GRANDMA'S "SECRET" USES OF SALT

[Kitchen | Cleaning | Laundry | Health & Beauty | Other Uses]

Altogether it's believed there are more than 14,000 uses of salt, and our grandmothers were probably familiar with most of them. Many of these uses were for simple things around the home before the advent of modern chemicals and cleaners. However, many uses are still valid today and a lot cheaper than using more sophisticated products.

We thought you might like to share some of these fascinating applications of salt. We make no guarantee about the results if you try any of them, but there must be something to them since they have been handed down over the years in many households. Most of these uses have stood the test of time.

Kitchen

Boiling Water
Salt added to water makes the water boil at a higher temperature, thus reducing cooking time. (It does not make the water boil faster.)
Peeling eggs
Boiling eggs in salted water will make eggs peel easily.
Poaching eggs
Poaching eggs over salted water helps set the egg whites.
Testing egg freshness
Place the egg in a cup of water to which two teaspoonfuls of salt has been added. A fresh egg sinks; a doubter will float.
Preventing browning
Apples, pears and potatoes dropped in cold, lightly salted water as they are peeled will retain their color.
Shelling pecans
Soaking pecans in salt water for several hours before shelling will make nut meats easier to remove.
Washing spinach
If spinach is washed in salted water, repeated cleanings will not be necessary.
Preventing sugaring
A little salt added to cake icings prevents them from sugaring.
Crisping salads
Salting salads immediately before serving will keep them crisp.
Improving boiled potatoes
Boiled potatoes will be given a fine, mealy texture by sprinkling with salt after draining, then returning them to the pan and shaking them back and forth quickly to get rid of the excess moisture.
Cleaning greasy pans
The greasiest iron pan will wash easily if you put a little salt in it and wipe with paper.
Cleaning stained cups
Rubbing with salt will remove stubborn tea or coffee stains from cups.
Cleaning ovens
Salt and cinnamon take the "burned food" odor away from ovens and stove burners. Sprinkle spills while oven and burners are still hot; when dry, remove the salted spots with a stiff brush or cloth.
Cleaning refrigerators
Salt and soda water will clean and sweeten the inside of your refrigerator. It won't scratch enamel either.
Extinguishing grease fires
Salt tossed on a grease fire on the stove or in the oven will smother flames. Never use water; it will only spatter the burning grease.
Improving coffee
A pinch of salt in coffee will enhance the flavor and remove the bitterness of over-cooked coffee.
Improving poultry
To improve the flavor of poultry, rub the fowl inside and out with salt before roasting.
Removing pinfeathers
To remove pinfeathers easily from a chicken, rub the chicken skin with salt first.
Cleaning tarnished silverware
Rub tarnish with salt before washing.
Cleaning copper pans
Remove stains on copper pans by salting area and scouring with a cloth soaked in vinegar.
Cleaning coffee pots
Remove bitterness from percolators and other coffee pots by filling with water, adding four tablespoons of salt and percolating or boiling as usual.
Removing onion odors from hands
Rub fingers with salt moistened with vinegar.
"Sweetening" containers
Salt can "sweeten" and deodorize thermos bottles and jugs, decanters and other closed containers.
Cleaning sink drains
Pour a strong salt brine down the kitchen sink drain regularly to eliminate odors and keep grease from building up.
Brightening cutting boards
After washing them with soap and water, rub bread and cutting boards with a damp cloth dipped in salt; the boards will be lighter and brighter.
Fixing oversalted soups
If soup has been oversalted, cut up a raw potato or two and drop into the soup. The potato will absorb the salt.
Cleaning dried-on egg
Salt not only makes eggs taste better, but it makes "eggy" dishes clean easier. Sprinkle salt on dishes right after breakfast; it makes them a whiz to clean when you have time.
Preventing food from sticking
Rub a pancake griddle with a small bag of salt to prevent sticking and smoking. Sprinkle a little salt in the skillet before frying fish to prevent the fish from sticking. Sprinkle salt on washed skillets, waffle iron plates or griddles, heat in a warm oven, dust off salt; when they are next used, foods will not stick.
Preventing mold
To prevent mold on cheese, wrap it in a cloth dampened with saltwater before refrigerating.
Whipping cream and beating egg whites
By adding a pinch of salt, cream will whip better and egg whites will beat faster and higher.
Keeping milk fresh
Adding a pinch of salt to milk will keep it fresh longer.
Setting gelatin
To set gelatin salads and desserts quickly, place over ice that has been sprinkled with salt.

Cleaning

Cleaning brass
Mix equal parts of salt, flour and vinegar to make a paste, rub the paste on the brass item, leave on for an hour or so, then clean with a soft cloth or brush and buff with a dry cloth.
Cleaning wicker
To prevent yellowing, scrub wicker furniture with a stiff brush moistened with warm saltwater and allow to dry in the sun.
Cleaning piano keys
Place salt and lemon juice on a soft cloth and rub the cloth on piano keys to remove stains. The same treatment can be given to ivory and marble.
Cleaning grease spots on rugs
Some grease spots can be removed with a solution of one part salt and four parts alcohol and rubbing hard but carefully to avoid damage to the nap.
Extending broom life
New brooms will wear longer if soaked in hot saltwater before they are first used.
Removing wine stains
If wine is spilled on a tablecloth or rug, blot up as much as possible and immediately cover the wine with salt, which will absorb the remaining wine. Later rinse the tablecloth with cold water; scrape up the salt from the rug and then vacuum the spot.
Removing rings from tables
White rings left on tables from wet or hot dishes or glasses can be removed by rubbing a thin paste of salad oil and salt on the spot with your fingers, letting it stand an hour or two, then wiping it off.
Restoring sponges
Give sponges new life by soaking them in cold saltwater after they are washed.

