Salt is a versatile and readily available household staple that goes far beyond simply seasoning your food. It's a natural mineral with a multitude of practical applications in and around your home.
From cleaning to deodorizing to enhancing the flavor of your meals, salt can do it all. In this article, we'll explore 20 creative and useful ways to make the most of salt around your house.
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Stain Removal:
Mix salt and lemon juice to form a stain-removing paste. Lemon juice contains citric acid, which breaks down stains, while salt acts as a gentle abrasive, aiding in the removal of stubborn blemishes.
Shoe Deodorizer:
Sprinkle salt inside shoes to absorb moisture and eliminate odors. Salt's absorbent properties work to soak up moisture, while its natural deodorizing action neutralizes unwanted smells.
Drain Unclogger:
Pour a salt and hot water mixture down drains to prevent clogs. The hot water melts grease, and the salt helps to dislodge and break it down, preventing the buildup of blockages.
Cast Iron Savior:
Use salt to scrub and remove residue from cast iron cookware. Salt's abrasive quality effectively loosens and lifts stuck-on food without harming the seasoning of your pan.
Sponge Refresh:
Soak kitchen sponges in a saltwater solution. Saltwater disinfects sponges, while the salt crystals provide a scrubbing action to extend the sponge's lifespan.
Copper and Brass Polish:
Mix salt with vinegar or lemon juice to create a cleaning paste. Salt, combined with the acidity of vinegar or lemon juice, dissolves tarnish and leaves a brilliant shine on copper and brass.
Grease Pan Cleaner:
Sprinkle salt on greasy pans and scrub before washing. Salt's abrasive texture assists in breaking down grease and grime, making it easier to clean your pans.
Rust Removal:
Create a salt and water paste to remove rust. The abrasive nature of salt helps dislodge rust particles while the water aids in the rust's dissolution, leaving surfaces rust-free.
Cutting Board Freshener:
Rub salt onto wooden cutting boards to eliminate odors. Salt absorbs and neutralizes odors, effectively refreshing and disinfecting wooden surfaces.
Glassware Stain Remover:
Mix salt with a dash of dish soap to scrub stubborn glass stains. Salt's gentle abrasiveness complements dish soap's cleaning power to remove stubborn stains from glassware.
Grease Fire Extinguisher:
Keep a container of salt nearby to smother small grease fires. Salt cuts off the oxygen supply to the fire, effectively extinguishing it while preventing dangerous flare-ups.
Egg Preservation:
Store fresh eggs in a salt-filled container. The salt creates a barrier that helps slow down moisture loss, extending the shelf life of eggs.
Wine Ring Remover:
Create a salt and water paste and rub it on wooden surfaces to remove wine rings. The abrasive salt paste, coupled with its absorbent qualities, lifts wine stains from wooden surfaces.
Weed Deterrent:
Sprinkle salt on weeds between pavers or in driveway cracks. Salt dehydrates and damages plant cells, effectively discouraging weed growth in unwanted areas.
Silverware Polish:
Line a container with aluminum foil, add salt and hot water, and soak tarnished silverware. The chemical reaction between the aluminum foil, salt, and hot water effectively removes tarnish from silverware.
Oven Spill Cleaner:
Sprinkle salt on oven spills while hot to facilitate easier cleaning. Salt absorbs the spilled food's moisture, making it easier to scrape off once the oven cools.
Sidewalk De-icer:
Scatter salt on icy sidewalks and driveways in winter. Salt lowers the freezing point of water, melting ice and improving traction on slippery surfaces.
Baked-On Food Remover:
Soak pots and pans with burnt-on food in a salt and water solution. The saltwater solution loosens and softens baked-on residue, making it easier to clean.
Carpet Refresher:
Sprinkle salt on carpets, let it sit, then vacuum to remove odors and refresh fibers. Salt absorbs and neutralizes odors trapped in the carpet, leaving your room smelling fresh.
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Meat Tenderizer:
Use a salt brine to tenderize and flavor meat before cooking. Salt's properties break down muscle fibers and enhance the meat's flavor, resulting in a more tender and tasty dish.