Is Borax Ok To Use, Or Can......

[trt]

it be dangerous?

I was going to make/grow crystals with my grandson, and watched how to do on YouTube, but some people remarked that it was risky.

Also, can you add it to washing powder for washing machine, as people said they make their own from borax, adding other ingredients?

Thanks Ron.

[Zacs-Master]

Strange name for a website but probably as in-depth research as you're likely to find.
http://www.crunchybetty.com/getting-to-the-bottom-of-borax-is-it-safe-or-not

[woofgang]

you can grow crystals with sugar too AND they can be eaten.

http://chemistry.about.com/od/growingcrystals/ht/blsugarcrystal.htm

or salt
http://chemistry.about.com/od/growingcrystals/ht/saltcrystals.htm

either maybe safer than borax with kids?

[gingejbee]

Safety: keep it off your skin (it's alkaline and will irritate) and don't ingest it and you'll be fine. Like everything else...keep it out of your eyes.
Washing powder: it was fine to add to the rather crude soap powders of yesteryear to improve their performance. Today's highly formulated detergents are as good as you'll get...borax won't improve them.