Salt is the staple seasoning in the kitchen, but it has so many uses around the house. Did you know that it has thousands of uses?! Salt is made of a unique, naturally occurring chemical compound that makes it useful in so many ways besides making your favorite foods taste good.
Rather than write a novel on salt and its thousands of uses, let’s look at these amazing Uses for Salt Around The Home you may not know about.
Uses for Salt Around the Home
Use in Your Chimney
If you have a wood-burning fireplace, you can keep soot from building up in your chimney by tossing some salt on the logs.
Helps to Get Rid of Watermarks
Remove watermarks from your tables and furniture by using a mixture of warm water and salt. Just allow it to sit for a few minutes and wipe clean.
Related: 10 Around the House Uses for Orange Peels
Add a Shine to Your Coin Collection
Get your copper shining again with a paste of salt and vinegar. Just rub gently on the bottom of your copper pans to remove stuck-on soot and tarnish. Works great on brass, pewter, and bronze as well. Do not use on silver, however.
Quickly Removes Soap Suds
Pour salt onto overflowing suds in the sink or washing machine.
Abrasive Cleaner
Make a great abrasive cleaner by making a paste of salt, borax, and water. Don’t use on finished wood or painted surfaces, though, as this will get your troublesome areas clean. Works great on rust rings in the tub.
Helps to Brighten Your Clothing
Speaking of washing machines, add salt to your washing machine’s rinse cycle to brighten colors and sharpen them.
Water Your Plants With a Saltwater Mixture
Mix a couple of teaspoons with a gallon of warm water. Water your plants with this mixture once a month or so. They need salt, too, just like we do, and will grow much stronger and healthier.
Removes the Buildup on Your Clothes Iron
Clean your iron with salt. Just sprinkle some on your ironing board and it will take the buildup right off. Alternatively, you can make a paste from vinegar, baking soda, and salt. Just rub on when your iron is cool and wipe off with a warm, wet cloth.
Related: 10 Unusual Uses for Lemons
Reinvigorates Your Sponges
Make your sponges come back to life by soaking in a solution of ¼ cup salt per quart of warm water. Soak overnight and your grungy mops and sponges are almost as good as new!
Keep Frost Off Your Car Windows
This winter, keep your mirrors and windows frost-free by wiping them with a sponge dipped in saltwater and allowing them to dry. It’s convenient when you need to head out in the morning and don’t want to worry about dealing with frost on the car windows.
Deters Ants and Other Pests
Keep pests at bay. Ants hate salt and will be discouraged from crossing the line if you put a line of salt in the doorway. If you’re spotting them in your home, you know what to do! Salt is a safer alternative to toxic pest control products that can harm your pets.
Neutralizes Odor
Garbage disposal smelling less than nice? Just sprinkle ½ cup salt down the drain and run some cold water. The salt will neutralize any odors and help get rid of anything that is stuck and causing them to smell.
Aleve a Toothache
Rinse with it when you have a toothache. If your tooth is bothering you and you can’t get to the dentist right away, rinse your mouth with a cup full of warm water and a teaspoon of salt. It works to naturally relieve discomfort while treating inflammation.
Soak Your Sore Feet
Use it in a foot soak when dealing with ingrown toenails or inflammation. You can fill a basin with warm water, add your favorite essential oils, and then toss two tablespoons of salt into the water. Soak your feet for at least 15 minutes per day to get relief.
Related: Household Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar
Clears Up Irritated Skin Including Eczema
Treat eczema with salt. You can add it to a bathtub full of warm water and then soak in it for at least 15 minutes. Its natural healing properties allow it to work wonders at clearing up the irritation and inflammation on your skin.
Help Clean Your Cutting Board
Use it to clean your cutting board. If you have a stained cutting board, sprinkling salt over it and then scrubbing away at it with dish soap will help you get it as clean as possible with less effort.
Brings Relief to a Sore Throat
Gargle with warm water and salt to soothe an aching sore throat. When you need relief, but nothing is helping, this old-fashioned approach can work wonders. It helps to clear up the infection, ultimately allowing you to get relief from the pain.
Brings Some Relief to Poison Ivy
Get rid of poison ivy with salt. If you have poison ivy on your skin, soak some cotton balls in warm water mixed with salt and then place them on the irritated areas of your skin. It provides soothing relief and speeds up the healing process.
Helps You Remove Mold Easier
Get rid of mold using a combo of lemon juice and salt. Add a ½ cup of lemon juice to a bowl with a tablespoon of salt, mix well, and then pour it over any mold spots. Place cotton balls on top and leave them there for 30-60 minutes before removing and wiping away the mold.
Freshen Your Toothbrush
Add it to your toothbrush to get rid of stains. After putting the toothpaste on your toothbrush, sprinkle a pinch of salt on top and gently brush your teeth. It helps remove those unwanted surface stains that often develop from coffee, soda, and other beverages and foods consumed.
With plenty of Uses for Salt Around The Home, it’s a good idea to stock up and have it available to use when you need it. Whether you’re using it to clean, fight inflammation, or keep pests away, salt gives you plenty of great options! If you’re still needing one more reason, remember that salt is a natural alternative for many products that contain harsh and harmful ingredients.
SALT – Thanks for the informative post. Here in Sri Lanka in the pre-tooth paste era salt and charcoal, powdered and mixed in equal amounts were used to clean the teeth. That worked efficiently, especially for the beetle nut-stained teeth.