10 Uses For Salt
That 5-pound bag of rock salt you bought to scatter on your icy front walk this winter is likely only partially diminished. As you ponder what to do with the leftovers, consider the luxury – salt shortages throughout history have fueled revolutions and crippled armies. Now that there is plenty, use it to:
1) Polish brass. Grind equal parts salt, flour, and vinegar into a paste. Rub onto tarnished
surface, leave for an hour, and wipe clean with a soft cloth.
2) Remove rings. A paste of salt and vegetable oil removes white rings caused by sweaty
glasses on waxed wood surfaces.
3) Beat back weeds. Salt the earth between patio pavers to stifle unwanted vegetation. Just be
sure that runoff won’t affect nearby plants.
4) Scour a skillet. Use a paste of two parts rock salt and one part vegetable oil to scrub cast iron
without compromising its seasoning.
5) Defrost windows. Rub a sponge saturated in a saltwater solution on the inside of windows to
keep snow and ice from collecting.
6) Wash wicker furniture. Use a stiff bristled brush moistened with warm saltwater then let dry in
the sun.
7) Cut food odors. Deodorize a wood cutting board by rubbing it with salt and lemon juice.
8) Loosen soot. A handful of salt thrown on the flames in a masonry fireplace dissolves soot.
(Beware: salt can corrode metal chimney liners)
9) Fix small nail holes. Use a paste of two tablespoons salt, two tablespoons cornstarch, and four
teaspoons of water to fill holes in plaster or drywall.
10) Clean marble. Coat stains with a poultice of one part salt, four parts flour, and just enough
water for the mix to reach the consistency of toothpaste. Let dry, scrape off, and rinse.
Source of Information: This Old House Magazine, Dated March 2006