18 Genius Uses for Table Salt That Will Simplify Your Life

By Editorial Staff Updated: October 27, 2018

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Salt is perhaps the most common item in any pantry, but we bet you didn’t know that there are so many more clever uses for salt that have little or nothing to do with making your dinner taste amazing! From household cleaning and deodorizing to skin and beauty care, salt can serve so many clever purposes in the home that will make your life both easier and healthier in an all-natural way. Pass the salt, anyone?

For some of the little-known uses for everyday salt, check out the gallery below.

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Get rid of puffy eye bags

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Get rid of puffy eye bags.

You had so much fun catching up with friends last night, but you woke up with puffy eyes. The beauty save: Fill a cup with 16 oz. of warm water and 1 tsp. of salt, dip two cotton balls in the solution, then lay your head back, close your eyes and place the cotton balls over your eyelids for five minutes. The warm water will open the pores around your eyes so the salt can draw out the excess fluid, reducing swelling.
Remove lingering food odors from hands.

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Remove lingering food odors from hands.

Your garlic-Parmesan wings are always a hit — but if only they didn’t leave your hands smelling for days! To eliminate the odor, wet your hands, then sprinkle a generous amount of salt on your palms. Rub the salt all over your hands for a minute, then rinse clean. The coarse salt will scrub away the lingering food particles that are causing the odor.
Soothe itchy bug bites

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Soothe itchy bug bites.

The little one in your life spent the weekend camping, and now she’s back home and scratching at mosquito bites. To help her feel better, combine salt with enough water to create a paste, then dab all over the bites. Salt boasts antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce swelling and ease discomfort.
Remove sweat stains from clothing.

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Remove sweat stains from clothing.

Before you toss a T-shirt with yellow perspiration marks, try this: Dilute 4 Tbsp. of salt in 1 quart of hot water, then dip a washcloth in the liquid and gently scrub the spots until they disappear. Launder as usual. The sodium will break down pigments in the marks so they come off in the wash.
Get fleas out of carpet — naturally.

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Get fleas out of carpet — naturally.

To rid your carpet of fleas, sprinkle salt liberally over it and let sit overnight, then vacuum thoroughly in the morning. Be sure to empty the canister in the outside garbage. The salt acts as a dehydrating agent to kill fleas and their eggs.
Unclog drains without chemicals.

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Unclog drains without chemicals.

Your bathroom sink is backed up again and you hate using harsh chemical solutions to clear it. An alternative: Mix 2 Tbsp. of salt with 2 cups of club soda and pour down the drain. After a minute, follow with hot tap water. The abrasive salt and the carbonation will dissolve the blockage and the hot water washes away any lingering grime.
Whip up a homemade face scrub.

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Whip up a homemade face scrub.

Guarantee a healthy glow with an easy DIY face mask. To do: Mix 1⁄4 cup of salt and 1⁄2 cup of olive oil to form a paste, then use your fingers to apply to skin in a circular motion. Leave in place for five minutes, then wash off. The slightly abrasive salt buffs away dead skin, while the olive oil moisturizes.
Make your own shoe deodorizer.

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Make your own shoe deodorizer.

After your morning walk, your tennis shoes are smelling less than fresh. To eliminate the odor, pour 2 Tbs. of salt into a paper coffee filter; tie it closed with a rubber band. Repeat with another filter and place one sachet in each shoe. Let sit overnight. The salt granules will soak up odor-causing moisture, banishing the smell.
Create a mildew-resistant shower curtain.

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Create a mildew-resistant shower curtain.

To keep your new plastic shower curtain or liner mildew-free, try this trick: Fill your tub with 6 inches of water and 2 cups of salt. Submerge the curtain in the salt water for an hour, then hang as usual.The soak will leave behing an invisible coating of sodium crystals that will prevent mildew from latching on to the plastic.
Chill drinks faster.

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Chill drinks faster.

Oops! Your guests are about to arrive and you realize that you forgot to put the soda in the fridge. To chill the drinks fast, toss them into a large tub and fill it with enough cold water to cover them, then add 2 handfuls of salt and as much ice as you can fit. The salt reduces the freezing point of water, so the drinks will cool in as little as five minutes. Just make sure you rinse the cans before serving so the drinks don't taste salty!
Make coffee less bitter.

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Make coffee less bitter.

if your morning cup of joe is a little too pungent, try adding a pinch of salt to your mug. Sodium ions in the seasoning help neutralize bitterness — without adding a salty taste — so you can enjoy your a.m. sip.
Keep cheese fresh longer.

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Keep cheese fresh longer.

You scored a great deal on some gourmet cheese. To help it stay fresh, soak a paper towel in a mixture of 2 Tbsp. salt and 3 cups of water; wrap loosely around cheese before refrigerating. The dehydrating salt inhibits microbial growth.
Prevent wax messes with dripless candles.

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Prevent wax messes with dripless candles.

We love the glow of candles — if only the hot wax didn't ake such a mess. To prevent this, lay candles in a dish and cover with 2 cups of water. Add 2 Tbsp. of salt and soak for 24 hours; let dry before lighting. The salt water creates a "shell" on the wax that takes longer to melt than the candle, so drips are trapped within.
Help your broom last longer.

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Help your broom last longer.

You just picked up a new broom to replace your old one, which wore out faster than expected. To ensure your broom lasts, try this before using it: Soak the bristles in a 50/50 mix of hot water and salt for 25 minutes. The salt water hardens bristles to prevent fraying. To dry, lean against a wall upside down so the bristles are off the floor.
Restore faded clothes.

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Restore faded clothes.

When pulling your fall wardrobe out of storage, you discover that your favorite shirt is starting to fade. To restore its color, toss it into the laundry, adding 1/2 cup of salt to the wash cycle. Salt's chloride will help dissolve resude left by hard-water deposits, helping your shirt look like new again. Hint: This tip also works on new clothes to seal in color.
Clean cloudy glass vases so they sparkle again.

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Clean cloudy glass vases so they sparkle again.

You received a beautiful "just because" bouquet, but when you grabbed a case out of storage to display it in, you saw that the glass was marked with cloudy streaks. The fix: Scrub the spots with a paste of 1 tsp. and 2 Tbsp. of white vinegar. The abrassive salt removes residue, and vinegar's acid cuts through the mineral deposits that cause cloudiness.
Make stove top cleaning easier.

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Make stove top cleaning easier.

Oops! The sauce you added to your pan bubbled over while you were making dinner, and now you have a liquid mess on your stovetop. To keep it from solidifying, immediately sprinkle salt on the spill. The granules will soak up the liquid so you can wipe up the mess—no scrubbing required!
Make your toothbrush last longer.

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Make your toothbrush last longer.

If it seems like you’re picking up a new toothbrush for someone in your family every other week, try this to help brushes last longer: Before using a new toothbrush, add equal amounts of hot water and salt to a small bowl or cup and place the brush inside so the bristles are fully submerged in the water. Soak for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse with clean water. The saltwater solution will stiffen the bristles to ward off fraying.