Most American homes have some salt in their cupboard or cabinets. It gives a little flavor to food when it’s lacking. And when we think of salt, most people probably think that salt’s uses end with food. But that’s not the case. Salt comes in handy for plenty of things around the house. It can even solve a lot of your household problems. You can remove stains and create chemical-free household cleaners. You can also chill wine a lot faster or clear up a clogged drain. So, you might want to start stocking a lot more salt in your house.
Here Are 40 Amazing Things You Never Knew Salt Could Do:
1) Clean Your Iron
Your iron can get pretty dirty. To clean it, sprinkle a generous amount of salt on wax paper. Run your iron back and forth over the salt. This will wipe the gunk right off.
2) Chill White Wine
Need to chill those bottles of wine quick? Place the bottle of wine in a bucket with ice, some water, and a handful of salt. Stir it around. The salt will super chill the bottle in no time.
3) Clean A Cracked Egg
Did you drop an egg? Pour salt over the mess and wait about 10 to 15 minutes. The salt will turn the mess into a sand-like substance that you can easily wipe up.
4) DIY Dishwasher Soap
Run out of dishwasher soap? You can make your own with salt, baking soda, and regular soap. You can find the recipe here.
5) Get Rid of Caked-On Pan Grease
Cover your pan with a layer of salt. Add some water and let it sit for 10 minutes. This will dissolve all the grease away so you can easily wipe away the caked on grease.
6) Clean Up Red Wine
Did you spill some red wine on your carpet? Well, you better act quick. Pour salt over the stain and let it sit for 5 minutes. Splash it with cold water and rub until the stain goes away.
7) Clean Grime Off Your Sponge
Put two cups of water in a container with a quarter cup of salt. Leave the greasy blackened sponge in the solution overnight. The grime will come right off when you take it out.
8) Clean a Cutting Board
Wood cutting boards shouldn’t be put in the dishwater. The way to disinfect them is to soak it in hot water. Rub the board down with salt and lemon juice then rinse clean.
9) Clear Your Drain
You can make an all natural Drano cleaner with salt. Mix 1/4 cup of baking soda with 1/4 cup of salt. Try to pull out as much hair as you can with gloves before you pour this mixture down the drain. Pour 1/2 cup of white vinegar down and let the mixture sit for 15 minutes before you chase this with a pot of boiling water.
10) Get Rid of Mildew
Got mildew stains and smells on clothing or towels? Mix salt and lemon juice together and rub it over your stains. Let the paste dry. Drying it in the sun is best. Afterward, toss your clothes in the washing machine. The stains and smells should be gone when your load is done.
11) Clean a Coffee Pot
Get rid of those coffee pot stains with some salt. Pour crushed ice and a tablespoon of water into your coffee pot along with a few tablespoons of coarse salt. Swirl the contents around. This will scrub the stains away.
12) Chemical-Free Fridge Cleaner
Your refrigerator can get pretty gross with caked on food, crumbs, and spills. But no one wants to use chemicals in the refrigerator. Make an all-natural abrasive cleaner with salt and soda water.
13) Prevent Fruit From Browning
You can prevent cut fruit from going brown with salt. Just soak your peeled apples and pears in salt water for a few minutes then rinse. Dry and store in an airtight container.
14) Chemical-Free Oven Cleaner
Our ovens can get pretty gross over time. Prevent this by cleaning up spills asap. Pour salt over the spill and let it sit until your oven is cooled. The mess will crust up and be a lot easier to clean when it’s cooled.
15) Brighten Up Rugs and Curtains
You can brighten up the colors in your rugs and curtains with some salt and water. Dip a washcloth in a strong solution of salt water. Briskly rub your faded rugs and curtains down to renew them.
16) Remove Blood Stains
Blood stains can be tough to get out but salt will do the trick. Soak your garment in a cold saltwater bath. Then wash with warm salty water.
17) Prevent Clothesline Freeze
Do you use a clothesline in the winter? Prevent your clothes from freezing with salt. Just add a pinch to the final laundry rinse.
18) Remove Rust
Get rid of rust with an all natural cleaner. Mix water, salt, and cream of tartar until you get a paste. Place this mixture over the rust and let dry before your brush off and buff with a soft, dry cloth.
