8 Ways to Clean Green With Salt

Run out of cleaner? Grab your salt shaker because we’ve got the top 8 ways to clean with this common mineral. It’s non-toxic, it’s cheap, and it really works. Just grab the most inexpensive container of table salt (not the fancy kind like kosher or sea) you can find and get to work.

Cleaning Pans: Perfect for cast iron and stainless steel pans, just sprinkle a like salt on your dirty pan, let sit for a few minutes, scrub, and rinse. Have a totally burnt pan, add 3-4 tablespoons of salt right away to soak up stick-on bits, or let it soak with salt and hot water. Don’t try this on non-stick pans; it’ll take the surface off.

Cleaning Metal: Combine salt with citrus juice (lemon works the best) for shiny metal like brass, pewter and copper. Rinse thoroughly of else your copper and brass will turn green like the Statue of Liberty.

Removing Red Wine Stains: Oops! It happens to the best of us. As soon as you spill the red wine sprinkle the stain with salt to absorb the liquid and most of the color. Follow up with a little white vinegar.

Cleaning Laundry: Add 1/2 cup of salt to the washing machine to prevent new colored fabrics from running, help remove stains, maintain bright colors, and reduce yellowing.

Cleaning the Drain: Clogged pipes? Dump about a half cup of salt down the drain and let sit for 15 minutes then follow up with a pot of boiling water. Avoid running the water for a few hours.

Cleaning the Oven: Cut grease and baked-on bits with salt. Just sprinkle salt in the oven or on your stovetop and scrub. Add a little water if needed. Make sure to really wipe the stovetop clean on gas ranges to avoid flame bursts.

Cleaning Glass: Stained coffee pots and narrow vases can be cleaned with a combo of ice and salt. Just add some salt into the glass, about 5-6 ice cubes, and shake gently in a circular motion to spin the cubes around the pot or vase. Rinse and repeat if needed.

Cleaning Yourself: Scrub flaky skin smooth by gently rubbing your body with a little salt. Rinse clean and follow up with a moisturizer, as salt can dry out your skin. Better yet, arm yourself with our DIY: Your Face Cream Forward.

How do you like to clean with salt?

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Image by Cbertel

Brianne Hogan is a Canadian writer, currently based in Prince Edward Island. A self-proclaimed "wellness freak," she has a ... More about Brianne Hogan
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