VARIOUS SALT USES
Did you know there are over 14,000 different uses for salt? Salt may seem simple, but its fascinating history and myriad of uses make it the world’s most fantastic mineral. Discover the secrets of salt and how our salt service can help you. Contact JSSI to learn more about salt uses in Hayward, CA, and see why it is one of the most important minerals available. Some of the common uses are:
- Cooking: Salt is used to add flavor to food and to help preserve it.
- Food preservation: Salt is used to preserve meat, fish, and other perishable foods by drawing out moisture and inhibiting the growth of bacteria.
- Water treatment: Salt is used to soften hard water, which can clog pipes and damage appliances.
- Cosmetic products: Salt is used in exfoliating scrubs and other skin care products to help remove dead skin cells.
- De-icing roads: Salt is applied to roads and sidewalks to melt ice and snow.
- Animal nutrition: Salt is added to animal feed to provide necessary minerals and electrolytes.
- Leather tanning: Salt is used in the tanning process to preserve and soften leather.
- Textile manufacturing: Salt is used in the dyeing process for fabrics to help fix the dye and make the color more permanent.
- Medicine: Salt is used in some medical treatments, such as saline solutions for dehydration and inhalation therapy for respiratory issues.
- Soap making: Salt is used in the production of soap to help harden it and increase its lathering ability.
- Paper manufacturing: Salt is used in the pulping process for paper production to help separate the fibers.
- Rubber production: Salt is used in the manufacture of rubber to help vulcanize it, making it more durable and resistant to heat.
- Glass production: Salt is used in the production of glass to help lower the melting point of the raw materials.
- Metal manufacturing: Salt is used in the production of some metals, such as aluminum, to help purify and refine them.
- Photography: Salt is used in some photographic processes to help fix the image and make it more permanent.
SALT HACKS
- Add a pinch of salt to your coffee grounds before brewing to enhance the flavor.
- Mix salt with olive oil to create a natural wood polish for furniture.
- Use a mixture of salt and baking soda as a natural scrub for pots and pans.
- Soak a sponge in a mixture of water and salt to create a natural cleaner for counters and surfaces.
- Add a pinch of salt to the water when boiling eggs to make them easier to peel.
- Mix salt with a little bit of white vinegar to create a natural weed killer.
- Rub a cut lemon over a cutting board, then sprinkle with salt to remove stains and odors.
- Sprinkle salt on a grease fire to extinguish it.
- Use a paste of salt and water to clean and polish silver.
- Mix salt with honey to create a natural face scrub.
- Soak clothes in a mixture of water and salt to remove sweat odors.
- Sprinkle salt on ice cream to make it easier to scoop.
- Add a pinch of salt to the water when boiling pasta to help it cook evenly.
- Rub a mixture of salt and coconut oil on your skin as a natural exfoliator.
- Mix salt with a little bit of conditioner to create a natural dry shampoo.
- Use a paste of salt and water to clean and remove stains from ceramic tiles.
- Add a pinch of salt to the water when boiling vegetables to help them retain their color.
- Mix salt with a little bit of toothpaste to create a natural abrasive cleaner for hard to reach places.
- Soak a cotton ball in a mixture of water and salt to clean and remove dirt from small crevices.
- Sprinkle salt on top of cookies before baking to add a little bit of crunch.
REMOVING BLOODSTAINS
To remove bloodstains with salt, you can try the following method:
- First, rinse the fabric with cold water to remove as much of the blood as possible.
- Then, mix a solution of one part water and one part salt.
- Apply the saltwater solution to the stain and let it sit for a few minutes.
- Rinse the fabric with cold water again to remove the saltwater solution.
- If the stain is still visible, you can try repeating the process or using a stronger solution of salt and water.
It’s important to note that this method may not work on all fabrics and may cause damage to some materials. It’s always a good idea to test a small, inconspicuous area of the fabric before applying the solution to the stain.
BRIGHTENING COLORS
Wash colored curtains or washable fiber rugs in a saltwater solution to brighten the colors. Brighten faded rugs and carpets by rubbing them briskly with a cloth that has been dipped in a strong saltwater solution and wrung out.
REMOVING WINE STAINS FROM COTTON FABRIC
Anybody who has ever tried to remove a wine or grape stain from an item of cotton clothing knows that it is usually a lost cause. Salt can be of great use in this situation. Immediately pour salt on the fabric to soak up the stain and then immerse the fabric in cold water for half an hour. Follow this up by laundering the item as usual.
SOFTENING NEW JEANS
The uncomfortable stiffness of new denim jeans can be easily remedied by adding ½ cup salt to the water in your washer along with detergent. Your jeans will be soft and supple from the first time you wear them.
SALT USES IN THE GARAGE
REMOVING RUST FROM BICYCLE HANDLEBARS & TIRE RIMS
We all know that salt can cause metal to rust, but this trick actually comes in handy for removing rust from the metal parts of bicycles, like handlebars and tire rims. Make a paste using six tablespoons of salt and two tablespoons of lemon juice. Apply the paste to the rusted area with a dry cloth and rub. Rinse thoroughly and dry.
REMOVING RUST FROM HOUSEHOLD TOOLS
Tools left in a damp garage for long periods between use have a tendency to get rusty and useless. You can give these tools a new life by making a paste using two tablespoons of salt and one tablespoon of lemon juice. Apply the paste to rusted areas with a dry cloth and rub. Rinse thoroughly and dry.
PREVENTING SNOW & ICE FROM COLLECTING ON CAR WINDOWS
If you live in a cold climate, you know how frustrating it can be to have to scrape the snow and ice off of your car windows every morning. However, you can prevent the snow and ice from collecting by filling a small cloth bag with salt, dampening the bag, and rubbing it over the car windows. For easy deicing, heat a cup of salt in the microwave for a couple of minutes and sprinkle around the tire area on the ground, which will have a deicing effect.
MEAT CURING/SURVIVAL TIPS
Salt is an excellent source of food preservation. Salted meat will not deteriorate and will remain fresh longer in open environments if well-rubbed with plenty of salt. Salt will also preserve hard-skinned vegetables dipped in brine water (see canning video below), i.e., broccoli, watermelon, cucumbers, and squash. It will dramatically extend the shelf life by several months without refrigeration. Fruits with a fast breakdown rate, such as apples and bananas, can be kept from browning by sprinkling a little salt on the exposed areas of the fruit. Nuts are an easy source of protein and fats but may be somewhat difficult to open; soaking nuts such as pecans and walnuts in salted water for a few minutes makes shelling easier and less time-consuming. Having salt is a path to survival.
HOW TO CURE MEAT
CANNING & PICKLING
MEAT CURING/SURVIVAL TIPS
Salt can be a source of emergency first aid, providing relief for the itching and swelling of mosquito bites or bee stings. If enough salt can be spared for the purpose, it can be sprinkled around campsites or places of food storage as a deterrent against ants and other foraging insects. In case of accidental contact with irritating plants such as poison ivy, applying salt to the affected area can provide quick relief from painful itching and inflammation.
Salt is lost through sweat, causing an internal electrolyte imbalance; if not corrected, prolonged salt loss will cause death. Survivalists can dissolve salt tablets in a canteen of fresh drinking water in order to offset salt loss through sweat. Also, salt can be used to clean the teeth. Since no other oral hygiene methods are available, rubbing a moistened finger dabbed in salt across the teeth and gums kills harmful mouth bacteria and is abrasive enough to remove food particles from in between teeth.