Salt: A versatile natural solution for home cleaning and tool care

It is said that no food should be without salt, because it gives it a delicious taste, and salt is a cure. In addition, salt is used to clean the house, noting that some tasks are performed with fine salt, others with coarse salt, and both with positive results.

In the following lines, a comprehensive guide to cleaning the house, using salt, by explaining the correct way to use it to get the best results, taking into account the amount used so that it does not backfire.

Uses of table salt in gardening

Table salt

In the garden, table salt (fine) deters ants, eliminates slugs, and controls cabbage worms. Here’s how, below:

• Deter ants: You can prevent ants from congregating in your garden by sprinkling salt in areas where you notice them, which also prevents these crawling insects from entering your home.
• Eliminating slugs: You can successfully get rid of slugs by pouring a large dose of salt on them, waiting for five minutes, and then pouring a second dose, again.
• Control cabbage worms: Cabbage worms eat cabbage, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. To control cabbage worms, sprinkle the leaves of these crops with a mixture of one cup of flour and half a cup of salt, in the morning or evening, when they are wet with dew.

Household chores that table salt can do instead of detergent

Table salt does household chores, in bulk, and eliminates the need to buy detergent. Tasks include:

• Deodorize the canvas shoes: Sprinkle salt inside the canvas shoes, waiting overnight. After the time has elapsed, empty the salt.
• Rust removal: Make a paste by mixing 6 tablespoons of salt with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Use a dry cloth towel to rub the paste where the rust is, such as on bike handlebars, tire rims or other items. Rinse the areas and dry thoroughly.
• Remove coffee stains: Mix 1 cup of crushed ice, 1 tablespoon of water, and 4 teaspoons of salt in a coffee pot, stir the mixture, rinse the pot, and wash it as usual. The same method is used to remove stains from your favorite coffee mugs as well.
• Cleaning the oven: Sticky stains are difficult to remove from a cooking oven, so make it easy by sprinkling salt on the stains, then wait a bit, until they are easy to lift with a spatula. You can also soak up spills on the stove by sprinkling it with the cinnamon salt mixture, waiting for five minutes, before wiping it off.
• Disinfect the refrigerator: Sprinkle equal amounts of salt and baking soda on a damp sponge and wipe the inside of the refrigerator.
• Polishing copper: Restore the shine of copper utensils by making a cleaner by mixing one teaspoon of salt, one tablespoon of flour, and enough distilled white vinegar to form a paste. Rub the paste on any piece of copper, let it dry, then wash it with soap and water and wipe it with a microfiber cloth until it shines.
• Eliminate disfiguring watermarks on wood: Make watermarks and stains on wood disappear, using a paste made of a teaspoon of salt and a few drops of water. Gently rub the paste with a soft cloth until it disappears, then use a quality furniture polish.

Coarse salt is effective in performing a range of tasks

Coarse salt is effective in performing a range of household chores:

• Absorb food stains: If you accidentally spill a little juice on your tablecloth or spill a little ketchup on your shirt, rub the stains with a bit of coarse salt to absorb them, then put the item of clothing in the washing machine. You can also use coarse salt to absorb carpet stains.
• Keeping cut flowers fresh: Adding coarse salt to the water in a vase filled with flowers kills bacteria. It also encourages the flowers to absorb water, nourishing them with essential nutrients that tap water alone usually lacks.
• Absorb oil spills: Coarse salt has an amazing ability to draw in liquids, so when your car leaks oil onto the garage floor, sprinkle a generous amount of salt on it, which will absorb it.
• Cleaning stainless steel: Stainless steel cookware is notoriously difficult to clean, requiring an abrasive that is strong enough to scrape away dirt without scratching the surface. Salt is the perfect solution. Simply mix coarse salt with a little baking soda powder for an effective cleaner.
• Scrubbing sponge care: After repeated use, to make your sponge last longer, pour 2 cups of water into a basin, add 1/4 cup of coarse salt, and mix. Then, put the sponge in overnight. It should be clean by morning.
• Cleaning your steam iron: One way to clean your steam iron is to run a cloth towel, dampened and sprinkled with coarse salt, over the metal part. The salt will absorb the dirt and gently scrub the metal.
• Cleaning wicker furniture: White wicker tends to yellow over time, especially outdoor furniture. To clean, dip the cleaning brush in salt water and scrub, exposing it to sunlight, without the need to rinse. This cleaning process should be done once a year.