10 Tips for Cleaning With Salt

There seems to be no one in the modern world without salt in their kitchen. This white seasoning is used in almost every dish we prepare, but it has many other uses that you should know about. Today you’ll learn 10 ways you can use salt to make cleaning so much easier for yourself. I recommend doing number 8 every weekend.

1. Clean broken eggs 

Did you accidentally drop an egg on the floor? Cleaning it up will require lots of paper towels unless you use this tip. Sprinkle salt on the broken egg and let it be absorbed for a few minutes. You’ll then only need one paper towel to clean up the mess. 

 

2. Remove sticky residue from an iron  

Is your iron a little sticky? Turn it on to maximum heat for a few minutes. As it warms up, take wax paper or a newspaper and sprinkle salt over it. Now move the iron in a circular motion over the salt - the salt will catch the sticky residue and leave it on the paper.

3. Clean wine spilled on the carpet  

Spilled some wine on the carpet? Whether red or white, you can easily clean it up by pouring some baking soda on it and covering it with salt. Let the salt absorb as much liquid as possible, and when the area dries, simply vacuum up the salt and baking powder.

4. Clean lipstick stains from glasses 

Have you finished drinking some wine and left behind a lipstick stain? If the stain is stubborn and doesn’t come out in the dishwasher or after handwashing, simply rub some salt on to it and watch it disappear.

5. Clean and disinfect your wooden cutting board  

A cutting board can be a source of bacteria and disease if it's not cleaned properly. Therefore, you should rub half a lemon over the wood, pour salt on to it, wait 10-15 minutes, and then scrub with the lemon again. If the lemon dries, squeeze it and continue cleaning.

6. Extinguish kitchen fires 

If a fire suddenly starts in one of your pans, water will not necessarily put it out, as it is likely that what’s burning is oil. Instead of using water, quickly open your salt jar and just pour it over the pan. The salt will prevent oxygen from reaching the fire and suffocate it quickly so that you and the kitchen won’t be harmed. 

7. Clean Pots and Pans 

Did you burn your food and are now stuck with stubborn residue? The simplest way to clean it is by pouring salt over the pan and adding water. This mixture will help loosen all the burnt grime and after ten minutes you can wash the pan easily. You can also use this method on burnt oil in the oven. 

 

8. Clean sponges  

You washed the pan, but are now left with a black and dirty sponge? Just fill a small container with 2 cups of water and a quarter cup of salt, put the sponge in and leave it in there overnight. When you take it out in the morning, it'll be like new. It's recommended doing this at least once a week, whether the sponge is stained or not.

9. Clean ceramic tiles

Sometimes the usual detergents we buy aren’t enough to clean ceramic tiling efficiently. If you want to thoroughly clean the bathroom, mix together one cup of turpentine and one cup of salt (wear protective gloves and open the windows as you shouldn't breathe in the turpentine gases). Apply the paste onto a sponge and scrub away. After about a minute, you'll see that the stains you've gotten used to over the years will start to disappear. 

 

10. Clear clogs 

 Cleaning the bathroom and suddenly realize that your drain’s clogged? Here's what you need to do. First, remove any hairs stuck in the drain, then mix a quarter cup of baking soda and a quarter cup of salt. Pour the powder mixture directly into the drain, and then pour a half cup of vinegar quickly over it. The solution will begin to foam and release the clog within 15 minutes. Then just pour hot water into the drain to get rid of any powder residue.

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5 Creative Ways to Substitute Eggs

One of the most basic ingredients you have at home are eggs, which can be used in almost all recipes. While some people avoid them for their own reasons, there are various ingredients that you can use to replace eggs, be it because you choose a vegan lifestyle or because you might be intolerant to eggs. Take a look:

1. Tofu 

If working with a recipe that mainly consists of eggs, tofu is the best way to go. 1/4 cup of tofu is equivalent to one egg and it makes it a delicious way to make quiches and custards. As such, tofu is tasteless, but can be flavored to your liking and offers the same health benefits that eggs have, if not more. It is high in protein and contains nine amino acids. In addition, it is high in iron, selenium, manganese, and calcium. 

 

Recipe Tips: If you'd like to prepare vegan deviled eggs, add a pinch of turmeric into the tofu mixture to turn it a golden color. Be sure to mix well. Furthermore, when choosing to cook with tofu instead of eggs, remember to opt for the soft kind of tofu, as the firm one will make it difficult to blend. And avoid tofu that has been pre-seasoned because it will intervene with the taste and texture of your dish. 

