Salt is very important, and we already know that, but did you know that salt is not just used when cooking? Salt is very versatile, and there are many uses of salt around the house.
From removing odors to fixing nail holes on your wall, salt can do all that and more. We’ll give you 12 clever uses of salt, but before that, let’s talk about fun facts about salt.
Facts about salt
One of the most common questions about salt is how many types of salt are there, and that’s a good question.
We have five types of salt, which are table salt, sea salt, kosher salt, pink Himalayan, and Celtic salt.
What’s the difference between iodized salt and salt? This is another question that we usually get. Often, this might cause confusion because iodized salt is just table salt mixed with small amounts of sodium iodide or potassium iodide, thus the name.
Knowing the different types of salt is important, especially when you’re cooking. It’s because different salts complement food differently.
For example, sea salt vs table salt for baking is something all bakers should know. Other than that, salt is an amazing ingredient, whether for cooking or helping us with our daily tasks.
Here are 12 salt hacks to love.
Table salt to melt ice
Can you use table salt to melt ice? You sure can!
Natural heat is released because of what we call the exothermic reaction. This happens when salt and water combine where the freezing point slowly lowers because of the energy, usually in the form of heat.
Table salt uses: create a non-stick pan
Stainless steel pans are great, but food can often become stuck and cooked easily. But you can use salt to fix this.
Make your stainless steel pans non-stick by first getting them hot over medium or medium-high heat. Then, place a tablespoon of coconut oil in the pan, swirl it around to cover the surface, and dump out the excess.
Then, sprinkle a generous amount of salt in the bottom; rub with a paper towel or cloth in a circular motion. After that, wipe out the salt, and voila! You now have a stainless steel pan perfect for making crepes.
Check eggs for freshness
Have a carton of eggs that is near its expiration date? Don’t worry; here is another use for salt.
Just add two teaspoons to one cup of water, and let dissolve. Fresh eggs will sink, and bad eggs will float.
Get rid of shoe odors
Smelly shoes that stink your shoe rack? Get rid of odors from your stinky sneakers by sprinkling some salt inside and letting them sit overnight.
Dump out the next morning, the salt should have absorbed most of the nasty smell. It works wonders!
Extend the life of your cheese
Love cheese? Then you need this hack. To keep your cheese staying fresh for longer, wrap it in a cloth or paper towel soaked with salt water.
Get rid of onion or garlic smell on hands
Do you love onions and garlic but hate the lingering smell? Don’t worry because salt can help you.
Chopping onions or garlic can leave some potent lingering smells on your hands and fingers. Luckily, there’s an easy way to get rid of it. Simply wet your hands with water, rub with a generous amount of salt, then rinse.
Brush your teeth
This is a proven one, so try it out. If you need to make some homemade toothpaste in a pinch, salt and baking soda are a great alternative.
Mix a teaspoon of salt with baking soda, dip a wet toothbrush into the mixture and brush away. This DIY solution will help remove tartar and stains in a jiffy.
Fixing nail holes in the wall is one of the great uses of salt around the house
Imagine that? Salt can help you fix holes in the wall. No kidding, it works.
No need to run out to buy nail hole filler at the hardware store, make your own instead! Mix equal parts salt, cornstarch, and water into a thick paste. Spread over the hole in the wall, let dry, and paint.
Shine your copper
Copper can become covered in tarnish after a while, but thankfully, it’s easy to buff and shine within seconds.
Shine your copper by cutting a lemon in half, dip the flesh into table salt, and scrub your copper piece until it’s nice and sparkly. All you’ll need to do is rinse with water and dry with a soft, cloth.
Exfoliate your skin
Did you know that salt and olive oil make wonderful exfoliators for your skin? Rub a mixture of these two ingredients onto your face, elbows, heels, or any other area with stubborn, dry skin.
The olive oil will moisturize your skin, while the salt will scrub away any dead skin. Use once a week for supple skin.
Prevent candles from dripping
If you want to make your candles dripless, soak them in a concentrated salt water solution for a few hours. Then, go ahead and let the candle completely dry before lighting it.
Prevent mold growth on shower curtains
Home Guides has some tips to help prevent your shower curtain from growing mold: “After giving your plastic shower curtain a spin through the washing machine, a salt-water soak gives it a layer of mildew-fighting power.”
Takeaway
Salt around the house isn’t just for cooking. It has so many uses that prove just how versatile it is. We’re loving all these tips, and we know you will too. So go ahead and try them out and see how amazing salt is.
Source: Brightside