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40 Handy Uses For Salt That We Can’t Live Without

Dan Fitzpatrick  | 1 year ago

Salt has been a kitchen staple for years, taking pride of place on the dinner table. But did you know that the tasty seasoning can actually be quite useful in other ways around the house as well? From creative tips to mind-blowing tricks, here are 40 unexpected salt hacks that’ll leave you slack-jawed. You’ll never look at your shaker the same way again!

1. Removing wine stains

If our carpets were sentient, they’d probably wince whenever the wine glasses come out. “Please don’t spill the red!” they’d say. But should an accident happen, don’t panic. Dab the area with a paper towel before grabbing your salt shaker. From there, scatter it over the wet patch.
1. Removing wine stains
HowcastFoodDrink Howcast/YouTube
It should soak up the wine before it causes too much damage. After that, run your vacuum cleaner across the salt to get rid of it.

2. Treating dandruff

Struggling with dandruff? Well, this hack could be just the ticket. Sea salt is said to be a very effective tool for treating the condition. Prior to giving your hair a wash, rub some into your head.
2. Treating dandruff
Plan Shooting 2 / Imazins/Getty Images
This simple move should help exfoliate your scalp and allow your specialist shampoo to get to work. Awesome!

3. Making toothpaste

If your toothpaste tube is nearing its end, don’t rush out to buy a new one. Instead, you could save some money by whipping up a batch yourself.
3. Making toothpaste
Westend61/Getty Images
Just stir a few helpings of salt and baking soda together before adding a drop of essential oil. Peppermint is probably the one to go for, if you want that classic minty-fresh feeling!

4. Unclogging drains

Does anyone like unclogging a blocked drain? It’s not the nicest of tasks. Mind you, this tip could make the job a lot simpler. To start with, stir a cup of baking soda and salt together, ahead of pouring in some white vinegar.
4. Unclogging drains
Household Hacker/YouTube
Then, drop the mixture into the plughole and walk away for a few minutes. At that point, tip a jug of piping hot water in there, too. That should dislodge the blockage.

5. Cleaning irons

When your iron’s soleplate starts to develop sticky patches, that’s bad news for your recently-washed clothes. Good luck getting the creases out with a clingy iron! But salt can be a big help here. Just shake some into a paper towel and run the plate over it.
5. Cleaning irons
Household Hacker/YouTube
Before you know it, the nasty goo will begin to coagulate into lumps. It’ll be gone in a matter of minutes.

6. Cleaning stained mugs

After multiple uses, coffee and tea cups will start to exhibit dirty marks. It’s a frustrating sight, to say the least.
6. Cleaning stained mugs
Food How/YouTube
To rid your crockery of the unsightly marks, grab a kitchen sponge from your cupboard and shake a bit of salt on it. From there, wipe the mucky parts of your mug in a circular motion and the stains should vanish.

7. Keeping flowers in place

It can be surprisingly tough to keep artificial plants in line — they’re pretty unruly as soon as they reach a vase. Yet a touch of salt will change that, folks. Drop some into an empty jar and pour cool water on top of it. After that, put the flowers in.
7. Keeping flowers in place
Peerayot/Getty Images
The mineral will eventually harden, which in turn holds the stems still. This method also works with real plants, so long as you go with Epsom salts.

8. Cleaning up cracked eggs

The next time you accidentally drop an egg on your kitchen floor, step away from the roll of Bounty. Instead, sprinkle a helping of salt over the shattered shell.
8. Cleaning up cracked eggs
Household Hacker/YouTube
At that stage, leave it alone for a few minutes. The salt will cause the yolk to clump up, making it easier to clean. 

9. Treating puffy eyes

Puffy eyes can be irritating: at their worst, anyone would think you’d just gone 12 rounds with Rocky Balboa! But should they flare up, pour some warm water into a glass. Then, add a bit of salt to it — around half-a-teaspoon.
9. Treating puffy eyes
gawrav/Getty Images
Stir them together and dip a cotton pad in the container, before carefully dabbing your eyes. That’ll bring the swelling down.

