12 Uses for Salt Outside of the Kitchen

Cooks have relied on salt for thousands of years to season dishes and preserve meats. A dash of salt can transform a bland dish into a delicious masterpiece. But this helpful mineral doesn’t just belong in the kitchen. Salt has a variety of uses that make it the most versatile ingredient on your spice rack. Here are 12 surprising uses for salt that go beyond cooking.

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Neutralize Odors

Table salt is naturally absorbent and soaks moisture, possibly contributing to unpleasant odors. You can use salt to deodorize smelly garbage bins, refrigerators, and even shoes. Pour a layer of salt into your shoes and let it sit for 24 hours to make your kicks smell as good as new.

Remove Clothing Stains

Salt can be used to treat various stains in the laundry room. To remove wine stains, blot the spot with water and pour a layer of salt over it. Let it sit for 30 minutes before washing. Sweat stains can be removed by soaking your soiled clothes in 4 tablespoons of salt and 1 quart of hot water. Sponge the stain while it soaks until it fades, then wash it normally.

Polish Copper and Brass

Copper and brass show wear over time, but you can restore their vibrancy with salt. Mix equal parts salt, distilled white vinegar, and all-purpose flour until they form a paste. Rub the paste onto the metal and let it sit for an hour. Wipe it clean with a soft cloth, and your item will be as good as new. 

Soothe Bee Stings

Salt is an alkaline, which makes it effective at neutralizing the acid in bee sting venom. Add a little bit of water to salt until it forms a paste, apply it to the sting, and let it sit for several minutes to reduce pain and swelling. You can also soak in a warm bath with Epsom salt.

Strengthen Nails

Restore strength to brittle nails with a saltwater soak. Combine 1 teaspoon of salt, a squeeze of lemon, and 1 tablespoon of baking soda to a bowl of 2 cups of water. Soak your hands or feet for 10 minutes once a week for stronger, healthier nails.

Defrost Windows

Salt has a lower freezing point than water, so it can quickly dissolve ice and snow. Sprinkle salt on an icy windshield to watch the frost disappear, or create a defrosting mixture by filling a spray bottle with water and adding 1 cup of salt. Avoid spraying the mixture onto metal components — the salt may corrode them.

Repel Ants

If your house has an ant problem, sprinkle some table salt on your countertop or by cracks in doors or windows. Since salt is dehydrating, ants will avoid it. This low-cost solution minimizes the need for harmful pest-killing chemicals in and around your house.

Exfoliate Skin

Salt is coarse, making it an excellent natural body scrub. Immediately after showering, take a small handful of salt and gently rub it into your skin. The coarseness of the salt will help remove dead skin and rejuvenate the skin underneath. Be sure to moisturize after rinsing off because salt will dehydrate your skin.

Remove Water Stains

Remove the water rings on a wooden table by mixing 1 teaspoon of table salt with water to make a paste. Gently rub the paste onto the water stain with a soft rag until it fades. Wipe off the mixture and apply wood furniture polish to restore the piece’s original vibrancy.

Disinfect Piercings

A saline solution is one of the best ways to clean piercings. Combine 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized salt with 1 cup of warm water. Gently clean the area with a cotton pad. You can use the same solution to clean jewelry by soaking it for several minutes.

Relieve Sore Throats

The next time you wake up with a sore throat, gargle with salt water for 30 seconds. This tried-and-true method soothes inflammation and flushes mucus and other irritants. Do this two to three times a day to speed up the healing process.

Unclog Drains

Unclogging sink or bathtub drains doesn’t always require a professional — sometimes, it only takes a simple DIY mixture. Combine 1 cup of table salt, 1 cup of baking soda, and 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar. Pour the solution down the drain and let it sit for 10 minutes to break down the buildup. Then, pour boiling water down the drain to flush the clog.

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