Solve with salt

Who knew this everyday food seasoning could be so useful around the house?

Salt can virtually be found in every household — literally. It is one of the staple cooking supplements, without which there would be little taste in our food. But did you know that there are many other ways in which salt can benefit us — particularly when it comes to home hacks? Read on to find out how you can take some common yet tough household tasks with a pinch of salt.

Use salt to smoothen your clothing iron



Pressing clothes is a mundane task, especially when you’ve got to deal with the gunk that collects at the bottom of the iron. Scraping the gunk off is another cumbersome activity but fortunately, salt can make it easier. Even though there is no way to eliminate the residue completely, you can save time by the following technique. Simply take a sheet of butter paper and dust enough salt on top to cover the centre white. Then, switch on the iron and run it across the paper in circular motion for about two minutes. The iron will become as good as new.

Clean up a broken egg



Getting the stickiness of an egg off the floor usually requires mopping the entire kitchen. But the next time you happen to drop an egg, sprinkle some salt around the sides of the mess, covering the ends. Use cloth or thick tissue paper to wipe, starting around the salt.

Put out a grease fire



If you are not sure how to react when your pan catches fire suddenly, sprinkle salt! The white helps put off fire immediately and even helps clean the pan better, should it become dirty. All you will have to do is put some salt on it, add water and set it aside for about three to four minutes before washing it off under the tap.

Scour the bathroom 



Washroom tiles are the hardest to clean, considering how much dirt, grime and water they are subjected to round the clock. But you can avoid having to waste time scrubbing the bathroom fixtures just by adding a cup of salt in 500ml of soda water. Wait for the salt to dilute enough to form a thick paste, dip a sponge into the mix and scrape the tiles and the other fixtures to a squeaky clean. Salt can even clear out a clogged drain. You can make your own dissolving acid by pouring half a cup of salt into the hole, followed by a bottle of distilled water. Allow the sodium chloride to work its magic for a bit before decanting two more glasses of boiled water down the drain.

SOURCE: WWW.INDIATIMES.COM

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, January 10^th, 2016.