30 Handy Household Uses for Salt

30 Handy Household Uses for Salt

Salt is more than just a seasoning. It has scores of uses in every room in your house. It makes a wonderful grooming aid, cleanser, drain unclogger, laundry brightener, restorer of wicker furniture---and much, much more.

Not only is it versatile and easy to use, it is also inexpensive and environmentally friendly. I have compiled 30 “salt solutions” for you to try out. I bet once you use them, you’ll be hooked on it like me!

As a Grooming Aid:

Soothe rough, chapped skin on knees, feet and elbows by making a cream from 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup Epsom salts, and 1/4 cup vegetable oil. Massage the paste into your skin and leave it on for 15 minutes. Then bathe or shower to remove it.

Use salt as an exfoliating scrub to remove dead skin cells. Simply sprinkle salt on a sponge, washcloth, or loofah and rub it on your wet skin.

Make a gentle homemade mouthwash by combining 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon baking soda in 1/2 cup of water. If you prefer a flavored mouthwash, add a drop of peppermint extract. This mouthwash is especially good after dental work.

Make a revitalizing facial by mixing equal parts of salt and olive oil. Apply it to your face using gentle upward strokes. Leave on for 5 minutes, then rinse and gently pat your face dry.


In the Kitchen:

Soak discolored glass in a salt and vinegar solution to remove yellowish stains.

Use salt to clean your discolored coffeepot.

Sprinkle salt in your oven before scrubbing it clean.

Clean greasy pans with a paper towel and salt.

Rub salt on your pancake griddle to prevent your pancakes from sticking.

If a fruit pie bubbles over in your oven, put a handful of salt on top of the spilled juice. The smell won't remain, and the mess and will bake into a dry, light crust which will wipe off easily after the oven has cooled.

Use a mixture of salt and baking soda to sweeten the odor of your refrigerator.

Freshen kitchen sponges by soaking them in salt water.

Remove offensive odors from your stove with salt and cinnamon.
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Remove odors from sink drainpipes with a strong, hot solution of salt water.


In the Bathroom:

Unclog bathroom drains by combining 1 cup salt, 1 cup baking soda, and 1/2 cup vinegar, and pouring it directly into the drain. Let it sit fir 15 minutes. Then pour two quarts of boiling water down the drain. Afterwards, run your hot water faucet for 1 minute to finish flushing the drain.

To clean porcelain sinks, tubs and toilets, use a scouring powder with 1 cup salt and 1 cup baking soda. Store it in an airtight container. It will scour beautifully without scratching.

Use a paste of salt and lemon juice to remove mildew.

Mix equal parts of salt and turpentine to whiten your discolored bathtub and toilet bowl. Be sure to wear gloves and clean with the windows open to prevent inhaling the fumes.


In the Laundry:

Soak your clothesline in salt water to prevent your clothes from freezing to the line; also use salt in your final rinse to prevent the clothes from freezing while hanging outdoors on the line.

Boiling wooden clothespins in salt water before using them makes them last longer.

Adding salt to your wash water prevents bleeding of colors.

Soak stained handkerchiefs in salt water before laundering them.

Clean you iron by rubbing it's surface with a damp cloth soaked with salt water.

Cover wine-stained fabric with salt, and rinse later in cool water.

To remove grease stains in clothing, mix one part salt to four parts alcohol and then launder as usual.

Other Places:

Rub wicker furniture you with salt water to prevent yellowing.

Brighten an old kerosene lamp by rubbing it with salt.

Clean brass, copper and pewter with paste made of salt and vinegar, thickened with flour.

Pour a mound of salt on an ink spot on your carpet and let the salt soak up the stain.

To clean piano keys, cut a lemon in half, dip it in salt, and rub it over the surface. Let the keys dry and then buff them with a clean dry cloth.


Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com