Interesting Uses of SaltHousekeepingMakes housekeeping simple and enjoyable
Salt is one of the most commonly used ingredients in the kitchen, but how often have you used it for anything other than cooking? While many believe salt should be limited in use, it often plays an essential role in health; it just needs to be used in the right amounts—neither too much nor too little. Besides cooking, salt has many other uses. In this section of SelMagz, we will discuss various uses of salt.SelMagzWe will describe several different applications of salt.
Using Salt in Various Areas of the Home
1. Beautifying Artificial and Natural Flowers
Artificial flowers are a great alternative to natural ones and can save you a lot of money in the long run. Fill a vase with salt and then add cold water, making your artificial flowers look more appealing. For natural flowers, use coarser salt. If you dislike seeing the salt in your vase, opt for opaque vases where it can’t be seen.
2. Cleaning Artificial Flowers
To clean your artificial flowers from dust, you can use salt. Place the flowers in a paper bag filled with table salt and shake it well; this will ensure that no dust remains, leaving your artificial flowers looking flawless.
3. Cleaning Vases
Over time, flowers left in glass vases leave behind residue that can cause stains on the glass. To remove these stains, sprinkle some salt on a sponge and clean the desired vase with it, then rinse with warm water andsoapand for tall vases, fill it withsaltwaterand shake it, then use a toothbrush or a specific brush to scrub the stains in the vase.
4. Recycling Old Sponges
Sponges can get worn out after long use. To extend a sponge’s life, soak it in saltwater for one day, then take it out and let it dry.
5. Keeping Wicker Items Looking New
Wicker items are usually very beautiful but not easy to maintain. Over time, continuous use in the sun can cause their color to fade. To prevent this, soak them in a saltwater solution every six months and let them dry.
6. Extinguishing a Fire
Being next to a warm fireplace on a cold winter night is delightful, and sprinkling some salt on the flame is a good method to extinguish it.
7. Eliminating Shoe and Sneaker Odors
Sprinkling a little salt into your shoes and sneakers can easily remove any unpleasant odors inside them.
Baby powder can also be very effective in eliminating bad smells in shoes.
8. Removing Lipstick StainsFrom DishesTo remove lipstick marks from your dishes and guests’ utensils, just sprinkle a bit of salt on it before washing. This will quickly eliminate any remaining lipstick.
9. Cleaning Aquarium Glass
Using non-iodized salt, you can easily remove stains from aquarium glass. Just rub some salt with a sponge on the glass, then rinse with warm water.
10. Preventing Light-Colored Towels and Clothes from Darkening
To prevent your light-colored towels or clothing from darkening, just add some salt to your washing machine. This will help your clothes retain their bright colors.
11. Cleaning Brass Dishes
For cleaning and maintaining your decorative brass dishes, simply mix equal parts of salt, flour, and
white vinegarand apply the mixture. Then clean them with a dry cloth for a brighter appearance.Salt can also be used to remove grease and burnt material from pots and pans.
12. Keeping Decorative Candles Looking Clean
To keep decorative candles clean and beautiful, you can soak them in a thick saltwater solution.
13. Removing Grass Stains from Clothes
By squeezing some lemon juice on the stain and then sprinkling some salt over it, you can easily remove grass stains from your clothes.
Beauty and Health
14. Salt as a Suitable Mouthwash Alternative
Did you know that some mouthwashes contain chemicals that can harm your teeth? It’s better for your health to use natural substances to freshen your mouth. Simply mix 1 teaspoon of table salt with 1 teaspoon ofbaking soda
and half a cup of water. Gargling with this solution will greatly help freshen your mouth.15. Extending the Life of Your ToothbrushSoaking your new toothbrush in saltwater will keep it lasting longer.
16. Skin Exfoliation
Warm, cold, or even moderate weather can make your skin dry over time. After a shower, you can rub some salt on your skin to remove dead skin cells and promote blood circulation underneath your skin. Just lightly rub a small amount of salt in circular motions on your skin.
Sea saltworks better in this case.
17. Eliminating DandruffWhen going to the shower, sprinkle some salt on your scalp and massage it with your hands for 5 minutes. Then wash your hair with shampoo, and you’ll see that salt has a significant effect in eliminatingdandruff
.
18. Soothing Chapped LipsAre your lips dry and chapped? They might need exfoliation. Grab an old toothbrush, put some table salt on it, and scrub your lips in circular motions for five minutes. Then rinse your lips, being careful not to let the salt get into your mouth, as this method will enhance the appearance of your lips.19. Treating a Sore ThroatYou probably already know that salt helps reduce swelling and loosen mucus. It can also help eliminate the viruses and bacteria causingsore throat
and simply gargling with a saltwater solution for 30 seconds will greatly soothe your throat.
20. Cleaning with Salt
Salt can stop the growth of bacteria and yeast, making it an excellent cleaning agent.
21. Removing Tea andCoffee StainsSprinkle some salt on a sponge and scrub it on cups with tea and coffee stains. If the stain is stubborn, you can rub some white vinegar on it and then clean it with the salt-filled sponge.
22. Cleaning the Refrigerator
To eliminate bad smells from the refrigerator, mix half a cup of salt with 2 liters of warm water, then use a sponge to clean the shelves with this saltwater solution to get rid of the unpleasant odor.
