Further uses for salt

The most familiar use of salt is as a vital element in cooking. It is also extremely useful in food preservation. But salt has many uses beyond the culinary. And since its an ingredient you invariably have in your kitchens, you might want to make a note of these.

Give brooms a long life

A new straw broom will last longer if you soak its bristles in a bucket of hot, salty water. After about 20 minutes, remove the broom and let it dry.

Make brass and copper polish

When exposure to the elements dulls brass or copper items, there is no need to buy expensive cleaning products. To shine your candlesticks or remove green tarnish from copper pots, make a paste by mixing equal parts salt, flour, and vinegar. Use a soft cloth to rub this over the item, then rinse with warm, soapy water and buff back to its original shine.

Remove watermarks from wood

Watermarks left from glasses or bottles on a wood table really stand out. Make them disappear by mixing 1 teaspoon salt with a few drops of water to form a paste. Gently rub the paste onto the ring with a soft cloth or sponge and work it over the spot until it’s gone. Restore the luster of your wood with furniture polish.

Restore a sponge

Hand sponges and mop sponges usually get grungy beyond use long before they are really worn out. To restore sponges to a pristine state, soak them overnight in a solution of about ¼ cup salt per quart (litre) of water.

Clean your fish tank

To remove mineral deposits from hard water in your fish tank, rub the inside of the tank with salt, then rinse the tank well before reinstalling the fish. For this task, use only plain, not iodized, salt. (Readers Digest adapted)