We already know that salt is versatile when it comes to cooking, but there are so many other ways to use this common ingredient that you probably didn’t know about. From getting rid of odors to relieving mosquito bites – salt has so many benefits!
Here are 15 surprising and clever ways to use table salt around your home.
The best part? Salt is so inexpensive! Now you’ll be buying in bulk.
1. Create a non-stick pan
Stainless steel pans are great, but food can often become stuck and cooked on easily. Make your stainless steel pans non-stick by first getting it hot over medium or medium-high heat. Then, place a tablespoon of coconut oil in the pan, swirl it around to cover the surface and dump out the excess.
Sprinkle a generous amount of salt in the bottom, rub with a paper towel or cloth in a circular motion. Wipe out the salt, voila! You now have a stainless steel pan perfect for making crepes.
2. Check eggs for freshness
Have a carton of eggs that is near its expiration date? Add two teaspoons to one cup of water, and let dissolve. Fresh eggs will sink, and spoiled eggs will float.
3. Get rid of shoe odors
Get rid of odors from your stinky sneakers by sprinkling some salt inside and letting it sit overnight. Dump out the next morning, the salt should have absorbed most of the nasty smell.
4. Extend the life of your cheese
To keep your cheese staying fresh for longer, wrap it in a cloth or paper towel soaked with salt water.
5. Get rid of onion or garlic smell on hands
Chopping onions or garlic can leave some potent lingering smells on your hands and fingers. Luckily, there’s an easy way to get rid of it. Simply wet your hands with water, rub with a generous amount of salt, then rinse.
6. Fix nail holes in the wall
No need to run out to buy nail hole filler at the hardware store, make your own instead! Mix equal parts salt, cornstarch, and water into a thick paste. Spread over the hole in the wall, let dry, and paint.
7. Extinguish a grease fire
A grease fire in a frying pan can quickly get out of control. Keep table salt handy to pour onto a grease fire – it will immediately extinguish the flames.
8. Soothe mosquito bites
According to Mosquito Magnet, “salt offers antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that can provide mosquito bite relief. Combine the salt with a small amount of water to create a paste that can be applied to the affected area.”
9. Brush your teeth
If you need to make some homemade toothpaste in a pinch, salt and baking soda are a great alternative. Mix a teaspoon of salt with a teaspoon of baking soda, dip a wet toothbrush into the mixture and brush away. This DIY solution will help remove tartar and stains in a jiffy.
10. Shine your copper
Copper can become covered in tarnish after a while, but thankfully, it’s easy to buff and shine within seconds. Just cut a lemon in half, dip the flesh into table salt, and scrub your copper piece until it’s nice and sparkly. All you’ll need to do is rinse with water and dry with soft, cloth.
11. Exfoliate your skin
Salt and olive oil make a wonderful exfoliant for your skin. Rub a mixture of these two ingredients onto your face, elbows, heels, or any other area with stubborn, dry skin. The olive oil will moisturize your skin, while the salt will scrub away any dead skin.
12. Dust your silk flowers
“Place salt in a brown paper bag, followed by your flowers. Shake the bag for a few minutes,” are the instructions on Off The Grid News on how to quickly refresh your silk or faux flowers.
13. Prevent candles from dripping
If you want to make your candles dripless, soak them in a concentrated salt water solution for a few hours. Let the candle completely dry before lighting.
14. Prevent mold growth on shower curtains
Home Guides has some tips to help prevent your shower curtain from growing mold – “After giving your plastic shower curtain a spin through the washing machine, a salt-water soak gives it a layer of mildew-fighting power.”
15. Easily shell nuts
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Source: Brightside