19) Get Rid of Ants
Have an ant problem? Solve it with salt. Just sprinkle the stuff on windowsills, doorways, and other places ants might sneak in.
20) Polish Copper or Brass
You can make an all natural brass and copper cleaner with salt. Mix equal parts flour, vinegar, and salt into a paste. Rub it on your metal and let it sit for an hour. Wipe clean with a soft cloth.
21) Remove Water Rings
Get rid of stubborn water rings with salt paste. Mix salt with vegetable oil to create a thin paste. Use this to buff out rings on wooden tables. Be sure to do a test on a hidden part of the table before you start on the tabletop.
22) Make Flowers Last
Want that flower bouquet to last longer? Add a pinch of salt to the water in the vase. This should extend their life.
23) Get Rid of Poison Ivy
Is poison ivy lurking in your yard? Get three pounds of salt and mix it with one gallon of soapy water. Pour in a spray bottle and spray the leaves and stems to kill the plant.
24) Put Out Fire
Is it time to put out the fire and go to bed? Throw a little salt on the flames. It will help your fire burn out quicker.
25) Renew Wicker
Wicker makes for some gorgeous furniture. But it can yellow over time. You can prevent this by gently scrubbing it every six to 12 months with a stiff brush dipped in salt water. Let it air dry afterward.
26) Fish Tanks
Fish tanks can get pretty gnarly if you don’t clean them often. Those built up mineral deposits can be hard to scrape off. Try using some non-iodized salt. Rub it into the glass with a sponge and rinse well with warm water.
27) Reduce Candle Drip
Are you a candle lover that hates the drippy mess they make? You can prevent a waxy mess from tapered candles by soaking them in a strong salt solution for a few hours. Make sure you dry them off well.
28) Get Rid of Grass Stains
Squeeze some lemon juice over your stain. Now pour a thick layer of salt over it. The stain should come out when you rub it.
29) DIY Mouthwash
You can make a DIY mouthwash with salt. It won’t be minty but it will naturally freshen your breath. Mix a teaspoon of salt with a teaspoon of baking soda and half a cup of water. Stir your mixture and gargle it.
30) Skin Exfoliator
Need to get rid of dry and scaly skin? Rub some salt on your damp skin in a circular motion. This will exfoliate all your dead skin cells.
31) Dandruff Treatment
Try salt for getting rid of dandruff. Sprinkle some on your head and massage it into your scalp for about five minutes. Rinse the salt out and shampoo your hair as you normally would.
32) Exfoliate Lips
Want your lips to look nice and smooth when you wear that new lipstick? Pour some salt onto a toothbrush. You can mix it with a little bit of petroleum jelly too. Brush your lips in a circular motion to remove the dead skin and smooth out your lips.
33) Soothe a Sore Throat
Flush our irritants and bacteria with a salt rinse. Pour some salt in a glass with water and gargle for 30 seconds. It will help to reduce swelling and loosen mucus.
34) Remove Tea and Coffee Stains
Tea and coffee stains on mugs can be a real pain to get rid of. Pour some salt on a sponge and rub the stains in circular motions until they go away. You can add a teaspoon of white vinegar to your more stubborn stains.
35) Clean Your Broom
Brooms can get pretty nasty. You should clean yours every once in a while by placing them in a bucket of hot salty water for 30 minutes. Let it dry and wipe it with a cloth to get rid of excess dirt.
36) Keep Salad Fresh
Want your salad to stay fresh longer? Sprinkle a little salt on it. This will keep it from perishing before your guests arrive. It will help it last for 4 hours.
37) Keep Milk Fresher Longer
You can make your milk last a little bit longer with a pinch of salt. This works for cream too. Not sure how this would affect taste though.
38) Remove Odor From Your Hands
Does that fish you cooked or onions you peeled have your hands stinking? Remove the smell with salt. Wash your hands and rub your fingers with some salt and rinse.
39) Make Your Cheese Last Longer
Wrap your cheese in a light cloth that was soaked with salt water. Keep this in your refrigerator. It should last about a week longer.
40) Stop Weeds
Are weeds springing up through the cracks in your patio? Boil two cups of water with one cup of salt. Pour the solution over your weeds and pull them up an hour later.
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Source: Expert Home Tips
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