24 Uses for Salt Besides Putting It in Your Food

When it comes to sprucing up a bland dinner or adding flavor to homemade pickles, there are few ingredients that can compare with good ol’ fashioned salt.

Salt allows food molecules to be released into the air and gives the food a distinct aroma and flavor. It highlights and suppresses the taste of foods, and is a necessary staple for any homesteading chef.

However, did you know that there are multiple uses for salt outside of the kitchen? There are several different types of salt, all of which can serve distinctive purposes.

Table salt is the most common type of salt and is finely ground, containing no trace minerals or impurities. It does not clump and has added iodine, which is necessary to prevent conditions such as hypothyroidism.

Sea salt, on the other hand, contains higher quantities of minerals such as zinc, potassium, and iron, making it excellent for cooking and food preservation.

Other types of salt include kosher, Himalayan pink, Celtic sea, flake, and pickling salt. Although there are a vast variety of salts and their uses vary, it’s important to remember that all salt can be given second-life in these multi-purposing tips.

Food Preservation Uses

Increase Shelf Life of Foods

Salt acts as a preservative through the process of osmosis. When two chemicals are brought into contact with each other, they reach a situation of equalization.

As a result, it can be said that salt helps to dehydrate foods by absorbing or “equalizing” the water contained within the food. This dehydration prevents the food from decomposing,

To preserve your fruits, vegetables, and meat, you must completely cover your food with water and then gradually add salt (until there are salt deposits on the bottom of your container).

Store this container—ideally with an airtight seal– in the refrigerator for several days. After this time has elapsed, exchange the old brine for fresh. If you’re dehydrating meat, bake it in the oven at an extremely low temperature.

For short-term preservation, cut fruits and vegetables can also be placed in a salt water solution. The salt helps prevent the pieces from turning brown and losing flavor.

This is a great solution if you’re cutting up large quantities of potatoes, apples, or other ingredients for cooking, and need to temporarily prevent them from browning.

Test Egg Freshness

If you are a homesteader and tend to stockpile large quantities of chicken eggs, this is the tip for you. If you’re not sure how long that carton of eggs has been in your fridge, never fear.

Simply place the questionable egg in a cup of water with two teaspoons of salt. If the egg sinks, it’s fresh. If not, it will float (and should definitely be tossed).

For the eggs you plan to keep, there is another use for salt. You can prevent egg shells from breaking during the hard-boiling process by adding a few teaspoons of salt to the boiling water. This will save you time and energy—and also prevent a nasty, stinky mess!

Extend the shelf life of dairy

As a prepper, it’s important that you maximize the shelf life of all of your supplies—especially hard-to-store dairy products.

To preserve cheese, soak a napkin or cloth in saltwater and tightly wrap it around your cheese. This will prolong its shelf life and prevent mold.

You can also add a pinch of salt to a carton of milk. Doing so will allow the milk to stay fresh a week or sometimes more past its expiration date.

Deodorize Your Hands

If you have been cutting beef, fish, garlic, onions or other highly odorous foods, you probably already know that soap alone is usually not enough to get the stench off of your hands.

But here is a good tip that will: make a paste of a little bit of water and coarse salt to scrub and rub your hands down with. It should take those nasty odors right off.

If you’re dealing with a particularly stubborn stink, try wiping your hands across clean stainless steel and then repeating the above tip.

Keep Cut Fruit from Browning

it seems like no matter what kind of fruit it is and no matter how hard you try, it’s only a few short minutes after you cut it that it begins turning an unsightly brown color.

It might be okay to eat, but it’s definitely unsettling and it’s certainly makes a poor impression at the dinner table.

But using salt in the right way will allow you to greatly extend the amount of time you have before your cut fruit turns brown.

Simply create a weak solution of salt and water, no more than a fraction of a teaspoon in a couple of quarts, and swish the pieces in it before transferring them to a bowl.

Shell Nuts a Little Easier

There is hardly anything more delicious or more festive around the holidays then fresh nuts in the shell. But as any enjoy or knows, getting to the treasure within can be quite the task even with the best cracker.

Salt can once again come to the rescue. If you soak your nuts in the shell in salted water for 15 to 20 minutes before letting them dry, you’ll notice that the shells crack and split easier when it is time to pop them open.

Peel Boiled Eggs

Boiled eggs are a delicious, healthy high protein snack or side dish, but peeling them is a grade 5 pain in the butt. You can make this onerous kitchen chore a little bit easier by salting the water that you boil your eggs in. 

