• People on various sites and forums debate the safety of Borax, also known as sodium borate or tetraborate. • The Environmental Working Group rates Borax-containing products as a D due to a rat study done by Price et al. (1996a). • Reproductive toxicity was found only when it was administered orally. • Borax is recommended for cleaning anything not directly applied to skin, rinsing off completely with no residue left behind. • Borax increases the effectiveness of soap by making water stable and releasing hydrogen peroxide to act as bleach. • It is safe to use as a cleaner, not an ingredient in body wash, shampoo or skincare.