Borax is a good natural cleaner and is not particularly dangerous although it is an insecticide. It is alkaline, as is baking soda, and you should take steps to avoid getting it on your skin or in your eyes. You should wear gloves when using borax and preferably wear goggles or glasses when working with borax powder. It should not do any great deal of damage but can irritate your skin and eyes. If you get borax on your skin, you should wash it off with clean water. If you get it in your eyes, use an eyewash to clean it out or irrigate your eyes with clean water. There is evidence that borax ingestion can harm an unborn child, and while that seems to be only when ingested in larger quantities, pregnant women should avoid its use: go for methods 1 or 3. The substance is generally just as safe for men to use as using sodium bicarbonate (baking soda).