Is Borax Safe To Use Around Children?

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RE: Is Borax Safe To Use Around Children?

Oh and thanks for the advice "don't dump Borax on the baby". I was about to do it. Thank GOD you told me not to! I have an IQ...thanks.

Post by jenniferw

RE: Is Borax Safe To Use Around Children?

Silliewildflower:
I originally posted this almost a year ago and I'm glad to say we are no longer infested with fleas and I have a very happy cat. I did not use Borax because I felt that there was more negative feedback regarding it's safety around children than positive.

I am a a member of PETA and avid supporter of the American Humane Society.

Post by jenniferw

RE: Is Borax Safe To Use Around Children?

Borax does not chemically harm anything. The reason that borax is used and works is because if you look at it under a microscope, the same way you would look at fleas and the larvae, you will see that it is sharp and it does bodily harm to the fleas and eggs. This is also why it can be used for cleaning as it is a mild abrasive. You can also use toothpaste to clean anything that you do not want to scratch. Borax is about as harmful as toothpaste.

Look at the picture and pretend you are a flea, would you be able to live with millions of these?

Yes, you need to pour it on the carpets, sweep it in and leave it there for as long as possible. If you can bathe your pets, please do so. Most of everything that is mentioned works, you can add some citrus juice to the water if your pet does not have problem skin or open wounds. A mild pet soap will do, but the fleas will die because of drowning, not because pet soap or dish washing liquid will kill them.

You can also place cake pans or any flat containers (members of household permitting) around the house, preferably in corners, with about 1 inch of water and one drop of dish soap. The dish soap is only for the purpose of changing the surface of the water so they can not escape, and they will drown.

Try this at the same time you are experimenting with natural safe ways to rid your home of these pests.

Yes, salt works because of it's composition, it will eventually deplete the eggs of life sustaining moisture. But, if you live in a humid climate, such as Florida, salt it is not recommended, because the salt is soaking up the moisture. Or if you want give it a try, in a few hours your carpets will begin to feel wet, because they are wet!

Don't dump borax on the baby or anything else, even if it is not harmful, for that matter! If you can keep the baby off the floors for a couple of days or you might want to put the borax down before a trip, but it is the only thing that I use and it is the only thing that works that I am sure is not harming my pets or my family.

Good luck and love your pets!

Post by silliewildflower

RE: Is Borax Safe To Use Around Children?

Any cleaner should be kept out of the hands of children whether natural or not. That is just good sense, but that by no means deems it unsafe for use. Here is a link with info on borax.

http://www.soapsgonebuy.com/Product ... s.asp?ProductCode=D1002&Show=ExtInfo

Or you can even go directly to the Dial corporation site and get info on Borax. I happen to use Borax all around my home for many different purposes and, if used as directed, is perfectly safe.

Hope this helps.

Post By Heidi (Guest Post)

RE: Is Borax Safe To Use Around Children?

Borax or Boric acid! Does it sound safe? I learned the hard way. I have been putting Borax down on the carpets for a year now. Recently my older cat is having problems breathing. After $1000 in vet bills and a few weeks she is only slightly better. This is what Wikepedia said.

Simple exposure can cause respiratory and skin irritation. Ingestion may cause gastrointestinal distress including nausea, persistent vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Effects on the vascular system and brain include headaches and lethargy, but are less frequent. "In severe poisonings, a beefy red skin rash affecting palms, soles, buttocks and scrotum has been described. With severe poisoning, erythematous and exfoliative rash, unconsciousness, respiratory depression, and renal failure." [7]

My advice is Do not use on carpets. I have no idea if my cat will get better, and now my younger cat is coughing. Very serious stuff.

Post By Neko8 (Guest Post)

RE: Is Borax Safe To Use Around Children?

You will have to treat your yard too as the cat will pick up fleas again.
I got invested with them one year & needed an exterminator. It was expensive & I am sure the chemicals were not good for us.