You don’t need to change anything else, but when it comes time to peel the shells off you should notice a lot less resistance and significantly less flaking.

Cleaning Uses

Season cast iron

Cast iron pans are fabulous cooking tools for homesteaders, because they add an immense amount of flavor to your food and provide trace quantities of iron. However, since they have the ability to rust when exposed to water, they are difficult to wash.

Salt can save the day! If you have grungy cast iron pan with stubborn remnants of food, simply pour one cup of coarse kosher salt into the warm pan.

Scour using a rag (be careful not to burn yourself). Then dump the salt and briefly rinse with hot water. Dry or heat the pan immediately to evaporate the moisture.

Remove odors from wood cutting boards

Been cutting up some stinky salmon on your beautiful wood cutting board? Odors tend to linger for longer periods of time in wood because it can be tougher to sanitize. However, salt can help.

Pour an ample amount of salt on your cutting board, and then rub with a damp cloth before washing in warm water or with bleach. No more stink!

Remove stains and freshen up

Salt is great at removing stains because it is a natural exfoliant. As a result, it can be used to clean hard water stains, dishes, coffee rings, the oven, and even stains from red wine or blood. A salt-water paste applied to a surface is effective at getting out most tough stains.

You can also clean your cleaning supplies with salt. Sponges tend to get gross with multiples uses. Rather than throwing it out and buying more (not a good option for most preppers), soak it in saltwater overnight. When you wring it out the next morning, you’ll think it was a brand new sponge.

Get rid of rust

If your outdoor furniture or fixtures have seen better days, salt can help. Make a paste with six tablespoons of salt and two tablespoons of lemon juice.

Ironically, although salt often causes rusting (which you’ll know all about if you live in a northern climate and own a vehicle), this combination can help remove rust stains from most surfaces. Just be sure to rinse thoroughly and dry so that the mixture doesn’t set in and amplify the problem.

Deodorize your clothes

If you live an active lifestyle, as most preppers and homesteaders do, you’ll find that your clothes begin to tell a smelly tale after a period of time. To freshen up your shoes, spray the inside with a salt water solution. This will help eliminate and prevent future odors.

You can also add a few tablespoons of salt to your laundry detergent. Salt is eco-friendlier than most store-bought additives such as OxiClean, and will help keep your clothes fresh and bright while removing any lingering odors.

Wash lettuce

You want your salad to have a crunch—but that crunch shouldn’t be from all the leftover dirt. Lettuce and other leafy greens, such as kale or collards, can be difficult to wash because the irregular shape of their leaves allow dirt to become trapped.

If you soak your salad mixture in a water bath with a bit of salt, the salt will help to force away the rest of the dirt.

Shake-Clean Delicate or Intricate Items

Some lightweight items around the home are so delicate or intricate that cleaning them can be a nightmare, especially if you are unable to soak them or spray them down with water. Instead of letting these items accumulate grease, grime and dust you can turn to a better option.

Simply place the item in question inside a bag or container before adding a combination of fine and coarsely ground salt.

Then either hold on to the container or grip the item through the bag and shake it like your life depends on it. The salt particles will act like a human-powered sandblaster and thoroughly but gently scour the grime off the object.

Scour Vases and Jars

Everyone who enjoys fresh cut flowers as a decoration knows what a pain it can be getting the insides of them thoroughly clean, particularly when they taper or have a thin, delicate neck.

A little bit of creativity goes a long way in this regard. All you need to do is add some salt and a tiny bit of water to the inside before closing the opening and then vigorously swishing it back and forth.

Once again, the abrasive properties of salt will scour off any grime while also killing germs. Give it a good rinse, and you’ll be all done.

Remove Stains on Glass

Glass is a surface that is usually known for its stain resistant properties, but you can rest assured that anything capable of actually staining the glass is going to be quite a doozy to remove and highly resistant to typical methods.

Don’t wear your wrist and arm out trying to scrub off something that can beat your brush and your usual cleaner. Once again, grab your salt and then pour a little bit out on a slightly moistened rag. Scrub the offending stain and you should notice it disappearing before your eyes.

Clean up Tea and Coffee Cups

I would recommend that most of us have our favorite coffee cups or mugs that we enjoy our morning brew in. It’s just not the same without it. Or if you aren’t a coffee drinker perhaps a selection of teacups that you rely on for your afternoon spot.