10. Dealing with ants

Got an ant problem in your house? Well, listen up. To begin with, drop some water and salt into a spray bottle in the kitchen. Once that’s done, target the spots where the insects are coming in.
10. Dealing with ants
Howcast/YouTube
You see, ants don’t like salt… at all. A few squirts will create a barrier that essentially blocks them off.

11. Restoring sponges

If your kitchen sponge is starting to look a little lifeless and mucky, resist the urge to throw it in the trash. Why? Simple — you can spruce it up using a mixture of water and salt.
11. Restoring sponges
Household Hacker/YouTube
Just let the sponge sit in the water for a while, ahead of pulling it out. After it’s dried, you’ll be amazed with the results!

12. Making dishwasher soap

Running a little low on dishwasher soap? No worries — you can create a batch yourself with just three ingredients in the kitchen.You’ll need standard dish detergent, baking soda, and salt.
12. Making dishwasher soap
Bhuvana Adi/YouTube
Drop them into your machine and you’ll be set. Think of the money you could save here!

13. Deodorizing shoes

Urgh, smelly shoes. That disgusting scent can quickly spread across every room in your house! But the following hack can eliminate it altogether.
13. Deodorizing shoes
Andrea Jean Cleaning/YouTube
Just shake a little bit of salt into your footwear before heading to bed. Apparently, the mineral will absorb the nasty odors in the hours leading up to morning. 

14. Strengthening nails

If your fingernails are feeling a bit weak at the moment, fill a jug with warm water. Then, add a teaspoon of lemon juice, baking soda, and salt. After stirring it all together, leave your nails in the container for a few minutes.
14. Strengthening nails
Mamtha Nair/YouTube
Rub them over at the end, ahead of washing your hands. That should give each nail a welcome boost.

15. Removing mildew

Mildew marks are no joke. If you’re not too careful, they can leave your clothes in a bit of a mess. Don’t get stressed, though.
15. Removing mildew
Howcast/YouTube
All you need to do is mix some lemon juice and salt together until it turns into “paste.” Apply it to the troublesome spots and leave it to harden. Those stains won’t stand a chance.

16. Preserving towels

Don’t you just hate it when your brand-new colorful towels start to lose their pop after a couple of washes? It’s infuriating! But guess what? Salt can actually preserve their color in the washing machine if you sprinkle some in beforehand.
16. Preserving towels
Peter Dazeley/Getty Images
And remarkably, that method can also work with your clothes as well: the mineral essentially locks the shades in place.

17. Cleaning fridges

We always wince a little when the time comes to clean the fridge. After all, it’s a pretty major job. Yet salt can make the task a lot easier.
17. Cleaning fridges
W Rcit R Dwng Canthr/EyeEm/Getty Images
Stir the mineral in with some water, ahead of dipping a kitchen sponge into the mix. Once you get scrubbing, you’ll notice that the grubby marks and iffy odors will quickly vanish.

18. Refreshing chopping boards

Is your chopping board looking a little worse for wear at the moment? Well, this trick could do it the world of good. When you next clean it in the sink, pour out some salt into a dish on the countertop.
18. Refreshing chopping boards
Life is Made with Katie Miles/YouTube
From there, dab a wet cloth over the seasoning, before rubbing it into the board’s surface. That simple move should help no end.

19. Removing pan grease

Dried pan grease is absolutely disgusting. Not only does it look horrible, but it’s a real pain in the butt to clean as well. Yet water and salt can get the job done.
19. Removing pan grease
Household Hacker/YouTube
By leaving the mixture inside your pan for roughly ten minutes, the oily mess will disintegrate. Then, you can rub off the remnants in the blink of an eye.

20. Making mouthwash

Why splash the cash on mouthwash at the store when you can make your own? It’s pretty easy to do, so don’t feel intimidated. Just add a teaspoon of baking soda and salt to a glass of water.
20. Making mouthwash
jayk7/Getty Images
If you want the mix to have a bit more flavor to it, feel free to sprinkle a dash of peppermint oil in there, too.

