Salt - Other Uses - Page 3

• Copper pot scrub
  1/2 lemon
  1 tablespoon (18g) salt
  
  To remove tarnish and restore the lustrous shine to copper cookware, use the cut side of a lemon as a handy scrubber. Simply sprinkle the cut side of the lemon half with the salt and rub over tarnished spots. The gentle acid from the lemon and abrasive power of salt will erase years of tarnish quickly and easily. Rinse thoroughly with water and dry with a soft cloth.

• yard worker's hand wash
  1 teaspoon (6g) salt
  1/2 lemon
  An afternoon of gardening or yard work may leave you with sticky plant residues on your hands that can be difficult to scrub off with the usual soap and water routine. Fortunately, you don't have resort to harsh cleaners. Just put the salt in the palm of one hand, squeeze the lemon half over it, and gently rub your hands together (don't try this if you have any cuts or ragged cuticles). The salt is a natural abrasive, and the lemon juice is effective at cutting through the tar-like properties of many plant compounds. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry. Follow up with your favorite hand moisturizer if they feel slightly tender. 

• Moisturizing body and facial scrub
  1/2 cup (60g) sea salt
  1/3 cup (75ml) almond oil
  5 drops lavender essential oil (optional)
  
  Pamper yourself at home with an all natural skin care formula. Pour seasalt into a small plastic container and conver with the almond oil and lavendar essential oil, if desired. (If you mix it, the salt with quickly settle on the bottom, but if you pour the oil over the salt, it will slowly cover it on its own.) To use, gently massage a small amount onto wet skin, taking care to avoid eyes and other sensitive areas. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry. Store remaining scrub-tightly covered-away from light and heat.    

• no-fuss flower pot cleaner
  1 handful salt
  
  Scrub brushes can scratch and soap residues can cling to a clay pot's porous texture. Instead, reach for a handful of salt to work in their place. Simply place the salt on a clean damp rag and scrub away to let the gentle abrasive power of salt clean your empty garden pots between plantings. Rinse well with clean water.

• Remove mold and mildew
  Remove mold and mildew growth with lemon juice or vinegar combined with salt. 

• Fish tank scrubber
  1 handful non-iodized salt
  Over time, mineral deposits and other buildup can make the inside of your fish tank look a little cloudy. And what's the point of having fish if you can't enjoy watching them? Because fish are especially sensitive to environmental pollutions, it's best to avoid harsh chemicals when cleaning their tanks. Instead, use a small handful on non-iodized salt to scrub the glass clean. Make sure to rinse the tank well before refilling it. 

• bloodstain remover for carpets
  1 handful salt
  1/2 cup (125ml) cold water
  1/2 cup (125ml) hydrogen peroxide
  
  Need to treat a bloodstain on carpet? Start by covering the area with salt to help absorb some of the blood. Next, mix equal parts cold water and hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl. Dampen a clean cloth with the mixture and use it to dab at the salt until a clump forms. Gently bloth the stain and repeat until the stain disappears. Rinse by blotting with a clean cloth dampened with fresh water. Do not use warm water as this can set the stain, and test on an inconspicuous area first.

• Brass cleaner
  2 tablespoons (36g) salt
  2 tablespoons (16g) flour
  1 to 2 teaspoons (5 to 10ml) vinegar
  
  In lieu of a toxic brass polisher, combine equal parts of flour and salt in a small bowl and ass just enough vinegar to make a paste. Use a soft cloth to apply the mixture to the brass item (wear rubber gloves, as this can be a dirty process if the item is heavily tarnished). Rinse thoroughly with water and dry with a clean, soft cloth. This formula can be easily doubled for larger items. TIP: Before attempting to clean a tarnished nrass item, hold a magnet up to see if it really is brass. If the magnet sticks, the object is likely brass-plated and could be easily damaged by the abrasivness of salt.

• pine tar remover
  1 teaspoon (6g) salt
  1 squirt liquid hand soap
  1 teaspoon (5ml) lemon juice
  Whether pruning hedges or hauling around a Christmas tree, it's impossible to not get your hands sticky with the distinctive scent of pine tar. Instead of using turpentine to clean up your hands, try this natural alternative first. Place 1 teaspoon (6g) salt into your hand, followed by a squirt of liquid hand soap and 1 teaspoon (5ml) lemon juice. Add enough water to form a lather, and gently scrub clean. Make sure to follow with hand lotion because the salt and lemon juice can be a bit abrasive. 

• car window anti-icer
  1/4 cup (75g) salt
  1 1/2 cups (350ml) warm water
  
  To avoid the burdensome scraping and shoveling associated with winter snowstorms, trY using the same salt strategy that works on roadways when another round of the white stuff is on its way. Dissolve the salt in the warm water, and wipe it on your car windows. The salt will lower the melting point of ice and snow when it hits the car, making the digging out process much easier. Tip: Take a trip through the car wash as soon as the weather improves; prolonged exposure to salt can harm the paint surface and leave your car more vulnerable to rust.