1. Wickerfurniture gets yellow with age. Brighten it again by dipping a brush in a solution of salt water and scrubbing the furniture. Let it dry in the sun and your wicker pieces will look as good as new. Likewise, if you have a straw broom, soak it in hot salty water for about 20 minutes before its first use to extend its lifespan.

previous2. When something bubbles over on yourstoveor in the oven, sprinkle some salt on the offending blob before it has a chance to cool. This will keep it from hardening and will make it a lot easier to wipe away.

3. If you've left your coffee on the burner longer than you should have and it's gotten bitter tasting, try adding a pinch of salt to your coffee mug before pouring in the brew. It should make it taste a lot more palatable.

4. If you've got annoying weeds growing up between cracks in the pavement or along the lines in yourpatio, there's no need to buy expensive weed treatments, or soak your outdoor space in harsh chemicals. Either douse them in a solution of 1 cup of salt boiled in two cups of water, or just put the salt on them directly and it'll get absorbed when it rains.

5. Salt is a greatcleaningaid. For a vase that has a ring of ick inside, rub with salt and then wash away. For mugs and cups with tea or coffee stains, sprinkle a little on a sponge and rub in a circular motion. Polish your brass and copper with a paste made from equal parts salt, flour and vinegar.

6. You never want to put fresh cutflowersin salt water because you'll hasten their demise, but for artificial flowers, like those made of silk, salt can help them look livelier. Simply put them in a paper bag with about cup of salt, shake and -- voila! -- they'll look as good as new.

7. If something has melted onto the smoothmetalbottom of your clothes iron known as the soleplate, it can really put a "wrinkle" in your ironing. To remove the offending bump, sprinkle some salt on a newspaper, turn the iron on high, and move it back and forth over the crystals on the paper.

8. You might have seen advertisements for natural salt underarm deodorants. The same principle that lets salt keep smells at bay on your body will work in your sneakers too -- because it helps fight bacteria. Just sprinkle a little salt into your sneakers or canvasshoeswhen they need to be freshened up.

9. Salt lowers the temperature at which water freezes and turns into pesky ice, so use it to your advantage. Rubwindowsin your home with a sponge containing salt water to keep them frost free. Keep salt in a sock in your car. When the temperature looks like it's going to dip, rub the sock over the windshield and you should be frost-free in the morning.

10. If you're interested in more uses for pantry items, consider:10 Ingenious Home Uses for Baking Soda10 Handy Household Uses for Vinegar7 Surprising Pantry Items Naturally Clean and Freshen Your Home

10 Ingenious Home Uses for Baking Soda

Make Silver GleamFor an effective silver polish, make a paste of three parts baking soda to one part water; rub onto silver with a clean cloth, then rinse thoroughly and dry. If silver is extremely tarnished, line your sink with aluminum foil and place the silver inside. Pour in a cup of baking soda, a dash of salt, and enough boiling water to cover. Let rest for a few minutes and rinse with warm water; dry with a soft cloth.

Banish Soap ScumBaking soda can be used as a nontoxic scrub for bathroom tubs, tiles, and sinks, even fiberglass. Simply sprinkle baking soda onto a clean, damp sponge and wipe down surfaces, then rinse with cool water. For heavier bathroom cleaning jobs, make a paste of baking soda, salt, and liquid dish soap. Spread evenly on the surface, then wipe clean and rinse.

Freshen LaundryAdd one-half cup of baking soda to your liquidlaundrydetergent to get clothes fresher, cleaner, and brighter. For extremely smelly gym clothes, use another half cup of baking soda in the rinse cycle. To pretreat dirty diapers, dissolve one-half cup of baking soda in two quarts of water and soak overnight.

Remove Corrosion on BatteriesBaking soda is an alkaline substance and can therefore be used to neutralize battery acid corrosion on car,mower,and other household batteries. First, disconnect battery terminals before cleaning. Make a paste of three parts baking soda to one part water; apply paste with a damp cloth and wipe clean. Reconnect battery terminals and wipe them with a thin film of petroleum jelly.

Clean Floors and Deodorize CarpetsDissolve one-half cup baking soda in a bucket of warm water to make an effective cleanser for no-wax and tile floors. For scuff marks, sprinkle baking soda onto a damp sponge and gently rub until the scuff is gone. To remove odor from carpets and rugs, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the carpet and let it sit overnight. Vacuum until all baking soda is removed.

DeodorizeEverything!Everyone knows that an open box of baking soda can neutralize odors in the fridge. But you can also use baking soda to dispel foul odors in most smelly locations, including garbage cans, garbage disposals, dishwashers, and litter boxes. Simply sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of the container or appliance, let sit for several hours or overnight, then rinse or wipe clean with a damp sponge.

