Borax – an alternative to chemicals

Borax is a viable alternative to certain complex chemical compounds in the home…

Borax is the name applied to several mineral compounds of the chemical element boron – sodium borate, disodium tetraborate and sodium tetraborate.

It has a wide variety of uses, being used variously in detergents, as a multipurpose cleaner, in cosmetics, for enamelling, in parts of the world as a food additive (E285), in metallurgy and biochemistry…

However, of relevance to the Healthy House, it has building applications – borax is fire retardant, is anti-fungal and an insecticide. Mined in various parts of the world, as a naturally occurring product that has less impact on the earth in its production than equivalent chemical based products, borax is seen as a ‘green’ product. Equally, to those us of seeking to avoid complex chemical based products, to which we may suffer from allergic reactions, borax is an alternative.

Borax is not acutely toxic in small quantities, but should be used with caution, chronic toxic exposure can lead to peeling skin and kidney failure – ingestion of excessive amounts of borax could prove fatal. Wear gloves, avoid inhalation and keep away from children and pets in its powdered form.

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Comments on Healthy House

On Clay Based Paint ~ A Healthy Alternative by Ramona Flick on September 30th, 2010
its has a beautiful livinq quality, my daughter has used this.

On Heating & Cooling by healthyhouse on September 15th, 2010
Not an expert, but I'd have thought a radiant heat source (such as underfloor heating) would be far better for your health than forced heat.

On Heating & Cooling by Diana on September 10th, 2010
Our 105 year old house has forced air heat, and I have allergy related asthma.

On Limit Mould Growth by Alexander on August 31st, 2009
Hello, not only Mould spores can be harmful to the health, but also gaseous metabolites, which are called MVOC (microbial volatile organic compounds) can have a toxic effect.

On Visitor Feedback by David on March 16th, 2009
excellent blog! I love some of the ideas you share to healthier sustainable living.