In additionto making food delicious, it isbelieved that thereare more than 14,000 uses for salt, and our grandmothers wereprobably familiar with most of them. Someof these uses were for simple thingsaround the home before the adventof modern chemicals and cleaners.Many of these salt uses are still populartoday and can be much cheaper and more environmentally-friendly thanchemical products. We make no guaranteeabout the results if you try any of these uses and tips, but theremust be something to them since they have been handed down over theyears in many households. Most of these salt uses have stood the testof time.

The mostfamiliar use of salt undoubtedly is in the kitchen and on the diningtable. Salt accents the flavor of meat, brings out the individualityof vegetables, puts "oomph" into bland starches, deepensthe flavor of delicate desserts, and develops the flavor of somefruits. No other seasoning has yet beenfound that can take the place of salt. There are many other uses forsalt around the home, as well. Salt is an excellent cleaning agent.A solution of salt and turpentine restores the whiteness to yellowedenamel bathtubs and lavatories. A paste of salt and vinegar cleanstarnished brass or copper. A box of salt is also an important item inmany bathrooms. In mild solutions, it makes an excellent mouthwash,throat gargle or eye-wash.It can alsobe extremely helpful as a massageelement to improve skin complexion.