21. Speeding up cooking

When heating a pan of water, salt can speed up the process quite significantly.
21. Speeding up cooking
Drbouz/Getty Images
The mineral raises the boiling point of water, making it more efficient as a means of transferring heat — so the food on the stove won’t take as long to cook. And saving time in the kitchen menas you've got more time for other things — like eating the results!

22. Keeping milk fresh

As soon as you pick up a milk carton at the store, the clock starts ticking. Can you beat the best-before-date? If it’s looking like a struggle, sprinkle a little salt in the container.
22. Keeping milk fresh
Cookist Wow/YouTube
Incredibly, that’ll prolong its life by a couple of days. You see, the mineral absorbs the milk’s water molecules, which stops germs from developing at their normal pace. 

23. Treating mosquito bites

Mosquitos make a lot of enemies during the summer months thanks to their bites. They’re the absolute worst! Don’t lose your cool over the irritating nips, though: this hack will quickly ease your pain.
23. Treating mosquito bites
Joao Paulo Burini/Getty Images
All you’ve got to do is rub some salty water on the wound, ahead of spreading oil or lard on top. Sure it’s messy, but it works.

24. Weeding

Attention all gardeners — this tip is sure to pique your interest. If you’re tired of dealing with annoying weeds in the yard, salt could very well be the answer. Heat it up in a pan full of water until the mixture is red hot.
24. Weeding
TheDreamCar/YouTube
From there, carefully tip it over each plant that’s invaded your garden. To borrow a phrase from Mortal Kombat, you’ll score multiple “fatalities” thanks to this weed-killing method!

25. Fighting windscreen frost

Have you ever had to scrape the ice off a car window on a bitterly cold winter morning? It sucks! There are few more frustrating ways to start the day.
25. Fighting windscreen frost
R.Tsubin/Getty Images
But you can take preventative steps to stop the frost from forming. Yep, by applying salt to the windscreen at night, it won’t get cold enough to become icy.

26. Chilling white wine

Looking to chill a bottle of white wine in double-quick time? You’re in luck, then — this hack is just the ticket. Throw some water and ice into a bucket, before adding salt to the mix. After that, stick the wine on top, turning it ever so slightly.
26. Chilling white wine
DEX IMAGE/Getty Images
The condiment softens the ice slightly to the point where it then sticks the bottle, cooling the liquid inside more quickly.

27. Removing poison ivy

If garden weeds are an annoyance, then poison ivy’s probably in the category just above them. No one likes these nasty plants!
27. Removing poison ivy
Ed Ogle/Flickr
Thanks to salt, though, you can rid your yard of them without much hassle: a mixture of “soapy” water and salt will get the job done. Say goodbye to painful stings!

28. Whipping eggs and cream

Beating eggs and cream together is deceptively hard work. It’s like going through a tough session at the gym! Yet one simple tweak can make a jaw-dropping difference here.
28. Whipping eggs and cream
aire images/Getty Images
By sprinkling a little salt into the mix, you can whip up the ingredients much quicker. That’s all it takes: your arms will thank you!

29. Treating dry skin

If you’re searching for alternative methods to treat dry skin, when you next have a bath, don’t put any products or soap in the water. Instead, drop a helping of sea salt into the tub.
29. Treating dry skin
Herb & Root/YouTube
Apparently, that mixture will go a long way towards replenishing your skin. It’s got to be worth a try!

30. Removing sweat stains

Few things ruin a shirt more quickly than sweat marks. And that’s especially true for white items — they’re hard to ignore.
30. Removing sweat stains
Constantinis/Getty Images
But don’t throw those shirts in the trash just yet: as it turns out, salt water can get rid of the stains. After soaking a kitchen sponge, carefully scrub the affected areas. Eventually, the discoloration will begin to vanish.

