Don’t Toss the Salt: 42 Household Uses

When I finally get to the point where I realize that common table salt is dangerous for my health, and decide to use as little as possible, in order to keep my blood pressure numbers where they should be, I come across research indicating that table salt has thousands of uses, and not only does it have thousands of household uses, but is crucial to maintaining our health.

“Besides making foods delicious, it’s believed there are more than 14,000 uses of salt, and our grandmothers were probably familiar with most of them. Many of these uses were for simple things around the home before the advent of modern chemicals and cleaners. However, many uses are still valid today and a lot cheaper than using more sophisticated products.”

Also at this site many recipes can be found to create artwork, science projects, and just good eating using ordinary table salt as one of the ingredients.

While sea salt claims to have 92 minerals which are beneficial to our health, common table salt has two components; sodium and chloride. Many table salts have added iodine, a necessary nutrient for health. According to “Nutrition: Concepts & Controversies” sea salt provides little iodine because iodine becomes a gas and escapes off the salt during the drying process.

While I find the differences between common table salt and sea salt fascinating, this will have to be the topic on another article, as there is a lot of material to cover here.

TOO LITTLE SALT CAN BE DEADLY

Having had a son who suffered from a heat stroke while working as a roofer on a particularly hot day, I am well aware of the dangers of allowing one’s body to become deficient of sodium. According to the American Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. over 90% of our body’s inorganic constituents of blood serums is made up of sodium chloride. Therefore when the intake of salt is less than what is secreted a condition called alkalosis is created. This condition is marked by nausea, vomiting, severe muscle cramps, and possibly convulsions.

On this particular day, my son called me from his cell phone. He had left his job, and parked along the road side vomiting severely and experiencing severe muscle cramps and tremors. I called an ambulance, and met him at the hospital, where he was on intravenous fluids consisting of a salt solution. His kidneys had shut down and he was diagnosed as having suffered from a heat stroke. He was in extreme pain, and spent three days in the hospital before being able to come home. The doctor informed me that if I had not called for an ambulance when I did, my son would not have lived.

Around 25% of our body’s total sodium is found in our bones. Changes in salt intake and secretion have an impact on our health in connection with our heart, kidneys, liver, and certain endrocrinological systems. An imbalance of salt creates a disturbance of homeostatic equilibrium. (A normal daily salt intake ranges from 5 to 15 grams daily.)

SODIUM ATTRACTS WATER

An excessive intake of salt may result in edema, increased risk of hypertension and degenerative heart disease. Excessive salt increases the risk of toxemia for pregnant women, and causes bloating, and menstrual discomfort in others. This is the news about salt that we hear the most frequently.

SALT IS VALUABLE

There is a quote in the Bible stating “You are the salt of the earth”. This is meant as a compliment, as salt is considered highly valuable. On the other hand, when someone is told that they are not worth their salt, they know they are thought to be worthless. The word “salary” was created from the word “salt”.

Long ago, because of the high value placed on salt, spilling salt was considered a major offence, hence came our superstition of throwing salt over our left shoulder. Two origins come to us regarding this long ago practice (Yahoo Answers and Everything 2): In order to ward off evil, salt is to be thrown over the left shoulder with the right hand. The salt is thrown with the right hand as right symbolizes the “good” hand. Because many ancient traditions place the devil at the left, it is believed that salt may be thrown to:

1. Blind the devil
2. Distract the devil, while the wasted salt is cleaned up
3. Be an offering to the devil to placate him

Still another theory is that the salt was originally spilled by an angel to warn the party of the devil sitting on his left hand side. In all these theories note that salt is considered valuable.

DIETS RARELY LACK SODIUM

It is for this reason the FDA has not set up a daily requirement for sodium. Sodium lurks in many unexpected places, and one finds it difficult not to replace what their body loses due to normal activities.

• Chocolate pudding, 1 cup instant 880 mg. sodium
• Chipped beef, 3 oz. 2,946 mg. sodium
• Pickle, 1 1,428 mg. sodium
• Macaroni and cheese, ½ cup 885 mg. sodium
• Mustard, 1 Tbsp. 188 mg. sodium

We should also be aware of the sodium found in many nonfood products such as toothpaste, medicines, and mouth washes. Food that has been prepared with soft water will contain more sodium. When reading food labels be aware of monosodium glutamate, sodium nitrite, and sodium nitrate, which are all forms of sodium.

HOUSEHOLD USES FOR SALT

• SCALING FISH:

  Before scaling fish, soak in salt. Removing scales will be much easier.

• STOP CLOTHES LINE FROM FREEZING:

  Soak clothes line in salt prior to hanging up in the winter time, to stop clothes line from freezing.

• STOP LAUNDRY FROM FREEZING:

  Add salt to the final rinse cycle to keep clothes from freezing on the clothes line.

• REMOVE YELLOW STAINS FROM FAUCETS:

  Mix salt with turpentine and spray on faucets to remove stains.

• USE FOR ORAL HYGEINE:

  A mixture of salt and baking soda can be used to brush teeth and freshen breath. Salt water can be used to gargle and aid in killing germs.

• MAKE PEELING BOILED EGGS EASIER:

  Sprinkle salt in water when boiling eggs to make peeling easier

• IMPROVE DRAIN ODOR:

  Boiled salt water poured down the drain will improve drain odor.

• IMPROVE PEAKS IN MERINGUE:

  Add a dash of salt to egg whites before whipping to create stiffer peaks for meringue

• ENHANCE BREWED COFFEE FLAVOR:

  Add a pinch of salt to coffee grounds before brewing.

