14,000 household uses for salt

Posted by Maryan Pelland Jun 8, 2006

Our parents and grandparents who lived through the depression told us to be thrifty - you never know when you might fall on hard times. Today we squander money on a myriad of specialized household cleaners, additives, and flavorings, even though we madly clip coupons for a few pennies savings. If you're ever in the mood to tighten up, here's a fascinating partial list, from the Salt Institute (yes, it's for real), of ways to use common salt for some 14,000 tasks.

Note: nobody warrants these suggestions as foolproof. Try them at your own risk, but remember, wise elders long before you became one, swore by these little tips, so there might be something to them. Now the list:

Testing egg freshness - Put an egg in a cup of water to which two teaspoonfuls of salt has been added. A fresh egg sinks; an "iffy" egg will float.

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, the sand falls out easily.

Cleaning greasy pans - The greasiest iron pan will wash easily if you put a little salt in it and wipe with paper.

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.

Improving coffee - A pinch of salt in coffee will enhance the flavor and remove the bitterness of over-cooked coffee.

Removing pinfeathers - To remove pinfeathers easily from a chicken, rub the chicken skin with salt first.

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.

Cleaning wicker - To prevent yellowing, scrub wicker furniture with a stiff brush moistened with warm saltwater and allow to dry in the sun.

Cleaning silk or plastic flower - Put the flowers in a bag with a small handful of salt. Shake briskly but fairly gently. All the dust is scrubbed off by the salt.

Removing perspiration stains - Add four tablespoons of salt to one quart of hot water and sponge the fabric with the solution until stains disappear.

Gargling - Stir 1/2 teaspoon salt in an 8-ounce glass of warm water for use as a gargle for sore throats.

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.

Keeping patios weed-free - Weeds or grass between patio bricks or blocks, carefully spread salt between the bricks and blocks, then sprinkle with water. Don't let the salt migrate to plants you like or to your lawn.

If you're interested in seeing more of the 14,000, click the link above. Or ask a wise old crone. By the way, remember that salt and blood pressure concerns aren't a good mix, so ask your doctor about salt in your diet.