We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Cleaning

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are Some Less Known Uses of Salt?

By Deborah Ng
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 15,999
Share

If you're like most people, you consider salt to be a popular table condiment used to enhance the flavor of food. You're not wrong, but did you know it has many other uses as well?

  • Test your eggs — If you're unsure of how fresh your eggs might be, try this experiment: fill a mug with water and add a pinch of salt. If the egg floats, consider it fresh. If the egg sinks, it's probably old.
  • Stain fighter — To remove wet ink stains from the carpet, cover the stain with salt. Let sit over night and vacuum. The salt should have absorbed all the ink.
  • Rid your garden of pests — Pour salt on snails and slugs and watch them disappear before your eyes. It will also repel ants.
  • Fish prep — Before removing the scales from a fish, soak it in salt water. Removal will be much easier.
  • Hang clothes outside in the winter — If you add a little salt to your rinse cycle, your clothes won't freeze if hung outside on a cold day. In addition, a clothes line soaked in it doesn't freeze either.
  • Clean the bathroom — Mixed with turpentine, salt will help to remove the yellowed spots that appear on old white bathroom fixtures.
  • Freshen your breath — Use it as a mouthwash or gargle or add a little baking soda and use to brush teeth.
  • Easy peeling — By boiling eggs in salt water, the shells will be easier to peel.
  • Neutralize smelly pipes — Add to some boiling water and pour down the sink to eliminate stinky pipes.
  • High peaks — Add a dash to egg white for stiff, high peaks when making meringue or other baked treats.
  • Enhance the flavor of coffee and tea — a pinch in coffee grinds or added to a cup of tea is said to enhance the flavor of each of these beverages.
  • Fire safety — Pour common household salt on a kitchen fire to extinguish.
  • Keep clothes bright — Add 0.5 cup (136.5 grams) to your wash water to prevent fading.
  • Shine silver — Shine tarnished silver by rubbing it with salt.
  • Remove mildew — A mixture of salt and lemon juice will help to remove mildew from tubs, showers and tile.
  • Kill weeds — Pour it directly on weeds to kill them.
  • Remove odors — If your hands smell like onion or garlic after prepping vegetables, rub them with a paste made from salt and lemon.

The above is only a small sampling of the different things salt can do. In reality, there are hundreds of uses for household table or kosher salt. Bet you don't look at it the same way again!

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By anon97765 — On Jul 21, 2010

i own a resort where there is a lot of salt in the ground and water. anyway that i can use them in the resort?

By anon76201 — On Apr 09, 2010

helped me with my science fair project.

By anon63304 — On Feb 01, 2010

correct me if i am wrong, but I believe that for testing eggs, if the egg sinks it is considered fresh and if it doesn't then it will be considered spoiled.

By anon2759 — On Jul 24, 2007

To quote a colleague: "there's not a lot of things that a high salt content won't kill."

By anon2690 — On Jul 21, 2007

Will salt kill Trees

By anon351 — On Apr 22, 2007

great helped me with my homework

Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-some-less-known-uses-of-salt.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.