Borax is a chemical found in some household cleaners. It and boric acid – an ingredient in ant and roach killers – belong to a family of substances called borates, Johnson-Arbor said.

However, borax is essentially a chemical water softener, so always handle with caution to avoid possible skin or eye irritation, and keep away from children and pets.

Eating borax, a cleaning chemical used with laundry detergent, can lead to an array of health problems, including nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, convulsions and collapsed lungs, according to the ...

Borax, or sodium tetraborate, ... While Borax is a chemical water softener that can be directly added to the laundry, this does not mean it is safe to consume orally.

A bottle of borax chemical compound is pictured here. STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images "Our skin, our lungs, our kidneys, our GI tract, our liver are constantly cleansing the body," Ashton said.

It’s the newest trend on TikTok, but health experts are warning of its dangerous consequences.

The borax challenge is spreading to Facebook now, too. by A.W. Ohlheiser. Jul 29, 2023, ... Borax is a chemical compound containing boron that’s sold as a laundry detergent or cleaning agent.