Salt's Nontraditional Uses

Salt can be used in numerous - and some surprising - ways.

• Clean silk flower arrangements by placing the flowers in a large bag with salt. Shake the bag until the salt has removed the dust from the flowers.
• Rub a moist, cloth bag containing salt on a car’s windshield to keep snow and ice from collecting on it.
• Loosen soot in your chimney with a handful of salt thrown onto flames in your fireplace.
• Clean brass with a paste made of equal parts of salt, flour and vinegar. Rub the paste on the brass item, leave for an hour, then clean with a soft cloth and buff.
• Remove or diminish white rings on wood tables by rubbing a thin paste made of salad oil and salt on the spot, letting it stand for several hours, then wiping off.
• Get rid of rough, sticky spots on an iron by running the hot iron over a piece of paper that has been sprinkled with salt.