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Just Add a Pinch of Salt: Recipes for a Cleaner Home

We all know salt is delicious, and was one of our earliest preservatives, but did you know it can help you around the house, too? Here are just a few tips on cleaning with salt:

• Pour a bit of salt, followed by a few cups of boiling water down your kitchen drain once a week to prevent clogs or unpleasant smells.

• Greasy pan? Scour it with some salt and a paper towel before washing.

• Salt can remove grease from clothing, too. Just pour some salt on a fresh grease spot on to soak up some of the grease. Then gently scrub some more salt into the fabric and rinse before washing.

• Salt is a great way to remove coffee stains from pots and mugs.

• A paste of vinegar and salt can add shine to old copper pans and molds.

• Salt makes a great rust remover for getting bicycles moving again in the spring, or refreshing worn household objects. Make a paste using three parts salt to one part lemon juice.

• When your child is sick, salt can help clean up messy accidents. Sprinkle salt over the “throw up” and let it sit for five minutes to help absorb the wetness and the odor.

• Salt will also remove fishy smells from counters, cutting boards and refrigerator shelves.

• Soaking new pantyhose in saltwater can help prevent runs.

• Pour salt over a grease fire to smother it quickly.

For more easy household hints, see our baking soda tips.