Salt- More Than Just A Spice

Although you may not realize it, simple table salt has a great number of uses other than simply seasoning your food A chemist would probably be able to tell you why it works, all I know is it does.. My goal is not to debate the salt in food issue, but show you a few other uses for salt.

Around the house some uses may be outdated because salt was replaced by a more modern chemical. Just remember modern does not necessarily mean better only different.
If you sprinkle salt on your shelves it keeps ants away.
Try adding a little salt to the water your cut flowers will stand in. They will last longer.
To fill plaster holes in your walls, use equal parts of salt and starch, with just enough water to make a stiff putty.

Salt has been used as a natural cleaner for ages.
Mix salt with turpentine to whiten you bathtub and toilet bowl.
A mixture of salt and lemon juice can be used to clean piano keys or remove mildew in many places.
Clean brass, copper and pewter with paste made of salt and vinegar, thickened with flour.
Use salt to clean your discolored coffee pot & clothes iron.
Clean greasy pans with a paper towel and salt.
Soak enamel pans in salt water overnight and boil salt water in them the next day to remove burned-on stains.
Before using new drinking glasses, soak them in warm salty water for awhile.

Salt can be used as a neutralizer on variety of stains.
Pour a mound of salt on an ink spot on your carpet; let the salt soak up the stain.
Cover wine-stained fabric with salt, then later rinse in cool water.
To remove grease stains in clothing, mix one part salt to four parts alcohol.

Salt is used as an eliminator to get rid of odors in lots of places.
Freshen sponges by soaking them in salt water.
Remove odors from sink drainpipes with a strong, hot
solution of salt water.
Sprinkle salt in milk-scorched pans to remove odor.
Remove offensive odors from your stove with salt and cinnamon.
Salt and soda will sweeten the odor of your refrigerator.
If a pie bubbles over in your oven, put a handful of salt on top of the spilled juice. The mess won't smell and will bake into a dry, light crust which will wipe off easily when the oven has cooled.
Sprinkle salt in your oven before scrubbing clean.

Outside salt can be used as a helper.
Use salt for killing weeds in your lawn.
Sprinkle salt between sidewalk bricks where you don't want grass growing.
Rub any wicker furniture you may have with salt water to
prevent yellowing.
When cleaning up, eliminate excess suds with a sprinkle of salt.

Inside, salt can be used to enhance your medicine cabinet.
Soak toothbrushes in salt water before you first use them;
they will last longer.
Use equal parts of salt and soda for brushing your teeth and only the dry salt sprinkled on your toothbrush makes a good tooth polisher.
Mildly salted water makes an effective mouthwash.
Rinse a sore eye with a little salt water.
Use it hot for a sore throat gargle.

In the kitchen, salt needs to be moderated more than it used to be but still can be used.
Rub salt on your pancake griddle and your flapjacks won't stick.
Soak fish in salt water before descaling; the scales will
come off easier.
Test the freshness of eggs in a cup of salt water; fresh
eggs sink; bad ones float.
Add a little salt to your boiling water when cooking eggs.
A cracked egg will stay in its shell and salty water boils faster when cooking eggs.
Clean your greens in salt water for easier removal of dirt.
Add salt to green salads to prevent wilting.
Soaking wrinkled apples in a mildly salted water solution perks them up.
Fruits put in mildly salted water after peeling will not
Discolor.

As you can see, common table salt can be put to use in lots of places besides on french-fries. Some you may have known and, some you may not have known. I can only hope that at least one gave you an ‘I should have remembered that’ moment like it did for me.