The problem is that both coffee and tea are hideously staining and can easily produce stubborn, unsightly rings that are impossible to remove.

Rather, they were impossible to remove before you scrub the rings down with salt and hot water. No matter how bad it looks, chances are salt is just the ticket here.

Remove Algae

If you have a fish tank, hot tub or pool that regularly suffers from outbreaks of algae, you know how badly that repeat infestations can stain those surfaces.

This is one unsightly green mess that most people either learn to live with or throw in the towel on before calling the professionals.

Before you reach for your wallet, try to scrub it down one more time with a heavy duty scrub and coarse salt. At the micro level, salt is sharp enough to cut through this resistant, slimy stuff. Once the algae is gone, apply an algae killer over the affected area to prevent spores from re-establishing themselves.

Deep Clean a Chopping Block or Cutting Board

Cutting boards and shopping blocks are some of those kitchen items they get a serious workout. Have to put up with all kinds of foods and other substances and constant abrasion from knives and other tools. This can make for discoloring stains that seemed virtually permanent. 

If you have a chopping block or cutting board that is not ready for the trash heap, but you can barely stand to look at it, scrub it down with a paste made from salt, dish soap and a little bit of water.

Use this in conjunction with a dense sponge to really grind it into the surface and you should notice a significant improvement.

Shine Brass

Brass fixtures, pots and pans will all oxidize and discolor over time, and these usually prove to be the most stubborn of stains around your house.

Over the counter brass cleaners are aggressive enough that they can actually damage the surface, or corrode the metal itself so you don’t want to use those unless it is a last resort.

Using vinegar and flour together with salt, you can make a paste that will break down these surface stains and then help you shine the brass beneath, all without harming the metal.

Simply let it soak on the surface for anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes and then wipe it off before buffing as normal.

Freshen Up a Sponge

Most of us rely on sponges one way or another, either for use at the kitchen sink or cleaning up around the house. They are definitely useful, but boy do they get nasty over time.

They get nasty, and they prove extremely difficult to get clean. But instead of throwing them away and contributing to ever increasing amounts of waste at landfills, you can try refreshing them.

Simply wring out your dirty sponge as best as you can before dropping it in a strong salt and water solution that you have brought up to a boil.

Let them soak in that for 5 to 10 minutes before retrieving them with tongs and setting them aside to cool. Give them a good rinse with fresh water and you should get more life out of them.

Clean Up a Toothbrush

Most of us tend to throwing toothbrushes away and replacing them anytime they show signs of degradation, but even if you are dealing with a cheaper toothbrush it probably has plenty of life left in it- it likely just needs a good cleaning!

To freshen up a cruddy toothbrush and restore to service, whisk the bristles and the head in a thick paste made from salt, baking soda and water.

This should loosen up any mineral deposits that are gunking up the bristles. Then give it a rinse in steaming but not boiling salt water for a few minutes before one final freshwater rinse. You should notice a significant improvement!

Halt a Wine Stain before it is Too Late

When it comes to stains around the house, spilled wine is pretty much the apocalypse. On the rug, the carpet, the furniture or clothing, most folks know that that is it; it’s over, nothing you can do.

As it turns out, there is something you can do to significantly reduce the intensity of the stain or even eliminate it with a little bit of luck.

You’ll need to act fast, though. The first thing you should do is immediately douse the stain with copious, cold water to dilute it. Then, if you can, soak up the excess water but you want to leave the stain damp to the touch.

Next, keep the stain flat on a flat surface and then mound up salt directly on top of it. The salt should serve to wick out the moisture that is left, and hopefully the stain with it. 

Deep Clean a Nasty Broom

If you reach for your broom to sweep up your kitchen and around your house daily, you might not give much thought to cleaning the broom itself.

Sure, it might just look like a little bit of dust here and there, but if you ever care to touch the bristles you’ll soon discover how grimy and gross they really are.

That grimy grossness is getting pushed around on your floor when you sweep! You want to clean your broom periodically to improve the efficiency of your own cleaning with it.

In a bucket, mix up a couple of cups of salt with hot water before swishing the broom in it vigorously. Give it a rinse with cold, freshwater and it should be ready to go again.

Remove Water Marks

One of the most agonizing household mishaps is discovering a ring-shaped watermark on your beautiful, finished wood because somebody didn’t use a coaster. It’s enough to give anyone fits, but you don’t have to live with it from there on out.

