Here are some really great uses for the most common condiment in your kitchen: salt. I had no idea the endless uses salt has and sadly, I had only heard of a couple of these and used them in my life. But now I know and will incorporate a lot of these salty tips and tricks in my everyday life. My very favorite tip is this first one because there is nothing I hate more than scraping off frosty, snowy windows in the morning! I hope you enjoy these tips and find some of them useful!

Keep windows and windshields frost-free

As you probably know, salt greatly decreases the temperature at which ice freezes. You can use this fact to keep the windows in your home frost-free by wiping them with a sponge dipped in salt water, then letting them dry. In the winter, keep a small cloth bag of salt in your car. When the windshield and other windows are wet, rub them with the bag. The next time you go out to your car, the windows won't be covered with ice or snow.

Clean artificial flowers

You can quickly freshen up artificial flowers - whether they are authentic silk ones or the more common nylon variety - by placing them in a paper bag with 1/4 cup salt. Give the bag a few gentle shakes, and your flowers will emerge as clean as the day you bought them.

Keep wicker looking new

Wicker furniture can yellow with age and exposure to the sun and elements. To keep your wicker natural-looking, scrub it with a stiff brush dipped in warm salt water. Let the piece dry in the sun. Repeat this process every year or every other year.

Freshen your garbage disposal

Is an unpleasant odor wafting from your garbage disposal? Freshen it up with salt. Just dump in 1/2 cup salt, run the cold water, and start the disposal. The salt will dislodge stuck waste and neutralize odors.

Remove wine from carpet

Argggh! Red wine spilled on a white carpet is the worst. But there's hope. First, while the red wine is still wet, pour some white wine on it to dilute the color. Then clean the spot with a sponge and cold water. Sprinkle the area with salt and wait about 10 minutes. Now vacuum up the whole mess.

End the ant parade

If ants are beating a path to your home, intercept them by sprinkling salt across the door frame or directly on their paths. Ants will be discouraged from crossing this barrier.

Speed up cooking time

In a hurry? Add a pinch or two of salt to the water you are boiling food in. This makes the water boil at a higher temperature so the food you are cooking will require less time on the stovetop. Keep in mind: Salt does not make the water boil faster.

Keep salad crisp

Do you need to prepare leafy salad in advance of a dinner party? Lightly salt the salad immediately after you prepare it, and it will remain crisp for several hours.

Revive wrinkled apples

Do your apples need a face-lift? Soak them in mildly salted water to make the skin smooth again.

Pick up spilled eggs

If you've ever dropped an uncooked egg, you know what a mess it is to clean up. Cover the spill with salt. It will draw the egg together and you can easily wipe it up with a sponge or paper towel.

Deodorize your sneakers

Sneakers and other canvas shoes can get pretty smelly, especially if you wear them without socks in the summertime. Knock down the odor and soak up the moisture by occasionally sprinkling a little salt in your canvas shoes.

Keep oven spills from hardening

The next time food bubbles over in your oven, don't give it a chance to bake on and cool. Toss some salt on the stuff while it is still liquid. When the oven cools, you'll be able to wipe up the spill with a cloth. The same technique works for spills on the stovetop. The salt will remove odors too, and if you'd like to add a pleasant scent, mix a little cinnamon in with the salt.

Speed cleanup of messy dough

Here's a way to make short work of cleanup after you've rolled out dough or kneaded breads. Sprinkle your floury countertop with salt. Now you can neatly wipe away everything with a sponge. No more sticky lumps.

Erase tea and coffee stains

Tea and coffee leave stains on cups and in pots. You can easily scrub away these unattractive rings by sprinkling salt onto a sponge and rubbing in little circles across the ring. If the stain persists, mix white vinegar with salt in equal proportions and rub with the sponge.

Set the color in new towels

The first two or three times you wash new colored towels, add 1 cup salt to the wash. The salt will set the colors so your towels will remain bright much longer.

Rid your garden of snails and slugs

These little critters are not good for your plants. But there's a simple solution. Take a container of salt into the garden and douse the offenders. They won't survive long.

Open hair-clogged drains

It's tough to keep hair and shampoo residues from collecting in the bathtub drain and clogging it. Dissolve the mess with 1 cup salt, 1 cup baking soda, and 1/2 cup white vinegar. Pour the mixture down the drain. After 10 minutes, follow up with a 1/2 gallon (2 liters) boiling water. Run your hot-water tap until the drain flows freely.