d.i.y. naturally

From stained carpet to tarnished copper; salt can do the job of cleaning your home. Salt is tough enough to tackle your hardest cleaning projects including polishing your sinks, removing stains in your carpet and revitalizing your word furniture.

10 ways to use salt to clean your home.

1. Red wine stains in your carpet can be removed easily. Begin by immediately blotting up as much wine as you can with a towel. Then sprinkle the area with salt. Let stand for 20 minutes allowing the salt to soak up any remaining wine. Finally, clean up area with a solution made of vinegar and water mix at a 1:2 ratio. ex. 1 cup vinegar with 2 cups of water.
2. Removing grease stains from carpet or rug can be tricky but salt will work every time. Use a mixture of salt and rubbing alcohol at a ratio of 1:4. Rub the mixture into the stain going in the same direction as the nap. You may need some elbow grease for task but it should work. When finished rinse with water and blot dry.
3. Brighten up enameled sinks, bathtubs, and toilets that have gone yellow with age. You will need to make a paste with salt and turpentine (wear rubber gloves) . You should only need a small amount of turpentine. Make in small quantities; this mixture will go along way. Apply to enameled surface and let sit for 10 - 15 minutes. Then wipe away with a damp sponge.
4. Whiten yellowed wicker by scrubbing it down with a saltwater solution and placing in direct sunlight for 30 minutes.
5. Hot pans and water stains on your wood table can be removed with a little salad oil and salt. Just make a thin paste and polish the area of the stain. Use a gentle circular motion and wipe off with a soft cloth when finished.
6. Polishing pewter can be a difficult task because it is so soft and can be damaged easily. Using flour, salt and vinegar you can make a paste that will be gentle enough to polish pewter. See recipe bellow.
7. Polish copper or brass with a sliced lemon dipped in slat. Rub salted lemon in a circular motion on the copper or brass surface. Rinse with water. This method is best for slightly tarnished copper and brass.
8. Clean tarnished copper with a little vinegar and salt. Begin by adding vinegar with a little water to a spray bottle. Spray the copper item with the solution and then sprinkle with salt. Gently scrub the piece with a soft sponge and rinse making sure to remove all of the salt.
9. Clean and shine copper and brass make a paste with equal parts vinegar, flour and salt. Rub on paste and let stand for about 1 hour. Then clean off and buff with a soft cloth.
10. Remove rust with a simple paste made of salt and lemon juice (from the fruit not in the bottle). Apply paste to the rusted object. Rub with a dry soft cloth.

Pewter Polish
You will need:

• Flour
• Salt
• Vinegar

In a bowl mix 1 teaspoon of salt with 1 cup of vinegar and add flour until you have a smooth paste. Apply paste to the pewter piece and allow to dry for 30 minutes. Rinse with water and polish with soft cloth. Make sure to remove all paste residue.

~ DIY Naturally

Table Salt | Natural Home Cleaning | Natural Stain Remover | Remove Wine Stains | Remove Grease Stains | Polish Sinks | Polish Bathtub | Pewter Polish Recipe | Clean Copper | Polish Tarnished Copper | Clean Brass | Polish Brass | Natural Rust Remover