9 ways to use table salt that will save you time and money

Chances are, everyone you know has salt on their kitchen or dining room table. Aside from adding it to our food, some of us probably know salt tricks here and there.

Like adding it to boiling water on the stove when when making pasta or gargling with salt water when we have a sore throat. But what are some less common, yet equally amazing, uses for salt? Below I’ve collected nine uses for salt that go beyond seasoning your food. Who knew this everyday ingredient could save you so much time and money around the house?

1. Add Salt To Coffee To Remove The Bitter Taste

Whaaaat? I know, when I learned this, I thought to myself, no way. The article I read must have had a typo—writing “salt” instead of “sugar.” But then I saw that a lot of people are into this, putting salt in their coffee, and I soon became a believer, too.

People don’t do it for the taste, but to cut down on the acid and bitterness, especially if the coffee was made a while ago. And some people, like Alton Brown and his “Man Coffee,” add kosher salt to coffee grounds in a French press. Just add a “pinch,” though, so that you don’t actually taste the salt. Genius, right?

2. Clean A Coffee-Stained Mug Or Pot With Salt

Morton Salt recommends cleaning a coffee pot with salt to remove stains, and if a salt authority says it works, we better believe them. All you have to do is put these ingredients in the pot: 4 teaspoons of Morton Salt, 1 tablespoon of water, and 1 cup of crushed ice, according to their website.

Then, swirl it around and, soon, your coffee pot should be stain-free. You can also get rid of coffee and tea stains in mugs by sprinkling some salt on a sponge, then removing the stain. Add some vinegar to the mix if the stain is particularly stubborn.

3. Clean Your Cutting Boards

Tired of washing your cutting boards, only for them to look faded and not all that clean? Try salt. According to The Salt Institute, the secret to having brighter cutting boards is washing them with soap and water, then rubbing them with a damp cloth that has been dipped in salt. Magic!

4. Refresh Your Sponges

If your sponge is looking a bit worn, but it’s practically brand new, try soaking it in salt water. Just add about ¼ cup of salt to 2 cups of water and soak the sponge in the salty solution overnight. This’ll save you from having to purchase new sponges so often.

5. Clean Your Refrigerator

Once you clean out your fridge, aka take everything out, mix some salt with about a gallon of warm water. Then, use a sponge to wipe the fridge down. Not only is this an efficient, chemical-free cleaning solution, it also won’t scratch any surfaces.

6. Clean And Deodorize Your Sink Drain

Just like with cleaning your fridge, when you clean your sink drain with salt, it’s another nontoxic way to get the drain looking as good as new. The hot saltwater will help remove bacteria that’s been building up in the pipes, while also flushing out odors.

You should use a ½ cup salt per gallon of water, then heat it to just under boiling. Next, pour it down the sink, rotating your hand as you do so (if possible). Do it again with more salt if need be (i.e., you smell anything odd), then rinse the sink drain with cool water.

If you have plastic pipes, use more salt and don’t heat the water (you don’t want to melt the pipes). Experts recommend doing this hot saltwater drain-cleaning 1-2 times a month.

So easy and inexpensive, it’s definitely worth a try!

7. Get Rid Of Perspiration Stains

Don’t you hate those yellow sweat stains on your shirts? Well, now you can remove them … with salt! You’ll also need some vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide.

You’ll soak the shirt in 1 cup of vinegar and 2 cups of warm water for a minimum of 20 minutes. While you wait, make a paste from the ½ cup baking soda, 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide, and 1 tablespoon of salt.

You’ll then cover the stains with this mixture and let that sit for at least 20 minutes. Then, launder the shirt as usual and it should be stain-free! (You’re welcome!)

8. Make Hard Boiled Eggs Easier To Peel

Many hard-boiled egg lovers swear adding salt to the water is key in creating an easy-to-peel egg. I tried it… and it was true.

So, next time you’re struggling to peel an egg, keep this tip in mind and try it. Your fingers will thank you later (and so will your fellow egg-peelers out there, like your family and friends).

9. Make Perfectly Poached Eggs

Speaking of eggs, when it comes to poaching them, salted water will help in setting the egg whites (along with the vinegar). This poaching method by Alton Brown is a winner every time, as is this one from Geeks On Food. Life’s too short for mediocre eggs, right? Yum!

Photo by katrienberckmoes