 

2. Aquafaba 

For an egg white replacement, aquafaba is it. It is the water in which beans and chickpeas are cooked in. It can replace eggs in meringues and marshmallows. It is rich in carbohydrates, proteins and antioxidants as the ingredients of the seeds have migrated into the cooking water. Furthermore, those proteins turn the water into a consistency that is similar to egg whites which you can mix and create a foamy texture for your creamy recipes. 

 

Recipe Tips: You can add vanilla or sugar into the mixture if you are making something sweet. Bear in mind the following information: 3 tbsps. aquafaba substitute one egg. 2 tbsps. aquafaba substitute one egg white.

3. Flaxseeds  

One of the tastiest ways to replace eggs is to use flaxseeds giving your dish a nutty flavor. They are loaded with many nutrients, making them a superfood. They are packed with protein, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and almost all B-vitamins. 

 

Recipe Tips: Grind the flaxseeds in a coffee grinder and mix one tablespoon flaxseeds with 3 tablespoons water to replace one egg. Then let the mixture sit for 30 minutes prior to adding it into your cooking mixture. 

 

 4. Banana

When it comes to baking sweet recipes like pancakes, cakes, muffins and so on, bananas are the most popular replacement. If you love the taste and smell of bananas it will make your cakes irresistible. Ripe bananas, in particular, can bind all the ingredients together due to the fact that they are high in moisture and have a creamy texture. They can moderate blood sugar levels, improve digestion and promote weight loss, making them a healthier alternative to eggs. 

 

Recipe Tips: Use 1/2 a ripe banana as a substitute for one egg. 

 

 5. Pumpkin  

Pumpkin can be used similarly to potatoes in baking recipes. It can be used for cookies, cakes, bread, and muffins, and will give the baking mixture more moisture to work with and can give color to a delicious cake butter, particularly during the fall. Furthermore, using pumpkins instead of eggs can be beneficial to your overall health. They are rich in antioxidants and potassium which can help regulate blood pressure. They are high in protein and fiber and are low in calories which makes it a healthier alternative to eggs. 

 

Recipe Tips: 1/4 cup of mashed pumpkin is equivalent to one egg. Remember not to add an excess amount of pumpkin because it naturally has a strong taste. Be sure not to overdo it, as you will lose the taste of the other ingredients.

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8 Easy Substitutes For Baking Powder

The vast majority of recipes of baked goods call for baking powder as a leavening agent. The baking powder you buy in stores consists of 1 part baking soda and 2 parts acid (usually cream of tartar). When combined with liquids, the baking powder fizzes up and creates bubbles that make the texture of baked goods tender and light.

Since most people buy baking powder in bulk, forgetting to add it to the weekly shopping list when it runs out is relatively easy. So what should you do when you discover that you’re out of baking powder when it’s too late to run to the store and stock up? 

 

Scrapping the idea to make cookies or pancakes is clearly not a good option, so instead, we urge you to get creative and learn to substitute baking powder with something else. This is pretty easy to do with ingredients you already have in your kitchen. Depending on your recipe, you can replace the baking powder with buttermilk, baking soda, or even plain lemon juice. We will list the 8 best replacements for baking powder in this article. 

 

1. Baking soda and cream of tartar  

Remember that most store-bought baking powders are a mixture of baking soda and cream of tartar? So, if you don’t have baking powder but you can find some baking soda and cream of tartar in your pantry, making your own baking powder is pretty easy. Just mix together 1 teaspoon baking soda with 2 teaspoons cream of tartar, and voila, you have 1 tablespoon of fresh baking powder. 

 

Cream of tartar can also be used to stabilize creams and egg whites in baking, so it’s a good ingredient to have, in general. 

 

2. Baking soda and vinegar

Any other acidic agent can be used in baked goods in conjunction with baking soda to make the batter rise. Follow the same ratio as before if you’re using white vinegar to substitute baking powder and combine ¼ teaspoon baking soda with ½ teaspoon of vinegar to replace 1 teaspoon of baking powder in a recipe. 

 

Combining the two ingredients will make them fizz up immediately, so it’s best to do it quickly and work the bubbly mixture into the batter fast to make sure that the batter rises evenly. If you’re worried that the baking soda and vinegar mixture could alter the taste of the batter, add in a pinch of sugar to compensate for the taste of vinegar. 

 

3. Carbonated drinks

 

Great news for pancake lovers - you can make your favorite breakfast even if you don’t have baking powder or baking soda in the kitchen. You can substitute baking powder with anything carbonated, be it club soda or mineral water. The bubbles in the carbonated drink will act as a leavening agent. 