Here is what Wikepedia has to say about borax:
[edit] Toxicity
Borax, sodium tetraborate decahydrate, is not acutely toxic. [5] Its LD50 score is tested at 2.66 g/kg in rats. [6] This does not mean that it is safe, merely that a significant dose of the chemical is needed to cause severe symptoms or death. Simple exposure can cause respiratory and skin irritation. Ingestion may casue gastrointestinal distress including nausea, persistent vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Effects on the vascular system and brain include headaches and lethargy, but are less frequent. "In severe poisonings, a beefy red skin rash affecting palms, soles, buttocks and scrotum has been described. With severe poisoning, erythematous and exfoliative rash, unconsciousness, respiratory depression, and renal failure." [7]

A reassessment of boric acid/borax by the United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Pesticide Programs found potential developmental toxicity (especially effects on the testes).[8] Boric acid solutions used as an eye wash or on abraded skin are known to be especially toxic to infants, especially after repeated use because of its slow elimination rate.[9]

Post By mulberry204 (Guest Post)

RE: Is Borax Safe To Use Around Children?

I do not believe Borax is harmful as they say, I have used it for several years to brush my teeth with. I have had no side effects. Very clean teeth.

Post By Anna from Maine. (Guest Post)

RE: Is Borax Safe To Use Around Children?

The best thing I've used to rid my house and dogs of fleas is Lorann Oils - Oil of American Cedar Leaf. Put 3 drops on a 3 inch square of brown paper bag in every corner of EVERY room of your house. Do this every 2 days, next week-do it every 4 days, 3rd week - and through the 'flea season' put the 3 drops on the paper. I put the paper with the oil on it on a shelf, or somewhere that my 6 dogs can't possibly reach. I bought 4 oz. of this oil 6 years ago [think it was about $25], and still have a half bottle left [house has 9 rooms] Make sure you specify Oil of American Cedar LEAF! makes your house like a cedar closet.

Post by JoanDogs

RE: Is Borax Safe To Use Around Children?

No, Borax is definitely not safe around children or animals. Which is why the warnings are listed on every box of Borax. It will can make children very ill, it may kill your animals. It's not worth taking a chance. Call your veterinarian for suggestions.

Post by sheilamay

RE: Is Borax Safe To Use Around Children?

http://www.20muleteamlaundry.com/index.cfm?page_id=56 check out the website. I do not think it is dangerous. I used it to kill fleas when my childern were little. Consider its safety relative to the chemicals you could use. You would not sprinkle it then put your baby down to eat it. After you vacuum it is pretty much gone.

Post by Tigertame4

RE: Is Borax Safe To Use Around Children?

http://www.20muleteamlaundry.com/index.cfm?page_id=56 check out the website. I do not think it is dangerous. I used it to kill fleas when my childern were little. Consider its safety relative to the chemicals you could use. You would not sprinkle it then put your baby down to eat it. After you vacuum it is pretty much gone.

Post by Tigertame4

RE: Is Borax Safe To Use Around Children?

Someone was just telling me that they had used Borax just as you said for fleas. They sprinkled it all over their carpet let it set for xxx(?) came back and vacuumed it up. It killed the fleas and evidently the eggs, too. Because they never had another flea bite.

Of course I immediately thought about the warning label, but they were very satisfied w/ the results.

I can't speak as to how safe it is for your child, but maybe a call to the Borax number would be helpful.

Good luck!

Post by mom22dds

RE: Is Borax Safe To Use Around Children?

When the box says "keep out of the reach of children," it may be because the manufacturer doesnt want children to EAT it.

I would not hesitate to use chemical products to get rid of your fleas. The fleas (imho) are a far worse problem than the chemicals. You cannot have a flea infestation when you have children. Perhaps you will need to hire an exterminator to get rid of them.

BTW, fleas live in grass in your yard so if you leave your pet outside, it will reinfest itself.

Good luck

Post By Carol in PA (Guest Post)

RE: Is Borax Safe To Use Around Children?

I was just reading a book yesterday and it said to "Keep out of reach of children, pets and pregnant women and don't use it around food". Sure it is a great cleaning agent, but it is toxic if ingested in any way. I would not suggest using this as a flea control product.

Post by Toolgirl

RE: Is Borax Safe To Use Around Children?

Jennifer,I went and ck.my box of"Borax".On the side in bold letters is"Keep out of reach of Children".It also has an 800 #:1-800-457-8739 Hope this helps
Keeper

Post by keeper60

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