• DOUSE FIRES:

  Pour on small grease fires to extinguish flames. Any fire that cannot be quickly extinguished should be considered serious. All occupants should leave the premises and call for help.

• KEEP COLORS BRIGHT:

  Adding ½ cup salt to the wash water helps keep colors bright longer. Salt is also used in the washing machine when color dying clothes.

• REMOVE TARNISH:

  A salt water paste helps in the removal of tarnish from silver. Salt and vinegar will help shine copper.

• REMOVE MILDEW:

  A salt and lemon juice solution helps to remove mildew from tubs, showers, and tiles.

• KILL WEEDS:

  Salt water kills weeds.

• REMOVE ONION AND GARLIC ODORS:

  Rubbing salt water on hands will help to remove garlic and onion odors.

• CLEAN RESIDUE FROM VASES:

  Your beautiful bouquet of flowers has died, and there is an ugly residue in your favorite vase. Rub it with salt and a brush to remove the mineral deposits and bring back the vase’s sparkle.

• HELP ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS STAND TALL:

  Place artificial flowers in a vase half full of salt. Add water, and the salt will solidify, holding your flowers firmly in place.

• CLEAN ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS:

  Place silk or nylon artificial flowers in a paper bag with salt. Gently shake. Salt will remove dust and dirt from flowers leaving them fresher and newer looking.

• CREATE AN AIR FRESHENER:

  Place layers of salt and rose petals in an airtight jar. Remove lid when you want to smell the pleasant fragrance.

• CLEAN WICKER FURNITURE:

  Dip scrub bush in salt water solution. Scrub wicker furniture, and leave it in the sun to dry.

• IMPROVE THE LIFE SPAN OF STRAW BROOMS:

  Soak your straw broom in salt water to condition it.

• HELP CLEAN AND EXTINGUISH FLAMES IN FIREPLACE:

  Throw salt on your fire place fire before retiring for the night will making cleaning up easier in the morning, help loosen soot from the chimney, and improve the brightness of the flame.

• CLEAN WINE STAINS FROM CARPETS:

  First pour white wine over the spilled red wine. Clean with a sponge and cold water. Sprinkle with salt and vacuum.

• CLEAN GREASE STAINS FROM CARPETS:

  Mix 1 part salt to 1 part rubbing alcohol. Rub on grease stain in the direction of your carpet’s nap.

• REMOVE WATER RINGS FROM WOOD:

  Mix 1 tsp. salt with a few drops of water, and rub into water ring. Then polish with furniture polish.

• FRESHEN KITCHEN SPONGES:

  Soak kitchen sponges in ¼ cup salt per 1 liter water over night. Waken to fresher smelling sponges.

• RELIEVE ITCHING FROM BITES:

  Wet insect bite with baking soda, salt, and water paste to help relieve itch and swelling.

• RELIEVE ITCHING FROM POISON IVY:

  Soaking in warm salt water helps relieve the itch of poison ivy.

• HELP KEEP WINDOWS CLEAR OF ICE:

  Keep a cloth bag of salt in your car to rub on windows to help keep them free from ice.

• CLEAN FISH TANKS:

  Using non iodized salt, clean fish tanks, then rinse thoroughly

• HELP REMOVE FLEAS FROM DOG HOUSE:

  Wipe down the inside of your dog’s house with a salt water solution to help rid it of fleas.

• DISCOURAGE ANTS FROM ENTERING HOME:

  Sprinkle salt upon your threshold to discourage ants from entering your home.

• EXFOLIATE SCALP:

  Rub your scalp with salt water to exfoliate scalp prior to washing hair.

• SOFTEN SKIN:

  Placing salt in the bath water will improve skin’s softness.

• MASSAGE BODY:

  Massage salt into oiled or damp skin to improve circulation and remove dead skin cells.

• KEEP FRESH FLOWERS FRESH LONGER:

  A pinch of salt added to the water in your flower vase will help keep fresh flowers fresh longer.

• DRIP PROOF CANDLES:

  Soak new candles in strong salt water solution for a few hours. Dry thoroughly before using.

• WASH SPINACH AND GREENS:

  Washing greens with salt and water cleans them quicker and better than plain water.

• CLEAN CHICKEN AND POUTRY:

  Sprinkle poultry with salt and rub with hands to easily remove pin feathers and clean prior to cooking.

• CLEAN GREASY PANS QUICKER:

  Grease removes easier from pans with salt, making a faster clean up.

• TEST EGG FRESHNESS:

  Place an egg in a cup of water and 2 tsp. salt. If the egg sinks, it’s fresh.

• CLEAN REFRIGERATOR AND STOVE:

  Sprinkle salt in hot oven. Wipe out when cool. Sprinkle salt in sponge and wipe out refrigerator or stove. Salt will help lift grime without scratching porcelain, enamel, or plastic.

PRACTICE MODERATION IN YOUR SALT CONSUMPTION

The balance of sodium in the body is vital to one’s health, so it is wise to be diligent in monitoring salt intake, remembering that sodium can be found in many places, and substantially higher levels are found in processed foods. Acquire a taste for less salty food by trying out other spices to give food more flavor. Spices can provide one with a multitude of health benefits, if they but open the door to the possibilities. By cutting back on salt, one will notice a whole array of flavors they did not know existed, and lower their risk of heart disease and stroke. Before long salty food will taste salty and no longer appeal to them.

There are many healthful articles written in Health Mad providing good information to assist one in living longer and stronger. I hope the reader will avail themselves of the wealth of information provided there.