As soon as you notice the mark, get a clean, soft cloth and press some dry salt on top of it. Repeat this process with fresh salt periodically and you should notice the ring mark disappearing right before your eyes.

Make Drain Cleaner

A clogged sink or tub is always a major paint around the household, and can turn into a major disaster if not dealt with quickly. If you don’t have any drain cleaner on hands, or don’t want to pour that caustic stuff into your pipes, you have a gentler but effective DIY solution.

Carefully draw up a couple quarts of water combined with three cups of vinegar and a cup of salt. Stir together then bring to a boil. When the water reaches a boil, take it to the clogged drain and pour it in.

Use maximum caution! Let that sit and work for about 10 minutes and the clog should disappear. Rinse thoroughly with hot water for a couple of minutes and you are done.

Eliminate Grass Stains

Another one of the most annoying stains that we will deal with on a weekly basis are tough grass stains. What is it about grass that makes it so daggone difficult to get rid of?

Instead of throwing good money after bad trying to track down an over-the-counter product that will actually do what it says it will, try this.

Mix up a strong solution of salt and water and pre-soak the stain for about 10 minutes. Then, using the coarsest salt you have, scrub on the grass stain with a rag or stiff brush. It should start to come off. Wash the garment normally when you are done.

Clean Wicker Furniture

Wicker furniture is beautiful and durable for outdoor use, but over time it can start to look pretty nasty as the finish wears off and mold starts to establish itself. Instead of putting up with this unsightly appearance, do something about it with salt.

There’s not much to this method, simply grab a brush, a rag and salt and then get to cleaning. The salt will act as a natural abrasive, cleaning and polishing the wood while helping to kill off any mold that might be forming.

It will do all this without unduly damaging the wood itself. Pretty soon your wicker furniture will be ready for another season.

Arrange Artificial Flowers and Arrangements

This is one of my favorite alternate uses for salt. It is just so clever! If you are arranging artificial flowers or any other decorative stems, you can solidly base them in salt, either in a vase or other container. 

All you need to do is fill up the vase or container with salt, wet it down just a little bit and then arrange your flowers and other decorations.

As the salt dries, it will harden into a crystalline structure that will firmly anchor your flowers. If you want to remove them, you’ll just need to wiggle them and break them loose. How’s that for a clever technique, huh?

Stop Your Candles from Dripping

Another cool, chemistry related use for salt in the home. Did you know it is possible to drastically reduce the amount of dripping wax coming off of a candle, and slender, tapered candles in particular? It’s true.

All you need to do is soak the unwrapped candle in a strong saltwater solution for a couple of hours. It helps if the salt water is warm, but you don’t want it hot as this can cause the candle to deform. Next time you light your candles, you should notice significantly less wax dripping down.

Color-fasten Your Laundry

One of the worst things that can happen around your house is washing a load of color clothes or towels only to find that they have leached color into the rest of the load. It’s enough to give someone fits.

Luckily, you can prevent this unhappy occurrence by dumping a couple of cups of salt into the wash water the first time you wash new colored clothing, towels or linens.

The saltwater will serve to lock the colors in place in the fabric and you won’t have to worry about them bleeding any color for the next three or four loads.

Clean and Freshen Your Fridge

There’s hardly anything worse than a nasty, smelly fridge. Whatever the case, you’ll eventually need to clean it out, throw away the biohazardous leftovers you forgot about and wipe up the mystery stains and spills.

But even after you’ve done that, you’ll likely notice a lingering, malignant odor. It’s almost like your fridge has become haunted by the filth!

You can use a solution of salt and water here to clean and deodorize at the same time. I like to add a couple of cups of salt to one and a half quarts of water, making sure it is completely dissolved.

Then, grab a rag or a sponge and wipe down the entire interior surface of your refrigerator. Dry thoroughly, and you should notice a drastic reduction in offensive odor.

Safety and First Aid

Stop a grease fire

Grease fires are hard to put out, but are frighteningly common. In fact, cooking fires are the most common cause of house fires in the United States. Don’t rely on a fire extinguisher for small fires—instead, turn to salt.

Salt helps to smother fire as it deprives the flames of oxygen. It won’t make a mess of your grill, barbeque, bonfire, or stovetop, either. It also won’t cause excessive smoke.

