Inexpensive and edible, salt is a must-have in the kitchen and has many uses around the rest of the house and in the garden, too. Even just in the kitchen, its uses go well beyond its renowned seasoning ability.
Better Coffee
Put 4 teaspoons of salt, a cup of crushed ice, and 1 tablespoon of water in a coffee carafe at room temperature. Swirl it around to remove difficult surface buildup, then rinse clean.For coffee mug stains, dip a damp microfiber cloth in a tablespoon of salt and scrub. Rinse thoroughly or toss in the dishwasher for a final polish.
Speaking of coffee, add a pinch of salt to coffee grounds before brewing. The sodium helps reduce acidity, smooth out coffee bitterness, enhance flavor by heightening the taste buds’ perception of sweetness to make it taste richer and more flavorful, and more. That pinch can even rejuvenate stale grounds.
Deodorize and Sanitize
Wooden cutting boards are beautiful and gentle on knife blades, but they can soon become malodorous. Sprinkle the board with salt, then rub a damp rag thoroughly across the board. Or, dip half a lemon in salt to scrub particularly hard-set food stains. Let sit for 10 minutes, then rinse. The odors will be gone, and the board will be disinfected as well.
A bit of salt or lemon can disinfect wooden cutting boards so that they smell fresh and clean. everydayplus/Shutterstock
Do the Fridge, Too
Wipe down the fridge with a cup of salt in a gallon of hot water to clean and sanitize. Add the juice of half a lemon to boost the cleaning power and leave a pleasant scent behind. Next, place a small, open container of salt in the back of the fridge to continue deodorizing. Change monthly.Fresh Drains
A cup of salt poured down a smelly drain will break down the greasy buildup that is causing the odor, with the bonus of killing lurking bacteria as well. Let sit for 30 minutes for maximum efficacy, then flush with a cup of hot water. Doing this once a month will help prevent future odors.Clog Considerations
For clogged drains, including those in the bathroom filled with hair, combine 1/2 cup of salt and 1 cup of baking soda, then pour it down the drain. Let it sit 15 minutes before following it down with 64 ounces of boiling water for metal pipes. If the pipes are PVC, use hot water at less than 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Boiling water can harm PVC pipes.Toilet Technique
Pour 1 cup of salt into the toilet bowl, aiming for the clogged area. Next, add 1 gallon of hot water from the tap—but remember to never use boiling water, as it can crack the bowl. Let sit for 15 minutes, then flush.If that didn’t work, or things are still draining a bit slowly, try adding 1 cup of baking soda, followed by 2 cups of white vinegar, for a blockage-busting fizz. Let sit for 15 minutes, then flush again.
Bright Brass
Rejuvenate kitchen and bathroom fixtures, doorknobs, and unlacquered brass or copper collectibles with a paste made of 1 tablespoon salt, 1 tablespoon flour, and just a few drops of vinegar. Apply with a microfiber cloth and elbow grease. Rinse with warm, soapy water on a cloth and dry with a third microfiber cloth.Water Rings
Did a wet glass or soda can leave a ruinous water ring on a beautiful wood table? Take a deep breath. Mix salt with just enough water to form a paste, then rub the mark with a microfiber cloth gently until it disappears.Let’s Toast to This Tip
Wine is one of the most difficult stains to remove—until now. Whether it’s on clothing or carpets, blot up as much as possible. Use a second clean rag, if needed. Then, unless the piece of clothing is marked “Dry Clean Only,” sprinkle salt on the stain. Let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes so it can lift and absorb the wine. Then, for clothing, rinse thoroughly with cold water; for carpets, vacuum up the salt.Bye-Bye Dust Mites
Sprinkle carpets with salt and let sit for several hours—or overnight—to dehydrate and eradicate dust mites. This works on upholstered furniture and even mattresses, and doesn’t have any harsh chemicals.Garden Herbicide
Take common table salt outdoors for use as a weed killer. Use equal parts salt and warm water for a general-use weed spray, and higher ratios of up to two parts salt to one part water for use on patios and driveway cracks, away from other plants.To kill poison ivy, mix 1 cup salt with 1 gallon water and spray the mixture on the leaves and stems. Always apply directly to the plant leaves, not the soil. Adding vinegar can increase efficacy for particularly difficult weeds.
At higher doses, the soil may even become sterile over time, offering more long-term protection for areas where no planting will be done at a later date, such as paver driveways. This effect can only be reversed by replacing the soil.
Table salt can double as a weed killer when mixed with equal parts water. Kostenko Maxim/Shutterstock
