There are many safe and effective uses for salt for household use. Here is a list of salt uses by category.

Salt and Laundry:

• soak stained hankies in salt water before washing
• boil clothes pins in salt water before using them and they will last longer
• eliminate excess suds with a sprinkle of salt
• soak your clothes line in salt water to prevent your clothes from freezing to the line
• likewise, use salt in your final rinse to prevent clothes from freezing
• fabric colors hold fast in salty water wash
• boil mismatched hose in salty water and they will come out matched
• cover wine-stained fabric with salt; rinse in cold water later
• to remove grease stains in clothing, mix one part salt to four parts alcohol

General cleaning with Salt:

• rub salt on your pancake griddle, and your pancakes won’t stick
• clean brass, copper and pewter with paste made from salt and vinegar, thickened with flour
• pour a mound of salt on an ink or blood spot on your carpet; let salt soak up the stain
• clean your iron by rubbing some salt on a damp cloth on the ironing surface
• clean piano keys with a mixture of salt and lemon juice
• rub any wicker furniture with salt water to prevent yellowing
• freshen sponges by soaking them in salt water
• mix salt with turpentine to whiten your bathtub and toilet bowl
• soak enamel pans in salt water overnight, then boil salt water in them the next day to remove burned-on stains
• sprinkle salt in your oven before scrubbing clean
• soak discolored glass in a salt and vinegar solution to remove stains
• clean greasy pans with a paper towel and salt
• use salt to clean your discolored coffee pot
• sprinkle salt in milk-scorched pans to remove odor
• salt and soda will sweeten the odor of your refrigerator
• salt and cinnamon will remove offensive odors from the stove
• salt and lemon juice removes mildew
• remove odors from sink drainpipes with a strong, hot solution of salt and water
• polish your old kerosene lamp with salt for a brighter look
• if a pie bubbles over in the oven, put a handful of salt on top of the spill. It won’t smell and will bake into a dry, light crust you can easily wipe away when oven in cool

Salt and Personal hygiene:

• soak toothbrushes in salt water before your first use; they’ll last longer
• dry salt sprinkled on your toothbrush makes a good tooth polisher
• mildly salted water makes an effective mouthwash. gargle with warm water for a sore throat
• use equal parts salt and soda for brushing your teeth
• rinse a sore eye with a little salt water

Miscellaneous uses for Salt:

• sprinkle salt between sidewalk bricks or cracks where you don’t want grass to grow
• to fill holes in your plaster walls, use equal parts of salt and starch with just enough water to make a stiff putty
• sprinkle salt on your shelves to keep ants away
• for a longer life for cut flowers, add a little salt to the water

Chris Wilhelm http://blog.werelivingwell.com