Alleviate Wounds

Disclaimer: The author is not a doctor. Neither the author nor www.SurvivalSullivan.com shall be held responsible for the usage of the information in this article.

The main chemical that exists in salt, sodium chloride, acts as a cell dehydrator in most situations. This means that simple cuts and injuries can be alleviated by applying a saline solution.

Because salt forces the liquid in cells to move out of the body, it helps eliminate unwanted bacteria from entering your bloodstream. In essence, this helps to prevent infection and speed up the healing process. Next time you find yourself with a small cut, apply a small amount of salt water (yes, it will hurt!) until the wound is healed.

Alleviate insect bites and stings

Let’s face it. Insect bites are probably the number one most unpleasant thing about summer months. They itch, make you feel uncomfortable and frankly, make you hate going outside in the first place. Fortunately, salt can help to alleviate some of the discomfort caused by bites or stings from honey bees, wasps, mosquitoes, and other flying critters.

Soak a cloth in saltwater and use it as a compress. This will help to cool your skin and relive the itch. This remedy can also be used for rashes caused by poison ivy, oak, and sumac.

Medicine

Nasal rinse

If you’re feeling congested or simply want to help prevent a cold, try using a salt nasal rinse. This helps restore moisture and calm down testy mucous membranes inside your sinuses. This is a great home remedy for individuals who suffer from frequent colds or sinus issues.

To make a saline nasal rinse, fill a squeeze bottle with a mixture of salt and water. Tip the bottle into your nose, and allow the mixture to drain out of your mouth or through the other side of your nose. This strategy is much cheaper (in essence, free!) and more natural than any medication sold in pharmacies.

Sore throat

Salt doesn’t necessarily prevent or alleviate the underlying infections or allergies that cause a sore throat, but it does help to draw out mucous. It can help loosen up congestion and limit those nasty sick-time secretions.

Mix a ¼ teaspoon of salt with a cup of water, and then gargle. This will help relieve some of the scratchiness in your throat, as well as pressure and pain.

Gum infections

Salt can also help prevent mucous and inflammation in the mouth that cause oral problems.

Gum infections can be treated with a toothpaste made of salt, baking soda, and water. You can also gargle with saltwater to help relieve canker sores and to freshen up your breath after a garlicky meal.

Skin care

As you already know, salt is a great exfoliant. Sea salt scrubs are commonly sold in stores to help remove dead skin cells and refresh tired skin.

Salt helps remove odors, rough patches, and calluses from skin. To use, simply mix with water and a few drops of essential oils to create a relaxing, fresh-smelling mix. Salt treatments can help to dry out acne and improve your overall complexion and skin health.

Aches

If your muscles are screaming in agony from all the work you’ve been doing around the homestead, salt can help you take a load off. Fill a bath tub with Epsom salts and hot water, and soak for several minutes a few times a week.

If you don’t have time to lounge in the tub, you can also make a paste of salt and any kind of gel (such as aloe) and apply it directly to your skin for instant relief.

Digestion

Feeling a bit backed up? Before you reach for store-bought cleansers, try sea salt instead. A mixture of salt dissolved in water helps your system effectively push waste through the body. It will release toxins and improve your overall digestion. Pepto who?

Make Mouthwash

Salt has long been renowned as an oral debriding agent, and also a potent disinfectant in its own right. You can use these properties along with baking soda to make a surprisingly effective homemade mouthwash.

Add one part of salt to one part of baking soda and six parts of water before stirring or shaking thoroughly to combine.

Then, all you’ll need to do is swish, gargle and rinse with it as normal after brushing your teeth. You’ll have a cleaner mouth and fresher breath!

Alleviate Dry, Scaly Lips

A surprising and somewhat counterintuitive use for salt is in alleviate scaly, cracked lips. If the surface of your lips feel rough to the touch and you notice unsightly splitting, you can take action using salt as an exfoliant before they get so bad that they split open for real.

Place some fine salt on your toothbrush or use a rag wrapped around the end of your finger. Moisten the salt with just a drop or two of water and then scrub your lips in gentle circular motions.

The salt will help peel away the thick, dying skin on your lips so that you can remoisturize them and keep them supple.

Prevent Dandruff

Dandruff is another nasty problem that can hurt your self-esteem. Though many products, including shampoos and other treatments promise to get rid of dandruff, precious few seem to work very well.

This is because the root cause of dandruff has more to do with a lack of exfoliation than it does with any inherent quality of the skin.

