Have fun with salt in cleaning

Cleaning brass - Mix equal parts of salt, flour and vinegar to make a paste, rub the paste on the brass item, leave on for an hour or so, then clean with a soft cloth or brush and buff with a dry cloth.
Cleaning wicker - To prevent yellowing, scrub wicker furniture with a stiff brush moistened with warm saltwater and allow to dry in the sun.
Cleaning grease spots on rugs - Some grease spots can be removed with a solution of one part salt and four parts alcohol and rubbing hard but carefully to avoid damage to the nap.
Extending broom life - New brooms will wear longer if soaked in hot saltwater before they are first used.
Removing wine stains - If wine is spilled on a tablecloth or rug, blot up as much as possible and immediately cover the wine with salt, which will absorb the remaining wine. Later rinse the tablecloth with cold water; scrape up the salt from the rug and then vacuum the spot.
Removing rings from tables - White rings left on tables from wet or hot dishes or glasses can be removed by rubbing a thin paste of salad oil and salt on the spot with your fingers, letting it stand an hour or two, then wiping it off.
Restoring sponges - Give sponges new life by soaking them in cold saltwater after they are washed.
Settling suds - If a washing machine bubbles over from too many suds, sprinkle salt on the suds to reduce them.
Brightening colors - Wash colored curtains or washable fiber rugs in a saltwater solution to brighten the colors. Brighten faded rugs and carpets by rubbing them briskly with a cloth that has been dipped in a strong saltwater solution and wrung out.
Removing perspiration stains - Add four tablespoons of salt to one quart of hot water and sponge the fabric with the solution until stains disappear.
Brightening yellowed cottons or linens - Boil the yellowed items for one hour in a salt and baking soda solution
Removing blood stains - Soak the stained clothing or other cloth item in cold saltwater, then launder in warm, soapy water and boil after the wash. (Use only on cotton, linen or other natural fibers that can take high heat.)
Removing mildew or rust stains - Moisten stained spots with a mixture of lemon juice and salt, then spread the item in the sun for bleaching; and finally, rinse and dry.
Color-matching nylons - Good nylons that don't have a match can be made the same color by boiling them a few minutes in a pan of lightly salted water.
Fixing sticking iron - Sprinkle a little salt on a piece of paper and run the hot iron over it to remove rough, sticky spots.
Removing "salt stains" from carpets - "Salt" stains are usually caused by calcium chloride and magnesium chloride, not sodium chloride, caccording to the Carpet and Rug Institute. Rock salt has small amounts of both of these salts imbedded in it. The problem comes with solubility. Patience and lots of rinse cycles are the key and sometimes calcium carbonate forms and this is fairly insoluble. Try to vacuum most of the dry residue off before using cool to warm water and a very small amount of carpet shampoo. Once the cleaning solution has been applied, allow time for it to dissolve the deposit. Blot, do not scrub, the spot. Sodium chloride is more soluble at lower temps than at higher ones. Then rinse with clear lukewarm water, blotting up the excess moisture and follow with another water rinse and blot dry. This should work. If not, try a cleaning mixture of 1/2 white vinegar to 1/2 lukewarm water, allow to stand 15 minutes and rinse with clear water.

hi vidya,

Did not know some of the tricks...one doubt..what if the water is already hard..if i boil the yellowed cotton will it come out white...I have tried baking soda, bleach...but still not getting the perfect white...

Originally Posted by shanvy

hi vidya,

Did not know some of the tricks...one doubt..what if the water is already hard..if i boil the yellowed cotton will it come out white...I have tried baking soda, bleach...but still not getting the perfect white...

Dear shanvy

I wash all the white clothes seperately. I soak them in hot water(not steaming in between warm and hot) with 1 tsp baking soda and crystal salt(not iodised) for 20 mins then in tide powder(for white ones i use tide and coloured ariel ) then i spin them in machine. really it works out well. most of his white shirts are linen(gifted by me so i take care of them well)

never ever soak them in bleach for it may cause allergy to skin as well as not good for the fabric. you can use them as a solvent for tough stains on white cloth by just sprinking and rubbing not soaking.

hope u find this useful

regards
vidyasundar

Hi Vidhya,

Have you tried cleaning(brushing) your teeth with salt. I have done with hand and is very good cleaner. You dont use brush, use your finger to clean your teeth with salt.
I am just saying try once in a while and see the result.

Thanks for the other ideas of cleaning with salt.

Bala

Originally Posted by vidyasundar

Dear shanvy

I wash all the white clothes seperately. I soak them in hot water(not steaming in between warm and hot) with 1 tsp baking soda and crystal salt(not iodised) for 20 mins then in tide powder(for white ones i use tide and coloured ariel ) then i spin them in machine. really it works out well. most of his white shirts are linen(gifted by me so i take care of them well)

never ever soak them in bleach for it may cause allergy to skin as well as not good for the fabric. you can use them as a solvent for tough stains on white cloth by just sprinking and rubbing not soaking.

hope u find this useful

regards
vidyasundar

Hi vidya,

thanks for the prompt fb. i know bleach is harmful..but that is the last resort...after breaking my head to keep whites white...here starting from towels, napkins, vests, and fil's dhotis...

And i wash it more number of times when i am forced to use bleach...

when in bahrain, i did not have a problem..it is here in chennai with the hard water....

Originally Posted by balamotwani

Hi Vidhya,

Have you tried cleaning(brushing) your teeth with salt. I have done with hand and is very good cleaner. You dont use brush, use your finger to clean your teeth with salt.
I am just saying try once in a while and see the result.

Thanks for the other ideas of cleaning with salt.

Bala

Dear Bala,

yes I do that and in addition to salt i use pudhina (mint) and lime juice 2 drops and wipe my teeth with it. but u know its like that experience (how it would be when u rub ur nail on walls or scratch ur nails on some metal surface) makes me feel let my teeth be how it was but after cleaning paal pol vellai parkal

regards
vidyasundar

Dear shanthi,

one main thing i forgot i add blue while soaking not after washing. so that it remains white or near white not BLUE.

regards
vidyasundar

Originally Posted by vidyasundar

Dear shanthi,

one main thing i forgot i add blue while soaking not after washing. so that it remains white or near white not BLUE.

regards
vidyasundar

Yes vidya,

I add it in the soaking..because i hate the blue patches that form sometimes if done after washing.

So how is bahrain..has the sitra mall become operational....

hello vidya

and how many salt packets
do you have...

sathya

Originally Posted by shanvy

Yes vidya,

I add it in the soaking..because i hate the blue patches that form sometimes if done after washing.

So how is bahrain..has the sitra mall become operational....

Dear Shanvy,
yes the sitra mall is operational now and LULU(hypermarket,dubai) has come not the mall with mega mart.
I like monthly shopping in Geant few items from megamart.