Laundry

Settling suds
If a washing machine bubbles over from too many suds, sprinkle salt on the suds to reduce them.
Brightening colors
Wash colored curtains or washable fiber rugs in a saltwater solution to brighten the colors. Brighten faded rugs and carpets by rubbing them briskly with a cloth that has been dipped in a strong saltwater solution and wrung out.
Removing perspiration stains
Add four tablespoons of salt to one quart of hot water and sponge the fabric with the solution until stains disappear.
Brightening yellowed cottons or linens
Boil the yellowed items for one hour in a salt and baking soda solution
Removing blood stains
Soak the stained clothing or other cloth item in cold saltwater, then launder in warm, soapy water and boil after the wash. (Use only on cotton, linen or other natural fibers that can take high heat.)
Removing mildew or rust stains
Moisten stained spots with a mixture of lemon juice and salt, then spread the item in the sun for bleaching; and finally, rinse and dry.
Color-matching nylons
Old nylons that don't have a match can be made the same color by boiling them a few minutes in a pan of lightly salted water.
Fixing sticking iron
Sprinkle a little salt on a piece of paper and run the hot iron over it to remove rough, sticky spots.

Health & Beauty

Gargling
Stir 1/2 teaspoon salt in an 8-ounce glass of warm water for use as a gargle for sore throats.
Cleaning teeth
Mix one part salt to two parts baking soda after pulverizing the salt in a blender or rolling it on a kitchen board with a tumbler before mixing. It whitens teeth, helps remove plaque and it is healthy for the gums.
Washing mouth
Mix equal parts of salt and baking soda as a mouth wash that sweetens the breath.
Bathing eyes
Mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a pint of water and use the solution to bathe tired eyes.
Reducing eye puffiness
Mix one teaspoon of salt in a pint of hot water and apply pads soaked in the solution on the puffy areas.
Relieving tired feet
Soak aching feet in warm water to which a handful of salt has been added. Rinse in cool water.
Relieving bee stings
If stung, immediately wet the spot and cover with salt to relieve the pain.
Treating mosquito and chigger bites
Soak in saltwater, then apply a mixture of lard and salt.
Treating poison ivy
Soaking the exposed part in hot saltwater helps hasten the end to poison ivy irritation.
Relieving fatigue
Soak relaxed for at least ten minutes in a tub of water into which several handfuls of salt has been placed.
Removing dry skin
After bathing and while still wet give yourself a massage with dry salt. It removes dead skin particles and aids the circulation.
Applying facial
For a stimulating facial, mix equal parts of salt and olive oil and gently massage the face and throat with long upward and inward strokes. Remove mixture after five minutes and wash face.

Other Uses

Extinguishing grease fires
Keep a box of salt handy at your stove and oven and if a grease fire flares up, cover the flames with salt. Do not use water on grease fires; it will splatter the burning grease.
Also a handful of salt thrown on flames from meat dripping in barbecue grills will reduce the flames and deaden the smoke without cooling the coals as water does.
Drip-proofing candles
Soak new candles in a strong salt solution for a few hours, then dry them well. When burned they will not drip.
Removing soot
Occasionally throw a handful of salt on the flames in your fireplace; it will help loosen soot from the chimney and salt makes a bright yellow flame.
Cleaning fish tanks
Rub the inside of fish tanks with salt to remove hard water deposits, then rinse well before returning the fish to the tank. Use only plain, not iodized, salt.
Invigorating goldfish
Occasionally add one teaspoon of salt to a quart of fresh water at room temperature and put your goldfish in for about 15 minutes. Then return them to their tank. The salt swim makes them healthier.
Cleaning flower vases
To remove deposits caused by flowers and water, rub with salt; if you cannot reach the deposits to rub them, put a strong salt solution in the vase and shake, then wash the vase with soap and water.
Keeping cut flowers fresh
A dash of salt added to the water in a flower vase will keep cut flowers fresh longer.
Holding artificial flowers
Artificial flowers can be held in an artistic arrangement by pouring salt into the container, adding a little cold water and then arranging the flowers. The salt will solidify as it dries and hold the flowers in place.
Keeping patios weed-free
If weeds or unwanted grass come up between patio bricks or blocks, carefully spread salt between the bricks and blocks, then sprinkle with water or wait for rain to wet it down.
Killing poison ivy
Mix three pounds of salt with a gallon of soapy water and apply to leaves and stems with a sprayer.
Keeping windows frost-free
Rub the inside of windows with a sponge dipped in a saltwater solution and rub dry; the windows will not frost up in sub- freezing weather. Rubbing a small cloth bag containing salt that has been moistened on your car's windshield will keep snow and ice from collecting.
Deicing sidewalks and driveways
Lightly sprinkling rock salt on walks and driveways will keep snow and ice from bonding to the pavement and allow for easy removal. Don't overdo it; use the salt sensibly to avoid damage to grass and ornamentals.
Deodorizing sneakers
Sprinkling a little salt in canvas shoes occasionally will take up the moisture and help remove odors.

PLEASE NOTE: Most of the material presented on this page was extracted and condensed from information supplied by Dampier Salt, Ltd. and The Salt Institute. For more extensive and detailed information about salt and its uses, please visit them. (When visiting the Dampier site, do NOT use the "Home" button.) The following are other salt producer sites you may also be interested in visiting: The Morton Salt Corp., The United Salt Co., The North American Salt Co. and ESSA Exportadora de Sal located in Mexico.