In terms of essential life ingredients, water tends to get all the credit. But did you know that salt is actually just as important? Seriously, you will die without adequate salt levels.

So yeah, you could say that salt is a pretty useful substance. The benefits go far beyond your body, too. From the kitchen to the bathroom, this super mineral really gets around!

Let’s take a look at 5 surprising – and genius – ways you can use salt around your home.

#1 – Drain Cleaning

Those little bits and pieces of food that wind up in your sink really add up over time. Before you know it, you’ve got a clogged sink. You could call a plumber to remove the gunk but why not try some simple salt first?

Salt is coarse; its texture will work like sandpaper against any tough drain buildup. Just measure half a cup of salt and pour it straight down the drain.

#2 – Polishing

Say you’ve got a wine glass that’s built up scuffs over time. You can bring that bad boy right back to life with some good ol’ salt! Begin by washing the glass. Then, sprinkle some salt on the wet surface. Take a dry cloth and rub it against the glass for a few minutes.

Good as new!

This trick also works for silver, brass and copper – although, you’ll want to mix the salt with vinegar to polish those items. Check out the video below for more information on those particular applications.

#3 – Ants-Be-Gone

Ants absolutely hate salt. The exact reason for that is a bit of a mystery but hey – who needs a concrete reason when you can get results? The aptly-named PestKill.org recommends boiling water and salt together for a few minutes. Throw this mixture into a spray bottle and spread it around areas you observe the little buggers hanging out.

As a plus, this trick doesn’t actually kill them – it just repels them. So don’t worry, you won’t have a bunch of ant corpses to sweep up.

Check out the following video to see just how well salt works as an ant repellent!

#4 – Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief

While the usefulness of wisdom teeth remains hotly debated, one thing is certain – they hurt like crazy when they begin coming in. Let salt be your friend; it’s a great cleanser and soother. Just add a tablespoon of salt to a glass of water, mix well and swish around your mouth.

Salt water is also great for other sorts of mouth pain, including those pesky canker sores.

#5 – Removal of Evil Spirits

Whoa! That escalated quickly, eh?

Salt is actually featured quite prominently in folk remedies for getting rid of evil spirits. For thousands of years, individuals from various cultures have sprinkled it around their homes, temples and other dwellings.

If you think your house or office may be inhabited by evil spirits, salt is certainly worth a shot. Sprinkle it by your doors and any other entry points you may have in your home. Have a look at the following video to hear Dr. Wu Di’s explanation.

There you have it! What’s your favorite use for salt? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments and pass this post along to your friends!

Sources:
Cargill.com
Mystic Files
EverydayRoots.com
ScienceLine.org
PestKill.org
Mayo Clinic