Most of us think of table salt as just something to add flavor to food, but it’s actually a true multitasker around the house. This affordable, natural product can help with cleaning, deodorizing, preserving food, and even keeping pests away.
One great use is removing tough grease from pans. When soap isn’t enough, sprinkle salt on the pan, then scrub with a sponge. The salt works like a gentle scrubber while soaking up the grease, making cleanup easier without harming your cookware. If you have cheese that’s starting to spoil, wrap it in a cloth dipped in saltwater before putting it in the fridge. The salt helps slow bacteria and keeps the cheese fresh longer.
Salt is also a natural ant deterrent. Sprinkle some along door frames or windowsills to break their scent trails and keep them outside. For stubborn clogs, mix salt and baking soda down your drain, follow with vinegar, wait 30 minutes, then flush with hot water to clear buildup naturally.
In the bathroom, rub a lemon coated in salt on stains or mildew to clean surfaces and add a fresh scent. If your shoes smell bad, pour salt inside, leave overnight, then shake out the moisture and odor.
Shower curtains can develop mold, but rinsing them with salt water after washing helps stop it. Use saltwater to test egg freshness too—fresh eggs sink, old ones float. A quick saltwater soak also helps keep fruits and veggies crisp by preventing browning.
For carpet spills, soak up the mess, cover with salt overnight to draw out stains, then vacuum away. To get rid of strong food smells on your hands, rub wet hands with salt and rinse.
These eleven tricks show that table salt isn’t just for seasoning—it’s one of the simplest and most effective helpers for everyday problems in your home.
