7 Amazing Ways You Can Use Salt in Your Home and Garden!

Salt is a staple in most pantries. We tend to sprinkle it here and there to season up our food. Though it is an essential part of mealtime for many, lots of people try to regulate their salt intake, and for good reason. While our bodies require a certain level of salt, too much can become a problem.

Cooking aside, there are actually lots of uses for salt around the home. Whether you have table, kosher, or sea salt, check out these unusual and sometimes surprising uses for salt in your home.

1. Remove Stains from Your Clothes

Salt is a cheap, natural, and effective product for removing sweat stains from your clothes. First, dissolve 5 tablespoons of salt in a liter of hot water. You can soak your item of clothing in the solution or use a sponge soaked in the solution to rub the stained area. You may leave your item to sit with the salt solution on the stained area for an hour before popping it in the wash as normal.

2. Keep Your Car Windscreen Frost Free

Salt causes water to freeze at a lower temperature, so having a spray bottle full of salt and water solution is certainly handy in a freeze.  Mix up a solution of 2 teaspoons of salt to four cups of water and pour it into a spray bottle. If you know a frost is coming, spray your windscreens with the solution before you go to bed. If you wake up to a frozen windscreen, use the salt solution to help melt the ice from the windows. It sure beats using those de-icer chemicals.

3. Make a Fun Playdough

Source: Nutty Crafter/YouTube

If you are looking for a cheap and easy craft to keep your kiddos occupied, or you want a new hobby for yourself, whip up a batch of easy salt dough. All you need is 1/4 cup of salt, 1/4 cup of water, and 1/2 cup of flour. Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl first, then slowly add the water. Stir with a wooden spoon until the mixture comes together and forms a ball. Next, turn the dough ball out onto a chopping board and knead it until it is smooth. Then, let your imagination run wild.

4. Get Coffee and Tea Stains off Your Mugs

If you are having no luck getting those tea and coffee stains out of your mugs, then have another go with some salt. Simply wet your mug and then sprinkle salt all over the inside. Make sure that all the stains are covered with salt. Next, get a damp cloth and scour the salt into the stains. The exfoliating power of the salt should remove those stains with ease.

5. Freshen Up a Chopping Board

Even the chopping boards belonging to the plant-based crowd can become grimy, stained, and odorous. Use salt to lift stains and freshen your boards so that they are as good as new.  Dampen your chopping board and sprinkle salt evenly all over it.  Then, with a damp cloth, scrub the salt into the board to exfoliate out the stains and grime.

6. Make a Sea Salt Body Scrub

Source: Trouble Choute/YouTube

If you want to have silky smooth skin, it’s important to exfoliate. One way to do this is to make yourself a luxurious sea salt body scrub. Start with one cup of coarse sea salt in a glass jar. Next, pour a cup of melted coconut oil over the salt and mix them together. If you want to add essential oils, you may do so at this point. Be sure to research each essential oil for use and dosage recommendations. Use your scrub in the shower or bath. The oil will absorb into the skin and simply wash away the salt after you have gently rubbed it into your skin.

7. Kill Those Weeds in Your Driveway

You will never have to reach for chemical weed killers again with this simple and safe homemade weed killer. In a large container, mix a gallon of white vinegar and a cup of table salt. No need to use your expensive Himalayan salt here. Pour your vinegar/salt solution into a watering can or sprayer and drench those weeds with it. This is a pretty harsh mixture, and it will kill any plant it comes in contact with, so keep it away from prized lawns or flower beds.

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