Borax solutions are any solutions that include sodium borate, anhydrous borax, borax pentahydrate, or borax decahydrate. These are chemical compounds that all are very closely related and which form a white powder of crystals, which can be dissolved easily in water or another liquid.
Borax, from which borax solutions are made, occurs naturally in the Mojave Desert, Chile, Tibet, and other geographical locations. Deposits of borax are formed through evaporation---water from lakes or rivers dries up and leaves the chemical compound. The compound is then collected by manufacturers for use. Borax also can be produced synthetically.
Borax (and thus a borax solution) is considered to be not acutely toxic in small amounts; a very large amount needs to be ingested before lethality is reached. However, borax solutions are still chemical compounds and have resulted in skin irritations and rashes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and in rare cases, loss of consciousness and heart failure. Therefore, caution still needs to be exercised when using borax solutions. They should be kept out of the reach of children and users should wear gloves when using the solutions to avoid direct contact with the skin. They should not be mixed with other manufactured chemical solutions unless the individual is trained in how the borax solution and other solutions will react.
Borax solutions have many uses. The most common of these is as a cleanser, specifically laundry detergent. They also comprise enamels, insecticide, cosmetics, and fire retardants. Although the use is banned in the United States, some countries, despite the known side effects, still use borax solutions as a substitute for salt.
Borax solutions are produced commercially by taking borax powder and mixing it with a liquid chemical or set of liquid chemicals. This same process is used non-commercially in the home to make borax solutions, only on a much smaller scale. A simple borax solution can be made, for instance, by combining a quarter cup of borax to five cups of water in a large bowl. Such a solution often is used as a quick homemade disinfectant that replaces harsher chemical cleansers.