23. Cleaning MopsTo clean a mop from dust, soak it in a bucket of warm water and salt. Let the mop remain in there for about 30 minutes, then take it out, rinse, and finally clean it with an old cloth.
24. Cleaning Wooden Kitchen Boards
Wooden boards can look unsightly after a while. To improve the appearance of your wooden boards, after washing them, use a cloth dampened with saltwater to give them a brighter, fresh look.
25. Removing Tea and Coffee Stains from Tables
Simply sprinkle some table salt on the stained area and then thoroughly clean it with a damp sponge.
26. Cleaning Pots
Salt is very effective in removing
burnt food
and grease from pots. Just pour some saltwater solution into the pot and after a few minutes, rinse it out.
27. Preventing Clogged Bathtub Drains
Mix 1 cup of salt with 1 cup of baking soda and half a cup of white vinegar, then pour it down the drain. After 10 minutes, pour 2 liters of boiling water down the drain and then turn on the faucet to flush out any deposits.
28. Removing Residue from IronSprinkling some salt on the surface of an iron and cleaning it with a cloth can remove any residue formed on it.29. Removing Sweat Stains from Clothes
Salt is excellent for removing sweat stains from clothes. Just dissolve 5 tablespoons of salt in 1 liter of water and use a sponge to blot the sweat stains from your clothing, then put it into the washing machine for a good wash.
Using Salt in the Kitchen
30. Speeding Up Cooking Times
Adding salt to food not only seasons it but also helps water boil faster, which speeds up the cooking process.
31. Keeping Salads Looking Fresh
Preparing salads before guests arrive can be difficult as they might lose their appealing look. A quick trick to keep salads fresh and vibrant is to sprinkle some salt on top. This won’t affect the salad’s taste much and helps to keep your salad fresh for at least 4 hours.
32. Extending Milk Shelf Life
Adding a small amount of salt to a milk bottle will keep the milk fresh for one to two more days.
33. Flavoring Nuts
To flavor your nuts, just soak them in salty water for a few hours, then remove and dry them.
34. Identifying Freshness of Eggs
Add 2 tablespoons of salt to 1 cup of water, then place an egg in it. If the egg sinks, it indicates it’s fresh; if it floats, it’s old.
35. Removing Food Odors from Hands
To eliminate unpleasant food odors such as fish, garlic, and
onions
simply wash your hands with a mixture of water and salt.36. Better Washing of Vegetables
For better washing of vegetables and removing dust from their leaves, soak them in a saltwater solution. For example, put spinach leaves in a bowl of water containing 2-3 tablespoons of salt and shake well.
37. Easier Peeling of Boiled Eggs
Soaking boiled eggs in saltwater will make peeling them much easier.38. Keeping Fruit Salad FreshIf you’re preparing a fruit salad to serve a few hours later, soak the fruit pieces in a bowl of water and salt before placing them in a bowl. This method ensures the cut fruits stay fresh and vibrant for a longer time, especially
apples
,pears, and
potatoes
.
39. Boiling Potatoes Better
Take the potatoes out of boiling water and place them in saltwater for a few minutes before returning them to the pot. This will enhance their flavor.40. Speeding Up Egg CookingRub some salt on theshell of an eggbefore boiling it to cook it faster. Additionally, adding salt and a little vinegar to the eggs makes them tastier.41. Extending Cheese Shelf LifeTo extend the shelf life of cheese, simply wrap it in a damp cloth containing salt and store it in the refrigerator.
Salt Uses on a Large Scale
42. Preventing Gasoline Freeze in Winter
Salt melts ice, which is why it’s used to remove ice on roads in winter. Rubbing some salt on your car windows in winter can effectively prevent them from freezing.
43. Getting Rid of Slugs and Other PestsSprinkling some salt around your plants will help keep slugs and other pests away from your plants.44. Preventing Weed Growth
Simply add 1 cup of salt to 2 cups of water in a pot, bring it to a boil, and pour it directly onto the weeds. After a few hours, all the weeds in your garden will die.
45. Preventing Ants from Entering Your HomeBy pouring salt in various places around your home, you can easily deter them. Salt is a safe alternative to chemical pesticides and poses no harm to humans or animals.46. Relieving Pain from Bee Stings
To relieve pain and swelling from bee stings, moisten the affected area and cover it with salt. If the sting site does not improve or shows allergic signs, seek medical attention immediately.
47. Quickly Removing Food Stains from Clothes
By covering the stain with salt, you can effectively prevent it from penetrating the fabric.
48. Relieving Itch from Mosquito Bites
Moisten the affected area and cover it with salt. After the itch subsides, wash the skin and apply some oil to soothe the area completely.
Using Salt on a Large Scale
49. Highway Excavation
Besides using salt for melting ice on roads or preventing your car windows from freezing, it is also utilized for excavation purposes. Salt is not only effective for this, but it’s also an economical, eco-friendly solution that’s always available.
50. Agriculture
Have you ever seen rock salt on a horse farm? Just like humans, animals also need salt as part of their balanced diet.
Salt supplements are common for ensuring the health of animals on farms and stables.
51. Paper Production
Making paper isn’t just a matter of cutting down trees. Salt is used as a part of the production process to create other chemicals that process and bleach wood.
52. Industrial Chemicals
Of the total salt produced in a country, 68% is used in the production of industrial chemicals.
53. Water Purification
In areas with untreated water, salt is used to purify the water from calcium and
magnesium.
