The Complete Guide to Using Salt and Bicarb Soda Around the House

Salt and bicarbonate soda (bicarb soda) have been trusted for centuries as two of the most versatile household staples. Beyond seasoning and baking, these natural minerals can clean, freshen, preserve, and even soothe. They’re affordable, eco-friendly, and endlessly useful - making them must-haves in every home.

At The Salt Box, we’re passionate about helping you get the most out of nature’s simplest ingredients. Here’s your go-to guide for clever ways to use salt and bicarb soda around the house.

In the Kitchen

• Test Egg Freshness - Add two teaspoons of salt to a cup of water and drop in your egg. Fresh eggs sink, older ones float.
• Boost Whipped Cream & Egg Whites - Add a pinch of salt while whipping cream or egg whites to help them form quicker, higher peaks.
• Preserve Cheese - Wrap cheese in a cloth dampened with salt water before refrigerating to slow mould growth.
• Clean Oven Spills - If a pie or casserole bubbles over, sprinkle salt on the spill. It prevents smoke and bakes into a crust that’s easy to clean once cooled.
• Deodorise Chopping Boards - Scrub boards with a paste of salt, bicarb, and lemon to lift odours and stains naturally.
• Remove Coffee & Tea Stains - Rub mugs with salt and bicarb to restore brightness.

Cleaning & Freshening

• Gentle Scrub - Use salt and bicarb together as a mild abrasive cleaner for sinks, stovetops, and pans.
• Fridge Freshener - Place a small open jar of bicarb with a pinch of salt in your fridge to neutralise odours.
• Drain Refresher - Pour half a cup of bicarb and half a cup of salt down drains, followed by hot water, to reduce odours and mild blockages.
• Silver Polish - Line a bowl with foil, add hot water, salt, and bicarb, and soak silverware for a natural shine.
• Fabric & Carpet Freshener - Sprinkle rugs or fabrics with bicarb and a touch of salt, leave for 15 minutes, then vacuum.
• Freshen Sponges - Soak kitchen sponges overnight in salt water to deodorise and prolong life.

Laundry & Fabrics

• Boost Detergent - Add half a cup of salt or bicarb to your laundry to soften water and help detergent work more effectively.
• Brighten Whites - Bicarb soda is a gentle way to freshen and brighten whites.

Remedies & Personal Care

• Increase Magnesium Absorption – by adding some bicarb soda to your bath with your Epsom salt will allow you to absorb more of the magnesium from the Epsom salt to maximise the benefit.
• Extend Toothbrush Life - Soak toothbrushes in salt water before first use.
• Natural Mouth Rinse - Mix equal parts salt and bicarb in water for a fresh, deodorising rinse.
• Ease Sore Throats - Gargle warm salt water to soothe irritation.
• Soothe Mouth Sores - Rinse with a mild salt-water solution for ulsers or abscesses.
• Bites & Stings - Apply a damp paste of salt to bee stings or mosquito bites to reduce itching and swelling.
• Exfoliate Skin - After bathing, massage damp skin with dry salt for natural exfoliation and circulation boost.

Around the House

• Deter Ants - Sprinkle salt at doorways, windowsills, and cupboard corners - ants don’t like crossing salt.
• Extinguish Grease Fires - Keep salt by the stove. If grease flares up, douse with salt (never water) to smother flames.
• Drip-Proof Candles - Soak new candles in strong salt water before use to reduce dripping and extend burning time.

Why Salt & Bicarb Soda Belong in Every Home

Salt and bicarb soda are:

• Natural, safe, and eco-friendly
• Affordable and natural alternatives to chemical cleaners
• Multi-purpose problem-solvers for kitchen, laundry, and self-care

At The Salt Box, we provide premium-quality natural salts and pure bicarb soda so you can enjoy these everyday benefits with confidence.  Always check the ingredients and source of products.  For example our bicarb soda is 100% natural, sourced from the USA and has no preservatives and no aluminium.

Bring Nature’s Toolkit Into Your Home

Whether you’re scrubbing, freshening, soothing, or cooking, salt and bicarb soda are two of the simplest ways to make life easier, naturally.

Explore our range of pure bicarb soda and specialty natural salts at The Salt Box - your trusted source for nature’s most versatile essentials.