31. Easing sore throats

As we mentioned earlier, salt is more than capable of bringing puffiness down. And that’s not all. The mineral can also break through thick layers of mucus as well. So, it’s perfect for dealing with sensitive throats.
31. Easing sore throats
Yagi-Studio/Getty Images
Just add it to some water before gargling for around half-a-minute. It should have a pretty immediate effect.

32. Making candles last longer

Before you have your next dinner party, drop all of your candles in a container filled with salt water. Let them sit for two or more hours. What does this do, then?
32. Making candles last longer
Maskot/Getty Images
Well, the mineral seeps into each candle, and subsequently ups its melting point. So it’ll take longer for the wax to start trickling.

33. Cleaning fish tanks

If you want to get your fish tank sparkling again, then take note of this clever trick. Once you’ve got your aquatic friends out and dumped the old water, grab some “non-iodized salt” from the cabinet.
33. Cleaning fish tanks
Surdeep Devanathan/YouTube
This will clear any “mineral deposits” stuck to the interior. Just scrub the stuff in with a kitchen sponge.

34. Sprucing up artificial flowers

While you obviously don’t need to feed artificial plants, you still have to care for them in other ways. For instance, they can get pretty dirty if you’re not careful.
34. Sprucing up artificial flowers
Balsam Hill/YouTube
To avoid that, drop a helping of salt into a disposable bag and put the flowers in after. Then, carefully move the bag up and down. A few minutes later, they’ll look as good as new.

35. Cleansing smelly hands

After slicing up ingredients such as onions and garlic in the kitchen, your hands aren’t going to smell particularly fresh. That probably explains why your family are keeping their distance in the other rooms! Don’t worry, though.
35. Cleansing smelly hands
PhotoAlto/Sigrid Olsson/Getty Images
A solution made of vinegar and salt will get rid of the strong scents stuck to your skin. Make sure to give everyone the all-clear when you’re done!

36. Dealing with grass stains

At first glance, grass stains look like they’ll be a nightmare to tackle. How can you get rid of them? Thankfully, it’s not as challenging as you might fear.
36. Dealing with grass stains
Sean Justice/Getty Images
Grab a lemon from your fruit bowl and squash it above the mark, showering the area in juice. From there, shake a bit of salt on top, ahead mixing the two together. The combination should bring positive results.

37. Making toothbrushes last longer

Disposable toothbrushes don’t have a particularly long shelf-life. Yet they can receive a boost before you even put them in your mouth.
37. Making toothbrushes last longer
MAD Science Hacks/YouTube
Yep, by dropping an unused toothbrush into a sink full of water and salt, it’ll become sturdier and more resistant: you won’t need to replace it so quickly. One thing fewer to add on this week’s shopping list, right?

38. Cleaning brooms

How often do you wash your brooms at home? No judging! If it’s infrequent, this hack will be a major help. To start with, combine a bowl of warm water with some salt. Then, place your broom in the mix.
38. Cleaning brooms
Andrea Jean Cleaning/YouTube
Leave it alone for roughly half-an-hour. From there, dry it off and rub the surfaces over: it’ll look brand-new.

39. Exfoliating lips

You don’t need to splash out on a chapstick if your lips become dry. Instead, try this. Pull a toothbrush out of your bathroom cabinet, before sprinkling salt over the bristles.
39. Exfoliating lips
Stockbyte/Getty Images
At that stage, gently rub the outside of your mouth until you’ve covered it all. To finish, just run some water across your lips.

40. Treating stained wood

Thank goodness for coasters: without them, there’d be stains on wooden furniture in every household! Mind you, that doesn’t mean that marks don’t still appear today. To deal with them, pour a bit of salt on the affected areas.
40. Treating stained wood
Andrea Jean Cleaning/YouTube
After that, give them a careful rub with a damp kitchen sponge. Eventually, the blemishes will disappear — and you’ll have hardly broken a sweat.

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✍ WRITTEN BY

Dan Fitzpatrick

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