Borax - Should I be using it?

Many people today have been trying to get toxic things out of their home. One easy place is their cleaning products. Vinegar, baking soda, and borax are favorites to use. But is borax safe to use? Is washing soda safe to use? What about some of the other chemicals? I keep getting mixed answers.


BORAX
Borax Toxicology Sheet

Boraxfree.com
Is borax safe or not?
Borax: Not the green alternative it's cracked up to be
Boron deficiency
WebMD - Boron


WASHING SODA
Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate) Toxicology Sheet

BAKING SODA
Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) Toxicology Sheet

It seems to depend on how much you use, what you are using it for, and if there is enough of a residue left that could be inhaled or eaten. These chemicals are potentially harmful by themselves, but most of the time they are diluted with something else. Caution needs to be used to make sure these chemicals are not being inhaled or eaten in any significant amounts, especially by pets or children.

One way to prevent inhalation is to mix these outside or in a well ventilated area and slowly add them to prevent the dust from becoming airborne. Another way would be to dilute them in water, i.e. instead of making a powder form of laundry detergent, make a liquid form.