21 Smart Uses For Salt You Never Thought Of

POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

You can find salt on just about anyone's table, but the basic ingredient can be used in so many smart ways other than seasoning your food. A bag of salt also costs around $1, making it a smart staple to have on hand.

  1. Egg Checker: Add two teaspoons to one cup of water, and let dissolve. Fresh eggs will sink, and bad eggs will float.
  2. Fruit Helper: Instead of reaching for citrus, sprinkle a dusting of salt over fruits to keep them from browning. And the hardly there salt actually accentuates the fruit's flavor.
  3. Bad-Smell Eliminator: After chopping garlic or onions, rub your fingers with salt to get rid of any lingering smells.
  4. Cheese-Life Extender: Extend the life of cheese by wrapping it in a cloth moistened with salt water.
  5. Baked-On Mess Remover: If your casserole bubbles over, sprinkle the bottom of your oven with a handful of salt over the spill. It won't smoke and will bake into a crust that's easier to clean once things have cooled.
  6. Ant Deterrer: No one likes ant infestations. Stop trails and deter ants by sprinkling salt in doorways and windowsills. And you can make this ant killer to really stop them fast.
  7. Fire Extinguisher: Keeping salt in the kitchen for seasoning is so smart, but keeping a box next to your stove is a big helper. You can extinguish grease fires by covering them with salt.
  8. Wall Hole Fixer: Repair wall holes with equal parts salt, cornstarch, and water by mixing into a thick paste. Spread over nail holes, let dry, and touch up with paint.
  9. Snow Remover: Get rid of slippery, ice-covered sidewalks fast with a sprinkling of salt.
  10. Drain Buster: Clean sink drains by pouring salt down the drain followed by hot water, which naturally keeps grease from building up and deodorizes pipes.
  11. Coffee Cup Cleaner: Clean coffee-stained cups with salt and a little dish soap.
  12. Laundry Booster: Add one cup of salt when washing brightly colored clothes. It naturally boosts colors and makes them vibrant again.
  13. Blood Remover: Get rid of blood stains with salt! Here's how to bust through blood stains.
  14. Rust Attacker: Tackle mildew and rust stains with a combo of equal parts salt and lemon juice.
  15. Air Freshener: Have a musty corner? Salt naturally absorbs bad smells and makes rooms fresh again. Follow these directions for a homemade air freshener that really works.
  16. Sore Feet Soother: If your tootsies are tired after a long day, give them an invigorating foot scrub. Mix salt with a few drops of lavender essential oil, and use to gently rub feet. Salt helps soothe sore muscles and also exfoliates skin.
  17. Mouth-Sore Reliever: Gargle with salt water to relieve mouth sores.
  18. Iron Cleaner: Clean your iron with basic table salt. Follow these directions for removing built-up stains on your iron.
  19. Degreaser: For extra greasy pans, sprinkle with salt and then wipe with a paper towel. The salt naturally breaks down the grease and cleans pans fast.
  20. Brass Buffer: Mix together equal parts salt, flour, and vinegar into a paste to use for cleaning brass. Cover the item, let sit for an hour, and then clean and buff with a soft cloth.
  21. Frosty-Window Banisher: Keep windows frost-free by wiping the insides with a solution made with one tablespoon salt and one cup water. The windows won't frost during subfreezing temps.