Treat Insect Bites and Itchy SkinMake a paste out of baking soda and water and apply to the insect bite. A baking soda paste will help loosen the stinger from bee stings and can also be used as a salve to treat poison ivy rash. To ease the itching, rub baking soda onto damp skin after a shower.

Clean Drains and Septic SystemsHere's a great use for baking soda that is worn out from fridge duty: Pour it down the drain while running warm water from the tap. Pouring about a half cup of baking soda down the drain on a regular basis will neutralize acidity and odors. One cup of baking soda per week will keep septic systems flowing freely by maintaining a favorable pH in the septic tank.

Make a Volcano!A fun and instructive project for adults and kids alikeis a baking soda volcano. Take a tall glass or empty soda bottle and build a largeconstruction paper cone around it, centering the opening of the cone over the opening of the bottle. Place one cup of baking soda in the glass (or bottle) alongwith a quarter cup of dishwashing detergent and a few drops of red foodcoloring (to resemble lava). Pour two cups of vinegar into the bottle, andwatch the chemical eruption.

Extinguish FiresBaking soda can be a real lifesaver in the kitchen, especiallywhen you use it to smother minor grease and electrical fires. For small cookingfires, turn off the electricity or gas to the stove, stand back, and throwhandfuls of baking soda at the base of the flame to put out the fire. You shouldimmediately call the fire departmentjust to be on the safe side.

9 Alternative Uses for Toothpaste

1of 10|Photo:shutterstock.comClean the SinkIts natural to drop some globs of toothpaste in thebathroom sinkwhile brushing your teeth. Next time this happens, take the opportunity to clean the sink by scrubbing those stray drops of toothpaste using a sponge, paper towel, or even your finger.

2of 10|Photo:shutterstock.comOut of the FogA foggymirrorcan be a big hassle when you need it to get ready after taking a shower. Rubbing a non-gel toothpaste on the mirror and then wiping it off just before using the shower will prevent fog from clinging to it, so dont need to waste precious time waiting for the bathroom to air out.

3of 10|Photo:shutterstock.comShoe ShineJust can brighten up an old pair of sneakers in a breeze. You can even use an old toothbrush to really scrub out the rubber grooves andsoles of the shoes. Wipe the shoes clean with a wet rag afterwards, and you are ready to run.

4of 10|Photo:shutterstock.comIron it OutNothing is worse thanironing a clean shirtonly to dirty it from the gunky build-up on the bottom of the iron. Luckily, a filthy iron can be cleared up with toothpaste. With the iron cool and unplugged, scrub the bottom with toothpaste on a rag and wipe the surface clean. Simple but effective!

5of 10|Photo:shutterstock.comErase Crayon from the WallAre your kids a little too creative withtheir artwork? A scrub brush and a little toothpaste is the perfect way to remove waxy crayon stains from the walls without hurting the paint. And because the process is simple and non-toxic, you can even have your little ones scrub away the mess themselves.

6of 10|Photo:shutterstock.comRemove Water RingsAmisplaced beverage at a partycan leave ugly water rings on hardwood furniture. Combat this by gently rubbing non-gel toothpaste over the stain until it lightens or disappears. Just dont rub the area for too long or you may discolor the rest of the wood.

7of 10|Photo:shutterstock.comPolish MetalDirt and grime can easy build up on your metal jewelry, chrome appliances, anddoor knobs. Toothpaste can gently brighten and clean these surfaces in a jiffy. Simply scrub with a wet rag, then wash clean for a brilliant sparkle.

7of 10|Photo:shutterstock.comPolish MetalDirt and grime can easy build up on your metal jewelry, chrome appliances, anddoor knobs. Toothpaste can gently brighten and clean these surfaces in a jiffy. Simply scrub with a wet rag, then wash clean for a brilliant sparkle.

8of 10|Photo:shutterstock.comRescue DVDsA scratched DVD isn't the end of your movie collection. It is possible to save your favorite flick by dabbing a tiny bit of toothpaste onto the scratch and rubbing it all over the disk in circles with a soft towel. Wipe away the excess with a slightly wet towel and you are ready to press play.

9of 10|Photo:shutterstock.comRemove the StenchToothpaste has a magical way ofzapping tough odorsout of plastic food storage containers. Get rid of that sour smell by spreading on some toothpaste, scrubbing, and washing the residue down the drain.

10of 10|Photo:shutterstock.comFor More...If your're interested in more alternative cleaning solutions, consider:

21 Ways to Spring Clean Your Whole HouseNaturally

7 Surprising Pantry Items Naturally Clean and Freshen Your Home

10 Handy Household Uses for Vinegar