This is where salt can save the day once again. Next time you go to hop in the shower, grab a small bowl full of salt. Wet your hair then scrub the salt down onto your scalp as you would normally wash.

Take care of that you don’t get any in your eyes! Once that’s done, rinse and then shampoo and condition as normal. You should notice a dramatic reduction in dandruff.

Home Improvement / DIY

Make soap

Next time you make your own soap, consider adding salt. Not only does salt help to slough off dead skin cells and rejuvenate your complexion, it also helps add hardness to a bar of soap.

If you find that your homemade soap is finding its way to a goopy mess on the floor than it is to your skin, adding salt could be the way to go.

Fight weeds

If your garden is succumbing to weeds this season, that’s not good news for your wintertime food stores. Attack those cumbersome weeds before they can take control by pouring boiling salt water on them. The hot water will kill the weeds and the salt will prevent their regrowth.

This isn’t a permanent fix, and you must take care not to hit your precious plants, but it is a safe and natural alternative to chemical herbicides. This tip also works well in hard-to-weed areas such as the spaces between patio bricks or blocks.

Salt can be dispersed among the bricks to help prevent weeds from popping up and ruining your landscaping.

Prevent ants and other pests

Many species of bugs hate salt. Ants are deterred by salt as they dislike walking on the fine grains.

Sprinkle a line of salt to prevent ants from entering a specific area, or spray a saltwater mix in general vicinity. Salt is not toxic to humans or animals, so it’s a safe alternative to Raid and other insecticides on the market.

Scale fish

There’s nothing worse after a productive day on the boat than coming home to a pile full of fish that need to be cleaned. Though this is a necessary byproduct of the enjoyable and sustainable hobby, salt provides a way to speed up the process.

If you soak fish in salt water before you attempt to descale them, you’ll find that the task is much easier. You won’t have to work as hard to peel the scales. Instead, they will fall right off as soon as you touch them.

Pluck chickens

Even if you are lucky enough to own a mechanized chicken plucker machine, pinfeathers remain an unfortunate component of the butchering process.

Pinfeathers are the tiny black feather shafts that form on a chicken’s body as the result of new feather growth. They often remain even after the chicken has been plucked and, though not harmful to ingest, give the meat an unsavory appearance.

To remove them quickly, rub the chicken down with salt. The salt dries out the skin and makes it easier to pull out the stubborn pieces.

Kill Slugs

Most of us are probably already familiar with the use of salt as an improvised but incredibly effective weapon against slugs and snails. This isn’t an old wives tale, the stuff really works!

All you need to do is sprinkle a perimeter of salt around your plants that are constantly under attack by slugs and snails, or pour it directly on the critters to kill them.

You should note that this is a particularly hideous and agonizing way to go for the little things, but if you are done playing around it definitely works.

Soften Hard Water

Hard, mineralized water is a major problem for some houses depending on where you live. Hard water buildup will leave terrible stains on fixtures, make it difficult to properly clean using the water and cause all sorts of other problems.

There are multiple methods for softening this hard water, and salt plays an important part in several of them being used in an ion exchange capacity.

You generally just can’t go dumping salt into your water supply to soften it, but you should know that salt is important for the task.

Melt hazardous icy spots

One of the most common—and most old-fashioned—uses for salt is as a de-icer. Salt naturally lowers the freezing point of water and prevents ice from forming on driveways, and other surfaces.

Simply scatter salt wherever you need a surface to be slip-free. Ideally, this should be done before any precipitation, as salting works better as a preventative measure than as a treatment.

Prevent Frost and Ice on Windows

You already know that salt is used on driveways and highways to prevent the buildup of ice, but did you know they can do the same thing for the windows on your vehicle? It’s true!

All you need to do is keep some coarse salt handy in a bag for the purpose.

The night before the wintry precipitation comes in, sprinkle the salt all over your front and rear windshield. The next morning, you should notice that it remains clear of ice, or at least has dramatically less ice buildup than usual.

Alternately, you can also de-ice your windshield by soaking a sponge in salt water and rubbing all of your windows down. Let them dry. When your windows get wet during the storm, this will prevent them from freezing.

Countless Uses for Salt

This list is a mere sample of the countless ways to use salt as a cleaner, preservative, and tool around the house. Start stockpiling salt now!

Every time you head to the grocery store, make sure you grab an extra carton. It will never spoil, and will be a valued commodity to you as a prepper or homesteader.