Salt has been a precious commodity for millennia: in past centuries it was difficult to find, so much so that it was full of symbolic meanings and the fulcrum of many propitiatory rites. Even in ancient Greece, hospitality was sanctioned by the rite of sharing salt with the guest. Today, however, it has become such a commonly used food that its intrinsic qualities and above all possible alternative uses are often forgotten. Salt, in fact, together with lemon, vinegar and baking soda, is the main ally for our ecological cleaning and one of the fundamental ingredients for do-it-yourself detergents. Let's see, then, how to use it, not only in the kitchen, in an original and green way.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
Il sale it has been a precious asset for millennia: in past centuries it was difficult to find, so much so that it was full of symbolic meanings and the fulcrum of many propitiatory rites. Even in ancient Greece, hospitality was sanctioned by the rite of sharing salt with the guest. Today, however, it has become such a commonly used food that its intrinsic qualities are often forgotten possible alternative uses.
The salt, in fact, together with lemon, vinegar and baking soda, is the main ally for our ecological cleaning and one of the fundamental ingredients for do-it-yourself detergents. Let's see, then, how to use it, not only in the kitchen, in an original and green way.
Index
Clean the gold
As with other metals we create one dough consisting of salt, flour and vinegar in equal parts and rub gently.
Clean thesilver
To clean and polish cutlery or other silver objects, place a layer of aluminum foil on the bottom of a pan and cover it with water. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 of baking soda and bring to a boil and leave on the stove for five minutes. Remove from heat and once cooled rinse thoroughly with water.
Clean the brass or copper
If you want to polish copper and brass objects, mix equal parts salt, flour and vinegar. Spread the paste obtained on the metal with a cloth and let it rest for about an hour. Then clean and polish.
Clean the stainless steel
For resistant metals, such as stainless steel, use a mixture of salt and lemon juice to scrub the surface thoroughly, then rinse and dry.
Clean the pewter
Apply a mixture of salt, flour and vinegar and let it dry. Then rinse and dry with a soft cloth.
Wash pots and pans
If during cooking some food has burned and stuck to the bottom of the pan, add salt promptly. This will help you detach it from the bottom more easily.
Clean the coffee maker
to clean the coffee maker, add 3 tablespoons of salt to the water of the machine and bring to a boil. Obviously without the coffee.
Clean the bottom of the iron pans
If your cast iron pans seem particularly dirty and you want to carry out a thorough cleaning, heat the pan over low heat and add oil to completely cover the bottom of the pan. When it is hot, remove it from the heat and add 3-4 tablespoons of coarse salt. Rub vigorously and rinse with hot water. Finally add a thin layer of oil to preserve it and prevent rust.
Universal cleaner
To have an effective natural cleanser, suitable for multiple uses, create a mixture of salt and vinegar. The only recommendation is not to use this mixture on vinegar sensitive surfaces such as linoleum, marble or waxed surfaces.
Clean the carpets
To remove stains or streaks from your favorite carpet, create a mixture of salt, vinegar and borax in equal parts. Use it on the stain and let it dry.Against stains
If you have poured excellent Barolo on your Persian carpet, don't despair. Dab the stain and immediately add some salt which will absorb the wine residues. Once dry you can clean.
Camino
It seems that sprinkling a handful of salt on the fire will keep the chimney cleaner.
Polish the enamel of pots and dishes
To restore shine to the enamel of pots and dishes, apply a mixture of salt and vinegar in equal parts. And scrub thoroughly.Hand hygiene
Salt when mixed with vinegar is an excellent odor absorber. Let's use it to clean your hands from the smell of garlic or onion.As an anti-mold
As an anti-mold, apply a mixture of salt and lemon juice to the affected area. Leave to dry in the sun if possible, then rinse and dry again.
Remove the rust
Make a paste of salt, cream of tartar, and water and apply a rust stain on the metal. Leave to dry in the sun.
Eliminate bad smells
As already mentioned, salt is excellent as an odor absorber. If you have sneakers that look rather like a bacteriological weapon, add a little salt once removed. This will help eliminate the bad smell.
Clean the oven
Use a mixture of salt, vinegar and baking soda to clean the oven. Leave to act for a few minutes then clean with a damp cloth. Salt is also excellent for absorbing any liquids that have fallen into the oven during cooking.
Clean the refrigerator
Clean with a mixture of salt and soda.
Clean the sink
To give whiteness to the enamel of your sink, use a mixture of salt and turpentine and apply it evenly over the entire surface. After about 15 minutes, clean with a damp cloth.
Keep the sink drain clean
To keep your sink drain clean, pour water and freshly boiled salt into it.
For clogged sinks
Mix together ½ cup of salt, ½ cup of bicarbonate of soda and ¼ cup of cream of tartar (tartaric acid) and pour it down the drain. Finally pour a kettle of boiling water and let it rest for at least a couple of hours before rinsing.
Clean the jars
Use the salt to scrub the limescale deposits on your vessels, then rinse.
Clean the wicker
If your wicker furniture is losing its whiteness, apply a salt water mixture with a brush and let it dry in the sun.
Treat the wood
You can treat minor scratches or abrasions on the wood with a mixture of oil and salt by gently rubbing the surface. Then clean with a cloth.
And if it's true that with a little sugar, the pill goes down… now you know what salt can do.
Lorenzo DeRitis
- Read our guide to ecological cleaning
- Read our guide on do-it-yourself detergents
