blue-green; long-term swallowing can add headaches, fever, tremors, rashes and, in severe cases, seizures, coma, liver and kidney problems and death. [2] MedlinePlus describes damage to the food pipe and stomach that can continue for weeks. [1] An 8-year-old who ate pasta made with water accidentally mixed with a 3% boric acid solution (estimated 2.7 to 8.1 g) had nausea, one episode of vomiting and a headache and recovered, with normal tests a month later. [4] An 88-year-old woman with kidney disease who swallowed about 6 g of a boric acid eye-wash solution needed continuous kidney-replacement treatment and survived. [5] Outcomes vary widely.
- Babies and children. NPIC reports that infants who ate large amounts of boric acid had convulsions, confusion and coma, that seizures and deaths were reported more often in infants after long-term exposure, and that past incidents involved mislabeled disinfectant in infant formula and a borax-and-honey pacifier product. [2] See A child swallowed a supplement or natural product.
- Kidney disease. One case report suggests reduced kidney clearance may prolong exposure. [5]
- Contamination and mix-ups. The pasta-water case shows that unlabeled solutions in kitchens are a hazard. [4] Keep powders in the original labeled container.
- Breathing dust. Workers who breathed borax dust reported dry mouth, nose and throat, coughing, sore throat, shortness of breath and nosebleeds. [2]
- Eyes. Rinse eyes with cool water for 15 minutes after contact and seek care, as MedlinePlus advises for boric acid. [1]
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding. The sources we read do not give pregnancy advice for borax use. The EU reproductive-toxicity classification is a reason to avoid it as a remedy. [6] Ask a clinician.
- Pets. NPIC says poisoning signs in animals that eat boric acid can start within 2 hours; call a vet or poison hotline. [2]
- Medicines. The sources we read do not describe interactions.
- Regulation. In 2010 the European Chemicals Agency proposed listing disodium tetraborate and boric acid as substances of very high concern because of reproductive toxicity. [7] We did not read ECHA's current status page.
How it is used and what to look for on a label
- Laundry boosters and cleaners: read the label and follow its safety wording; borax is not packaged for people to eat, drink or bathe in. [8]
- Slime recipes and craft use: wash hands and keep it off the face and away from broken skin. We did not read a source on slime, so this is general caution only.
- Red flags: online recipes that put borax in water to drink, in baths for babies, or in homemade "detox" mixes.
- Related pages: Boron and Potassium alum, another mineral that is not meant to be swallowed.
Related pages
Frequently asked questions
Is borax safe to take for health?
No source we read supports it. The FDA does not permit borax in food, and poison reports show serious harm from swallowed borates. [1][2][8]
Does a borax bath detox you?
We found no human evidence. A poison center toxicologist linked a rise in borax and boric acid exposures partly to people bathing in borax solutions after online claims. [8]
What should I do if a child swallowed borax?
Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 or use the online tool; call 911 for collapse, seizure or trouble breathing. [3] Keep the container to show.
Does borax cause infertility or birth defects?
The EU classifies borates as toxic to reproduction in category 1B, mostly from animal studies. A 2023 review of workers with high exposure found no reported reproductive effects. [6] Because the question is debated, avoid exposure in pregnancy.
Is borax the same as boron supplements?
No. Boron is a trace element found in foods, but borax powder is a cleaning product. [8] See the boron page.
References
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (A.D.A.M.). Boric acid poisoning. Last reviewed January 8, 2025. Read 2026-10-24.
- National Pesticide Information Center (Oregon State University / US EPA). Boric Acid and Sodium Borates (Borax) General Fact Sheet. Last reviewed December 2013. Read 2026-10-24.
- Poison Control (America's Poison Centers). Poison Control home page. Read 2026-10-24.
- Spacco G et al. Unintentional boric acid exposure: a case report and boron level monitoring. BMC Pediatr. 2025. PubMed 41120974 (abstract read via Europe PMC). Case report. Read 2026-10-24.
- Nakajima H et al. Acute Boric Acid Poisoning With Chronic Renal Failure Successfully Treated With Continuous Hemofiltration. Cureus. 2026. PubMed 41869102 (abstract read). Case report. Read 2026-10-24.
- Duydu Y, Basaran N, Bolt HM. What can we learn from epidemiological studies on chronic boron exposure? Crit Rev Toxicol. 2023. PubMed 37351904 (abstract read). Narrative review. Read 2026-10-24.
- Law-firm news item (lawbc.com) summarizing the European Chemicals Agency consultation. ECHA announces new public consultation on eight potential substances of very high concern. March 9, 2010 (secondary source; ECHA's own page returned an error). Read 2026-10-24.
- PolitiFact. Don't ingest borax, experts say of the cleaning product. July 27, 2023 (first 100,000 characters read). Journalism, not a clinical source. Read 2026-10-24.