Borax, or sodium tetraborate, is a salt that is used to eliminate odors around the home. It can remove odors from clothes—especially food odors and cooking grease. Many odor removers use a similar formula or active ingredient to target odors and odor-causing particles. Borax is safe to use on clothing but not as convenient or effective as some other products designed specifically for laundry use. Read more about how to use borax in your laundry.