How to Use Salt Around the House

Last Updated: July 1, 2021 References Approved

Salt is a great flavor enhancer, and is used as a natural preservative because it prohibits the growth of mold, bacteria and yeast, but did you know that salt has more than 14,000 uses? Because salt is non-toxic, you can use it in a myriad of ways all around your house.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using Salt for Cleaning

Most often, salt alone can clean many items around your house, but in some cases, it works better when you add it to vinegar or lemon juice.

1
Sprinkle salt on spills. It will absorb the liquid from coffee, tea or wine spills, making it easier to remove the stains.^{[1]
X
Research source}
2
Mix a little salt with vinegar to clean your hands after you’ve handled raw onions to remove the odor of the onions. This solution will also remove food stains from your hands, such as beet juice or food colorings.

Advertisement
3
Use salt to clean your cast iron pans. Simply sprinkle some into your pan and rub it with a dry cloth.^{[2]
X
Research source}
4
Remove stains (and deodorize) your cutting boards by rubbing them with salt and a little lemon juice.^{[3]
X
Research source}
5
Form a paste with salt and vinegar and use it to polish brass, copper and silver. After rubbing on the paste, rinse and dry the objects; they’ll look shiny and new again.^{[4]
X
Research source}
6
Add several tablespoons of salt to a gallon of warm water and clean the windows in your house and car with it. The solution loosens grime and will even keep ice from forming on your windows when the temperature drops below freezing.
7
Clean and refresh your silk flowers by putting several cups of salt and your flowers in a paper grocery bag and shaking them for several minutes.
8
Put 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of vinegar in your stained tea and coffee cups. Let the liquid stand in the cups for a few hours, then wash and rinse—the coffee and tea stains will be gone.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using Salt as a Health and Beauty Aid

Salt can be used as an effective home remedy to alleviate health conditions.

1
Add salt to olive oil or any carrier oil, such as lavender, to form a bath scrub. Rub it all over your body before you shower. The salt removes dead skin cells and rejuvenates your skin.^{[5]
X
Research source}
2
Put a cup of salt in your bathwater and soak for a half hour. The salt helps draw toxins out of the pores of your skin. If you have Epsom salt, that works the best.^{[6]
X
Research source}
3
Freshen your hair by dissolving some salt and warm water in a spray bottle. Spritz it lightly on your hair to give it some shine and volume.
4
Dissolve salt in warm water and swish it in your mouth for a few minutes. It makes a great mouthwash. Warm salt water will also ease toothaches and mouth sores.^{[7]
X
Research source}
5
Gargle with warm salt water to ease a sore throat. Let 1 teaspoon of salt dissolve in a glass of warm water before you gargle.^{[8]
X
Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
6
Combine salt with a little bit of baking soda and water and use it as a toothpaste.^{[9]
X
Research source}
7
Moisten insect stings with some water and apply salt to the sting. This trick not only takes the sting out, it will stop mosquito bites from itching.^{[10]
X
Research source}
8
Give your face a lift by mixing 1 tablespoon of salt into 1 tablespoon of olive oil and massaging it into your face and neck. After your massage, wash and rinse your face. The mixture of salt and oil makes a great toner for your skin.
9
Control dandruff by sprinkling and massaging 1 tablespoon of salt into your dry hair. Let it stay in your hair for 5 minutes, then shampoo and rinse your hair.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using Salt in the Kitchen and the Laundry

Here are some other ways to use salt in your kitchen—and in your laundry room.

1
Soak fish in salt water for five minutes and the fish will be much easier to scale.
2
Add a dash of salt to your coffee grounds before you begin to brew; your coffee will taste better if you are using inferior coffee beans since the salt cuts the bitterness.^{[11]
X
Research source}
3
Dip apples, pears or other non-acidic fruits in lightly salted water and the fruit will not turn brown.^{[12]
X
Research source}
4
Layer salt and ice in an ice bucket to chill your Champagne or wine quickly.^{[13]
X
Research source}
5
Smother a small grease fire by tossing a handful of salt on it. If a spill on the bottom of your oven starts to smoke, toss some salt on it and it will stop the smoke, too.
6
Sprinkle a line of salt on your countertop to stop ants. The ants will not cross over a line of salt.^{[14]
X
Research source}
7
Add a few tablespoons of salt to the final rinse of your laundry. Your clothes will not freeze on the clothesline during cold weather.
8
Add 1 cup of course salt to your wash to soften new blue jeans and to stop colors from fading.^{[15]
X
Research source}
9
Dissolve excess soap suds by sprinkling some salt on them.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Other Great Uses for Salt

Try some of these salt solutions for common, everyday problems.

1
Toss salt on icy walkways to melt the ice.^{[16]
X
Research source}
2
Add 1 part salt to 3 parts of boiling water and pour it on the weeds in your garden. This is a great non-toxic solution for killing weeds. You can also sprinkle dry salt into any crack or crevice where you don’t want grass to grow; the salt will kill the grass.^{[17]
X
Research source}
3
Sprinkle salt in your carpets and let it sit overnight. Vacuum the carpet the following day and your carpets will be fresher and the salt odor will help to repel fleas. Rinsing your pet’s bedding in salt water will also help control fleas.
4
Make a line of salt along the perimeter of your garden to control slugs. The salt draws moisture from the slugs, which kills them.^{[18]
X
Research source}

Community Q&A

Question

Will salt help me with bladder stones?

Community Answer

No. If you have bladder stones, talk to your doctor about an appropriate treatment.
Question

Can "rock salt" be used to rot tree stumps?

Community Answer

Yes. You can just bore holes in the stump and pour in the rock salt.
Question

Can salt make hair grow and stop breaking?

Community Answer

If you cleanse the scalp with salt or Dead Sea salt, it helps the hair follicles, which could promote hair growth.

Warnings

Sprinkling a liberal amount of salt down your drains will help prevent your drains from freezing, but don’t rely on this method. If you plan to be away from home when the temperature may dip below freezing, be sure to turn off your water main.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 45 Not Helpful 19