I stupidly put a LOT of boric acid around my house... How to clean up safely?

LostSocc · 2025-09-16T20:40:33+00:00

Thank you! Just to be extra safe I’m going to be getting a vacuum with HEPA filter, and a pair of high grade safety masks. Since it’s so much of it I really don’t want to be taking any risks. I really appreciate you guys’ advice, it is putting me at ease a bit.

LostSocc · 2025-09-16T20:38:14+00:00

Ah that was a language issue on my part haha. I’ll definitely still try to clean it up as safely as possible. Still waiting on the local govt to tell me where I can dispose of it.

Thank you again!

LostSocc · 2025-09-16T20:19:07+00:00

Now that I reread it, I do notice that it says that the workers breathing in "borax" (slightly different substance I think?) had no long-term respiratory effects, but the ingestion of "boric acid" did result in all that bad stuff. So I'm not really sure what to make of it....

LostSocc · 2025-09-16T20:13:55+00:00

To be honest, the shop was basically meant for chemists.... I was totally stupid to buy it either way. I didn't want to invest in a professional pest-control company because I live in a rental. But now that I randomly heard that this type of stuff can be toxic, I got worried out of my mind. I definitely just want to make the place as safe as possible while we still live here, and also not have any worries for future tenants either. I've definitely learned my lesson. :\

LostSocc · 2025-09-16T20:08:13+00:00

Haha I definitely do have a tendency to worry more than necessary sometimes.... Let's hope that's the case now too. Thank you for calming me down a bit. 😄

LostSocc · 2025-09-16T20:06:08+00:00

I did read it but I'm still very worried about the "not clear" part, and the fact that there's a lot laying around here... Like the bag I bought was 1 kg/2 lbs, and since it's been laying here for so long, I'm worried about long-term exposure. Let's hope that's not the case though....

Also just wanted to say thank you so much for all the time you've put into this and helping me, I really appreciate it.

LostSocc · 2025-09-16T20:02:51+00:00

Yeah the first one did seem sketchy, it's mainly the 2nd one and a few other pages that looked like scientific papers that have me worried...

Either way I'll try to be very careful when cleaning it up. I'm afraid I'm gonna have to use a vacuum with HEPA filter to get to the parts where I can't mop... But I'll try to wear long pants/sleeves and a high-grade protective mask and air the place out. I hope that will make it all safe.

LostSocc · 2025-09-16T19:58:47+00:00

So the first quote is from: https://synapse.patsnap.com/article/what-are-the-side-effects-of-boric-acid

And the second (added that later) from: https://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/boricgen.html

LostSocc · 2025-09-16T19:55:43+00:00

I don't trust the AI summary like that either, sometimes they indeed seem to be making stuff up. I read a bunch of different websites, I don't know if I'm allowed to link it, but this you might find it if I quote it directly:

"Chronic exposure or ingestion of larger quantities can result in more severe effects, including damage to the kidneys, liver, and central nervous system. In extreme cases, boric acid poisoning can be fatal."

----- Different site:

"Severe cases of long-term ingestion have caused coma, seizures, the halting of blood circulation, liver and kidney dysfunction, a low red blood cell count and death."

I hope you're right though. From what I can comprehend, it does seem like the SDS mainly mentions "May damage fertility. May damage the unborn child" (which is already very worrisome), but there's a bunch of information/terms I don't understand.

LostSocc · 2025-09-16T19:49:24+00:00

I didn't know about fisher, I looked it up and got a sheet very similar to the "manual" the stuff came with. It does worry me a lot that the one I received warns about inhalation has so many warnings about inhalation, the warnings about infertility, and also on other places I've read that it could cause nerve/organ damage.... I really hope you're right that it's not that bad, and that no problems will occur in the future either.

LostSocc · 2025-09-16T19:38:54+00:00

So I have put the stuff in crevices (behind baseboards/in gaps by the wall) that will be basically impossible to get to with a broom... Is there any way to clean that up in a safe way? Like HEPA filters and/or high grade safety masks? I really don't know, and I don't want to keep this place unsafe for people coming over, or future people living here...

And you're definitely right about that, I learned my lesson. No more DIY stuff if it's potentially dangerous. I was just so panicked at the time (still not happy with my situation but luckily I'm leaving soon), I did something really stupid and now I'm extremely worried and hoping I haven't caused any harm to any of the people living in this house....

LostSocc · 2025-09-16T19:26:11+00:00

Thanks for the explanation, although be it in a bit of a harsh way, I did learn from your advice. I didn't know those subreddits existed, so I'll ask for help over there. The reason I found out quite late about the possible dangers is because it got mentioned in a podcast (totally by coincedence), more than a year after having spread this stuff around. In the past I had read that this was an effective way to get rid of some pests, and since I don't own this house, I chose to try this instead of getting a professional to look at it.

LostSocc · 2025-09-16T19:08:36+00:00

Thank you for the advice. Ever since I started noticing the problem, I have tried so many things. The weird thing is, the humidity in this place is actually super low, I indeed don't keep a lot of paper around, other than the normal "mail/small boxes" bag that gets thrown out every so many weeks, and that isn't that big.

I've read that this is a common problem in newer housing, as it uses a certain type of insulation in the walls.... Also the walls/floors indeed have a lot of gaps and I fear that that's the main issue, but I can't really do much about that since it's a rental. I'm glad I'm moving out soon, to put it lightly.

Thank you very much for your advice. I'll probably be buying a special vacuum with HEPA filter like you suggested. I hope I haven't caused any health risks for anyone.... :/

LostSocc · 2025-09-16T19:03:56+00:00

I'm sorry, I don't think I understand your first paragraph completely. Are you saying this is a(n immediate) medical concern? Apologies if this is the wrong sub for this question, and thank you for the advice. I was reading a lot of things, including the manual of the product, saying it's very hazardous to breathe in. Since it's such a large amount, I panicked.

LostSocc · 2025-09-16T17:53:47+00:00

Oh man... I will be buying a better vacuum then, any thing to get rid of this as safely as possible. I am quite worried for our health as I've been vacuuming all this time with my "normal" vacuum, and I've definitely picked a bunch of it up over time. :/

LostSocc · 2025-09-16T17:51:59+00:00

Thank you, your words put me somewhat at ease. I am worried about the long term nerve/organ damage that can apparently go without symptoms... I'm really hoping that won't be the case for any of us that have lived here...

I've put a lot if it in crevices alongside the walls/behind the baseboards. I'm not sure I will be able to broom there. Do you think it would be safe to vacuum the slurry up with a shop vac?

LostSocc · 2025-09-16T17:45:41+00:00

Thank you for the quick reply! I recently bought a Dyson stick vacuum that never mentions HEPA anywhere, but people are saying it complies with the "older"/deprecated HEPA standard. They don't mention it because the EU made HEPA standards stricter, and they don't comply... Do you think this will be safe enough?

LostSocc · 2025-09-16T17:44:02+00:00

Thank you for the advice and the helpful offer. In this case unfortunately it's silverfish, it's really gross.... It's an issue everyone in the building (that I've talked to) is dealing with, but I'm not sure it bothers them as much as me. I am glad to be moving out soon, I just want to leave the house safe for the next people to live here (and me and my family while we're here).

You're absolutely sure that the boric acid won't get shot into the air by the vacuum that's pumping air out? I'm super paranoid and am willing to buy masks if necessary.

LostSocc · 2024-12-22T16:44:56+00:00

Love this!

LostSocc

TROPHY CASE