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Salt has been used for flavoring and as a way to preserve food for centuries. It is also used in industry for dyeing and bleaching fabrics, deicing roads, as well as in the production of soap, according to a blog on the Koyuncu Salt website. But did you know that there are a lot of home uses too?
There are many beneficial uses for table salt so keep some in your pantry. From cleaning tough stains to using in your garden, some of these nine unusual ways to use salt are actually quite surprising!
Test for Rotten Eggs
If you are not sure if the eggs in your fridge are fresh, then salt can help you find out, according to CNet. Dissolve four tablespoons of salt into two cups (or about half a liter) of water in a bowl and then gently place the egg into the bowl. If it sinks, the eggs are good to use but if it floats, the eggs are not fresh.
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Puts Out a Grease Fire
Salt should always be kept in your kitchen by your stove. That’s because water will not put out a grease fire, it will actually make it worse.. First try to put a lid on the pan to smother the fire, or if you do not have one handy, you can douse the fire with salt. The extra salt on the stove will help you clean up the mess too.
Cleans Pots and Pans
Salt is really good at cleaning up grimy pots and pans. If a pan is really greasy, just cover the pan with salt and let it sit for 10 minutes before you start scrubbing. The same goes for cleaning up oven spills, reports TODAY. If food spills in your oven, just sprinkle salt over the spill. All you need to do is brush the spot clean after the oven cools.
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Frees Car Windows From Frost
During the winter, you can use salt to keep your car windows frost-free. Dip a clean sponge into salt water and then just rub your windows. To keep your windshield from icing up, add some salt to a slightly moistened cheese cloth and rub it on the windshield the night before. Then enjoy a cup of coffee instead of scraping ice in the morning.
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Gets Rid of Poison Ivy in Your Garden
If you have poison ivy in your yard, you want to get rid of it quickly to protect your family from painful and itchy rashes. A safe and eco-friendly way to remove it is by using salt. Just add one kilogram of salt to five liters of boiling water and pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Spritz the poison oak carefully to avoid getting it on any surrounding plants. Use once a week until the weeds die. You can also use this mixture to kill weeds in sidewalk cracks or walkways.
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Unplugs a Blocked Drain
Is your sink or shower filling up with water every time you use it? You likely have a blocked drain but before you use harsh chemicals or call a plumber, try using salt to unplug it. According to the Koyuncu Salt blog, it’s very easy to make this DIY recipe. Mix one cup of salt with a half cup of vinegar and pour it down the stopped-up or slow drain. Let it sit for around ten minutes and then pour around two liters of boiled water down the drain. Afterwards, run warm water in the drain until it moves freely.
Relieves Bee Stings
If you get stung by a bee and do not show any signs of being allergic then salt can come to your rescue. First, remove the stinger if it is left in your skin. Then rub salt into the area that is red and swollen. You can also gently wash it with cool salty water. The salt helps to reduce the pain and swelling. But if the pain gets worse or you have allergic symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention.
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