Eco-Friendly Cleaning: Uses for Salt

Today, there are so many different cleaning products on the market that it may be difficult to make the right choice, especially if you're looking for a cleaning product that is a little-less-chemical and a little more eco-friendly. Even worse, some companies are trying to make a quick buck off touting products as "green" or "eco-friendly." Fortunately, there are many items that you've already got in your home that can be used to help clean various areas of the house. Table salt is one of them.

Green Cleaning: Uses for Salt in the Bathroom

Of course, salt can be added to nearly anything to make a scrub. However, use with caution if you are unsure of how your particular item will react, as in some situations it could damage certain metals or other items.

For the bathroom, salt can be combined with turpentine to create a paste that can be used to clean dingy, yellowed fixtures that were once white; such as the toilet, sink or bathtub. Once you've made the mixture, apply it to the fixture in question using a sponge. Let the salt and turpentine sit for approximately 15 minutes before wiping it off with a damp sponge. Rinse clean and voila-sparkling white fixtures, no cleaning chemicals needed.

Salt can also be used to clean (or shine) copper and brass sink fixtures. Create a paste using equal parts of vinegar, salt and flour. Apply the mixture using a soft cloth and allow it to sit for at least one hour. Wipe it off using a damp cloth and rinse clean.

Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products: Using Salt on Carpets

Salt can also be used to clean several different stains that occur on a carpet, including red wine. After a spill, immediately blot up (don't rub or scrub, that will only make the stain deeper-and worse) as much of the wine as possible. Then, sprinkle the area with salt and let it sit for at least 15 minutes. The salt will act like a sponge and turn pink while absorbing the wine. Follow up by cleaning the area using a mixture of water and vinegar (1/3 cup vinegar with 2/3 cup water.)

Of course, it doesn't stop there. Salt is also beneficial to grease and gravy stains. For gravy, pour the area with salt to prevent the grease from spreading further into the carpet, then clean the area according to the rug manufacturer's directions.

For grease stains, you can use one part salt combined with four parts rubbing alcohol. Rub the mixture into the grease stain, going in the direction of the carpet's nap. Rinse with water when finished.

These of course, are just a small sampling of the many household cleaning uses of salt.