Frugal Parenting
(featured column)
Super Sensational Savings with Salt - Part 2
by
Rachel Keller
In 31
Money Saving Ideas for the Kitchen, you discovered a few of the over 14,000
uses for salt. Salt is great for more than just the kitchen. It can save you the
expense of purchasing expensive cleaners, spot removers, and brighteners. Salt's
the frugal, environmentally safe, all-natural choice. More...
31 Laundry and Cleaning Ideas
1. A mixture of salt and vinegar make a great all purpose cleaner, but
don't use it on marble, linoleum, or waxed surfaces because the vinegar may
damage those surfaces.
2. A paste of salt and lemon juice may remove mildew.
3. Polish your old kerosene lamp with salt for a brighter look.
4. To clean copper or brass, mix equal parts of salt, flour and vinegar to
make a paste. Rub the paste on the brass item and leave it on for about an hour.
After cleaning with a soft cloth or brush, buff with a dry cloth.
5. Because pewter is a soft metal that can be damaged easily, you must
clean it gently. Make a smooth paste by adding flour to a teaspoon of salt and a
cup of vinegar. Apply the paste to a pewter piece and allow it to dry for half
an hour. Rinse with warm water, and polish with a soft cloth.
6. Clean your iron by sprinkling salt on a sheet of waxed paper or
newspaper and sliding the iron across it.
7. A dash of salt in laundry starch keeps the iron from sticking.
8. Use a mixture of salt and lemon juice to clean piano keys.
9. Use kosher salt and a wet sponge or cloth to easily scrub away stains
from bathtubs and toilets. You can also make a solution of salt and turpentine
to restore the whiteness to yellowed enameled bathtubs.
10. If you have white rings on tables caused by wet or hot dishes and
glasses, rub a thin paste of salad oil and salt on the spot. Let the mixture
stand for an hour or two before wiping away the ring.
11. Salt cleans off dust and dirt. Just sprinkle salt on delicate cloth
items or artificial flowers which have dust embedded in the folds and then
carefully shake out the item.
12. Set the color in new towels by adding a cup of salt to your wash water
the first couple times you wash them.
13. Protect colors of new clothes from bleeding by washing them in a cold
wash with 1/4 cup salt.
14. Soak colored cottons overnight in salt water to reduce fading of the
colors.
15. Brighten the colors in curtains or washable rugs by washing in a
solution of water and kosher salt.
16. Brighten faded rugs and carpets by rubbing them briskly with a cloth
dipped in a strong saltwater solution and wrung out.
17. Boil yellowed cottons or linens for one hour in a kosher salt and
baking soda solution to restore to their original white.
18. Boil mismatched hose in salty water and they will come out matched.
19. Moisten a stiff brush with warm saltwater and scrub your wicker
furniture to prevent yellowing. Dry the furniture in the sun.
20. If you spill red wine or red punch on a tablecloth or rug, immediately
blot up as much as possible. Then cover the spot with salt to absorb the
remaining wine. Later, rinse the cloth with cold water or scrape up the salt and
vacuum.
21. Remove blood stains from some items by first soaking in cold
saltwater. Then launder in warm, soapy water followed by boiling the item. (You
can only do this on cotton, linen or other natural fibers that can take high
heat.)
22. Salt is also supposed to absorb ink stains.
23. If you spill salad oil on your clothes, pour salt on the spot to
absorb the grease and launder.
24. You can also remove some grease stains from rugs by mixing one part
salt to four parts alcohol. Rub hard, but carefully, to avoid damage to the nap.
25. Remove perspiration stains from your clothes by adding four
tablespoons of kosher salt to one quart of hot water and sponging the fabric
with the solution until the stains disappear.
26. Remove rust stains by moistening stained spots with a pasty mixture of
lemon juice and salt. Spread the item in the sun for bleaching and then rinse
and dry.
27. You can also remove rust by mixing salt and cream of tartar with just
enough water to make a paste. Apply to a rust stain and let it sit in the sun
until dry. Repeat the process if necessary.
28. Did you use too much detergent and have too many suds? Eliminate them
with a sprinkle of salt.
29. To deodorize your sneakers, occasionally sprinkle some salt in them.
30. Occasionally throw a handful of salt on the flames in your fireplace
to help loosen soot from the chimney. Salt also makes a bright yellow flame.
31. Did you run out of dishwashing soap? Mix a tablespoon of salt in your
hot water and wash dishes. Rinse well. Because salt can dry your skin, wear
gloves while washing.
Author's note: I have had fun researching the many uses of salt. Although I've
discovered many new ideas, I have not personally tried all of them.
Super Sensational Savings with Salt -
Part 1
Super
Sensational Savings with Salt - Part 3
* * *
Copyright
© 2008 by Rachel Keller. All rights reserved.
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