16 Surprising Uses for Table Salt
Salt
has been with us ever since we humans arrived in this life. We've used
it mainly for seasoning our food - perhaps sometimes we are even guilty
of overusing it because we like it so much. Yet, salt hasmosq many other uses
outside of cooking. Consider the following 16 examples of how you can
use simple table salt around your house. We guarantee there will be
plenty here that you've never been told before.
1. Keep Mold from Curtain Showers
Right
after you've bought your nice new shower curtains, wash them in salt
water. This way, you can be almost completely assured that no mold will
grow on them.
2. Provide Relief for Mosquito Bites
Mosquito bites
are among the most annoying things you can experience. To mitigate the
redness and itchiness, dip your finger in some water and use the
moisture to stick a little salt to your finger. Now rub the mixture over
your bite.
3. Let Copper Items Shine Like New
To
keep your copper kettles and the like sparkling, mix some salt with
vinegar and flour (and some optional lemon juice) and rub the surface of
the item.
4. Keep Oil from Spitting Out
Once
you've heated up your cooking oil, add a little salt. By doing so, you
will limit the amount of splashing and splattering, once you've added
your fish or meat to the pan.
5. Make Candles Non-Drip
Did
you know that you can actually prevent candle wax from dripping? Salt
can really help you do so. Simply soak your candle in a concentrated
salt solution overnight. Then, once the candle has thoroughly dried out,
light it. Easy. OR easier way is to keep the candles in the freezer for a couple of hours, that also helps candle dripping.
6. Banish Shoe Odors
Get
rid of those embarrassing shoe smells by either adding some cloth bags
full of salt into them or simply sprinkle some salt straight inside the
shoes. Once you've let the salt soak up the moisture in the shoe, give
them a firm shake and vacuum them away.
7. Keep Ants Away
To
keep ants from infesting your house and garden, make a 1:4 ratio salt
solution and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray where you like to
prevent them from ever wanting to come back again.
8. Make Homemade Kids' Paints
It's
really not that hard or bothersome to make home made paints for your
children and grandkids. All you need to do is mix 1 cup of flour with 1
cup of salt in a bowl. Then combine with a cup of water and a few drops
of whichever food coloring you're using.
9. Keep Sliced Fruit and Veg from Browning
To keep any chopped fruit or veg from turning brown, simply place them in a bowl or pan filled with salt water.
10. Rid Your Hands of Onion Smell
It
may seem that you can never get the strong smell of garlic and onions
from your hands, after chopping and handling them, but it's actually no
trouble at all, if only you know what to do. First, you need to wet your
hands with water, then give them a thorough rubbing over with table
salt. Now rinse. Done.
11. Produce a Natural Home-Made Air Freshener
Whether
you use some orange peel or a normal bowl, to make air freshener all
you need is 1/2 to 1 cup of salt mixed with 20 or 30 drops of your
chosen essential oil (or use rose petals). Now you can have a naturally
wonderful smelling room.
12. Put Kitchen Fires Out Properly
If
you are cooking a particularly greasy meal, you really want to keep a
large container of salt nearby. Grease fires can easily get out of
control, but, luckily, all you need to do is pour salt onto the flames
to starve them of oxygen and put them out instantly.
13. Clean Your Iron
Irons
can get a little grubby at times, but how are you meant to clean them?
One sure fire way is to turn yours on to its highest setting and run it
over a piece of brown paper covered in salt.
14. Stop Windows Frosting Up
If
your windows are prone to frosting over during the night, here's a tip
you could really use. Dip a sponge in salt water and rub the inside of
your windows with it. The salt prevents any frost from forming.
Alternatively, you can deter frost by keeping a little cloth bag of salt
on your windowsill.
15. Maintain a Clean Sink
Make
a paste with lemon juice and salt and use it to wipe your sink
with. Chemical cleaners can cost a lot of money, and they don't do
nearly as good a job of cleaning stainless steel sinks as this hot tip
does.
16. Make Sure Your Restaurant Meal Is Really Changed
If
you've asked the waiter to return your dish because there is a hair in
it, make sure they really replace your meal by spoiling it with salt.
Simply sprinkle it with enough salt to destroy the flavors, and then
you'll know when it comes back whether it's fresh or not.