7 Smart Ways To Use Table Salt For Non-Toxic Cleaning

When it comes to human consumption, table salt has gained quite a lot notoriety. This is because, it’s chemically processed and can be unhealthy when consumed beyond moderation. However, table salt is not the dreaded villain when it comes to its utility as a cheap, natural and non-toxic household cleaner.

Regular household cleaners have known to be unsafe for both humans and the environment in the long run. But table salt is probably one of the safest cleaning alternatives available today. Here are 7 ways you can use it to get a spick and span house.

1. For Clogged Drains And Sinks

For those hard to reach hoses down the kitchen sinks or shower drains, salt acts as the best scouring agent. All you need is to use it along with some vinegar and pour hot water down the drain to unclog it completely.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of salt
• 1 cup vinegar
• 2 cups of hot water

Steps:

• Drop the salt down the drain or sink followed by the vinegar.
• Leave it for 15 minutes and pour hot water into it to get rid of any clumps. Not only will your drain appear cleaner but will be without any blocks due to lack of debris or grease.

2. For Greasy Pans

Getting rid of stubborn grease stains that are left behind on pans and skillets after cooking is time-consuming indeed. But using salt is a great way to loosen the grease and facilitate its removal. All you got to do is sprinkle the salt over the greasy pan and let it rest for five minutes.

Scrub the pan later with a wet sponge to reveal a clean surface. Don’t try this method on non-stick pans as it will destroy their finish.¹

3. For Dirty Brass And Copper Utensils

Brass and copper utensils tend to appear dull and discolored with frequent use. To restore their original luster and sheen you can use a salt and lemon paste.²

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons of salt
• 2 tablespoons of white vinegar or lemon juice
• 1 half of lemon without the pulp

Steps: 

• Make a paste by mixing the two ingredients.
• Now take one half of the freshly squeezed lemon and apply this paste to it.
• Start rubbing all over the utensil and leave it aside for 5 minutes.
• Rinse them well and wipe with a clean dry cloth. Your utensils will appear brand new.

4. For Broken Eggs

Eggs need a lot of care while handling or else they can get messy once they fall down and break. Rather than using a cloth to wipe the broken egg and its contents, you can use table salt to absorb the mess. Sprinkle table salt on the broken egg and you will see clumps forming. These blobs make it easier to collect and dispose of the egg with a clean cloth.³

5. For Dirty Refrigerators

Refrigerators need to be cleaned at least once every month or else they will start stinking. A chemical-free way to clean it is by using table salt mixed with carbonated water.

Ingredients:

• 1 liter of soda water
• A spray bottle
• 1 cup of table salt

Steps:

• Add both the salt and soda water into the spray bottle.
• Spray the solution all over the racks of a refrigerator including the nooks and crannies after removing all stored foods.
• Leave it undisturbed for 15–20 minutes.
• Wipe it away with a clean cloth to reveal a sparkly surface.

6. For Sticky Bottoms Of Iron

The bottom portions of hot irons (not steam irons) can get dirty with sticky spots that make it impossible to press clothes. All you’ve to do is switch on the iron and run it back and forth over a plain paper sprinkled with salt. Once you have done it for about 6 times, you will see the sticky spots have disappeared from the bottom of the iron.

7. For Dull Faucets And Fixtures

No one like to see faucets and fixtures that appear stained and dirty. But a bit of salt is all you need to bring back their original shine.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons of salt
• 1 tablespoon of white vinegar/lemon juice
• An old toothbrush

Steps:

• Make a past out of salt and lemon juice/vinegar.
• Apply it all over the dull faucets and fixtures.
• Leave it undisturbed for 15 minutes.
• Using the toothbrush, scrub all their surfaces including the crevices that are hard to reach.
• Wash it away with water and they will appear brand new.

Don’t bat an eyelid when it comes to suspecting the effectiveness of table salt as a non-toxic cleaning agent. You will not only be protecting your house and environment from exposure to toxic chemicals in store-bought cleaners but will also end up saving lots of money.