Salt - Other Uses - Page 2

• cleaning decanters and bottles
  Use 2 teaspoons of salt, moistened with vinegar. Shake well and rinse thoroughly with water.

• Cast Iron Cleaner
  1/2 Cup Salt
  1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil
  Cast Iron will last and last and last and can be handed down from generation to generation if properly cared for. And cast iron will not leach dangerous 'non-stick surface' coatings into your food.
  
  Never use dish soap in your cast iron cookware. If properly cared for and treated, cast iron can be better then most non-stick pots and pans, a bit heavier however.
  
  Rinse the cast iron skillet with water and scrape out any residue using only wooded spoons or plastic spatulas. Warm the skillet over medium heat for 30 seconds, once dry, remove from heat. Add vinegar and salt mixture and scrub entire surface with wadded up papertowels until clean. Rinse again with plain water and dry over medium heat. 

• tarnished copper
  If you have heavily tarnished copper or copper alloy object to be cleaned up, use a paste made of salt and vinegar.   

• Artificial flower cleaner
  1 to 2 cups (300 to 600g) salt
  
  Some artificial flowers can look amazingly real, but a thin layer of dust on seemingly fresh petals is always a dead giveaway. Conventional dusting methods can make the problem even worse by driving dirt deeper into the flower. A great way to dust a small arrangement is to fill a paper bag with 1 to 2 cups 300 to 600g) salt; a plastic bag works well, too, if the flowers will fit. Place the arrangement inside and secure the top. Give the bag a few gentle shakes and the salt will brush the lwaves and petals free of the dust. 

• straw broom life extender
  1 cup (300g) salt
  1 gallon (4 liters) warm water
  
  Here's a tried-and-true way to make a new straw broom last longer. Before first use, dissolve the salt in a bucket of warm water. Let the brrom bristles soak for 20 minutes, then drain and let the broom air-dry. This process will help stiffen the bristles and make the broom much more durable. 

• eye puffiness reducer
  1/2 teaspoon (3g) salt
  1 quart (1 liter) warm water
  
  Eating salty foods can lead to puffy eyes, but, ironically, briefly soaking your eyes in a gentle salt water solution can make them less puffy. Here's how to do it: Add the salt to the warm water and dip 2 cotton balls in the mixture. Lie down on your back, close your eyes, and place the cotton balls over your eyes for 10 minutes. Relax. When you get up, your eyes should appear less puffy. 

• Egg spill absorber
  2 handfuls salt
  
  Raw eggs can make an especially aggravating mess to clean up because the whites have a tendency to slide away from the sponge or towel, spreading the original mess even farther. For easy cleaning, sprinkle the spill with a generous amount of salt. After fifteen minutes, you'll find that the same mess doesn't move around as much when you wipe it up. Eggs that have been thrown at cars require an entirely different method for effective cleanup.

• Pots / Pans with baked-on deposit (Note: not nonstick) No. 4
  Stuck on messes can be cleaned up by using a mix of one spoonful of salt with two of baking soda and mix with a little lemon juice. Spread this over the offending area and let dry. Rub off with a scouring pad.

• Oven spill absorber
  1 small handful salt
  
  What to do when the filling of a pie or casserole has bubbled over? Reach for the salt! A quick layer of salt on anything thats spilled in the oven will make for much easier cleanup once the oven cools down. Just make sure to put the salt down before the spill has a chance to bake on. 

• Mildew Stain Remover
  2 tablespoons (30ml) lemon juice
  1 tablespoon (18g) salt
  
  If you happen to notice dark spots forming on your bathroom shower curtain, regular laundering tactics are unlikely to remove them, unless they're first treated with a lemon and salt scrub. Mix the lemon juice and salt and rub over the affected areas. Place in direct sunlight for the afternoon and then wash as usual. The stains should be gone without having to resort to harsh bleaches.

• Pet bed cleaner
  1/2 cup (150g) salt
  
  To give the cleaning process a boost without adding a lot of artificial fragrances, try adding a 1/2 cup (150g) salt to the laundry. For best results during warmer weather, make sure to air-dry the bedding in the sun.   

• Goldfish spa treatment
  1 quart (1 liter) distilled water
  1 teaspoon (6g) salt
  
  Even goldfish need a little pick me up now and then! Although goldfish are freshwater creatures, giving them a little dose of salt can do them some good. Next time you're getting ready to change the water in your goldfish bowl, dissolve 1 teaspoon (6g) salt in the distilled water and let your gold fish swim around in this mixture for about 15 minutes while you change the water in the tank. Just make sure to return them to their tank promptly (and don't add the salt water to the freshwater by mistake).

• All-purpose metal cookware scrub
  1 tablespoon (8g) flour
  1 tablespoon (18g) salt
  1 tablespoon (15ml) vinegar
  
  Here's a simple-to-remember formula for an amazingly effective scouring scrub: Measure equal amounts of flour, salt, and vinegar and mix into a paste. You'll have an all-purpose cleaner that's safe for cleaning all of your metal cookware. Rinse off with warm water and dry thoroughly with a soft kitchen towel.

• muddy carpet cleaner
  1 handful salt
  
  The next time someone tracks mud onto your carpet, resist the urge to blot it dry, as this could drive dirt deeper into the fibers. Instead, toss a handful of salt on the mess and walk away. The salt will absorb the liquid, making it easy to vacuum up when dry.

• garden pest fighter
  1 cup (125g) flour
  1/2 cup (150g) salt
  
  Cruciferous vegetables, like cabbage, brocolli, and cauliflower, are particularly vulnerable to a type of garden pest known as the cabbage worm. If you happen to see these insects munching away, stir together the flour and salt and out it in a shaker. Every morning or evening, when the plants are damp with dew, dust the leaves to keep pests at bay.

• Sore throat soother
  1 teaspoon (6g) salt
  1 cup (250ml) warm water
  
  The next time a sore throat has you down, try easing the pain with this simple formula: Pour the salt into the warm water and stir until dissolved. Gargle a swig of this mixture for 5 to 10 seconds (try not to swallow) and repeat. Used 2 to 3 times a day, the salt will help reduce inflammation and speed healing.    

• Leech remover
  1 handful salt
  
  If you happen to emerge from a refreshing dip in a freshwater swimming area with a few leeches stuck to your skin, a sprinkle of salt is all you need to get them to release their grip . They release a powerful anesthetic when attaching themselves to your skin, so your not likely to feel a lot of pain, but to prevent infection, you should follow up with a regular first aid as you would an ordinary cut or scratch. 

• Sink full of bubbles dissolver
  1 handful salt
  
  Once you've finished hand-washing a load of dishes, there's always the sudsy sink to contend with. Instead of wasting more water to rinse the suds down the drain, try sprinkling a handful of salt over all of the bubbles. They'll quickly dissolve, and the salt will actually help fight any grease that remains. Give the sink one last quick rinse and you're done. 

• No-drip candles
  1/3 cup (100g) salt
  2 cups (500ml) warm water
  
  No-drip candles are a great idea, but they're typically more expensive than their regular-burning counterparts. You can render tapered candles practically drip-proof with a simple overnight soak in saltwater. Mix the salt and warm water in a plastic container wide enough to hold the candles. Stir until the salt is dissolved and add the candles. Put a can or other weight on top of the candles to keep them submerhed and soak overnnight. Let the candles dry completely before using. For best results, make sure the burning candle is perfectly upright and in a draft-free place (both factors can make a candle burn unevenly, which may result in dripping). 

• Fleas be gone
  1 handful salt
  
  If your pets have been afflicted with fleas, the problem most likely has spread to your carpets. To battle the bugs, sprinkle a handful of salt evenly over your carpet before you go to bed (make sure to keep pets out of area as they may be tempted to lick it up). In the morning, vacuum thoroughly and repeat once a week for 6 weeks.