 

The only caveat is that club soda and other fizzy drinks are not as strong as baking soda, so this trick only works for recipes that require a little leavening, like crapes or pancakes. For best results, replace all the liquids in the recipe for unflavored seltzer whenever possible. 

 

4. Lemon juice and baking soda 

 

Another acidic ingredient that can easily be combined with baking soda to make delicious baked goods is lemon juice. The active leavening ingredient in lemon juice is citric acid, which is stronger than cream of tartar and vinegar, so it will cause more bubbles. Follow the same ratio as we did with other acids - 2 parts lemon juice to 1 part baking soda. Keep in mind that the lemon juice could impart a lemony flavor to baked goods, so if you’re not a fan of that, it’s better to use vinegar. 

5. Self-rising flour

Chances are that you won’t need to use anything to substitute the baking powder. As the name suggests, self-rising flour doesn’t require any baking powder or baking soda to rise. If you use self-rising flour, it already contains baking powder and salt, so it will rise without any extra leavening ingredients. 

 

6. Buttermilk, yogurt, kefir

If your recipe calls for dairy, a good way to replace baking soda is to use any kind of unflavored and liquid fermented dairy in conjunction with baking soda. Buttermilk, plain white yogurt, kefir, and even sour milk all work pretty well for this task. Although you may not think about it, all of these dairy products are slightly sour due to the acid they contain, so they will help your batter rise. 

 

To replace 1 teaspoon of baking powder, combine ¼ teaspoon baking soda with ½ cup (122 g) buttermilk or any other dairy product mentioned above. It’s also necessary to reduce the general amount of other liquids in the recipe by the same amount of buttermilk used - ½ cup, in our example. This is necessary to maintain the right consistency of the batter.

7. Whipped egg whites

Even if you have none of the ingredients we listed above and your recipe calls for eggs, there’s a way around a lack of baking powder. Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites, and then whip up the egg whites to stiff peaks. Gently fold the egg whites into the batter, and you’ll have a light and fluffy texture even without the use of any leavening ingredients. This trick works very well for waffles and pancakes!  

8. Molasses

Molasses is a sticky and sweet substance often used to replace sugar in recipes. It may not strike you as an acidic ingredient, but it actually contains enough acids to be used in conjunction with baking soda. Since it’s quite a bit weaker than lemon juice and vinegar, you’ll need to use a bit more to get enough leavening. 

 

The equivalent of 1 teaspoon of baking powder is ¼ teaspoon baking soda and ¼ cup (84 g) molasses. That’s quite a lot, so be prepared to feel the taste of molasses in the recipe. Since molasses is liquid and sweet, you’ll also need to reduce the amount of liquid by ¼ cup and add less sweetener too.

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Effective Substitutes for Cornstarch

Cornstarch is a key ingredient in a variety of recipes - from shortbread cookies to meatloaf. It is essentially a pure, fine starch powder extracted from corn kernels. When heated, cornstarch is very good at absorbing water. For that reason, it’s most commonly used as a thickening agent for soups, stews, and gravies, but it can also be used as a meat tenderizer in marinades, or serve as a crispy coating for fried foods. Cornstarch is often favored with those with celiac disease, as it’s derived from corn rather than wheat, making it gluten-free.

If you have a recipe that calls for cornstarch but no cornstarch on hand, don’t worry. There are plenty of other ingredients that can replace it, many of which you may already have in your pantry. Below, we list the best cornstarch substitutes for thickening, frying, and even baking. 

 

1. Wheat flour 

Unlike cornstarch, wheat flour contains protein and fiber, as well as starch. It can be an effective thickener, but you will need a larger amount to get the same effect as cornstarch. Brown and whole-grain flour contain more fiber than white flour, and while it’s possible to use them for thickening, you're likely to need much more of them to get the same result. 

 

In general, it’s recommended that you use twice as much white flour as cornstarch for thickening purposes. For example, if you need 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, use 2 tablespoons of white flour. To avoid clumps while thickening sauces with flour, mix it with a small amount of water to form a paste. You may also want to cook your sauce or stew for an extra two or three minutes to eliminate any raw flour flavor.

2. Rice flour 

One clear advantage of rice flour is that it’s gluten-free, just like cornstarch. It is a powder made of finely ground rice often used in Asian cuisines as an ingredient in desserts, rice noodles, or soups. 

 

You will need twice as much rice flour to substitute cornstarch as a thickening agent. The ratio is the same as it is for wheat flour. It works especially well in puddings, as rice flour holds up well to high heat. Rice flour can be used with hot or cold water to make a paste. Alternatively, you may mix it with butter or oil to make a roux. 

 

3. Arrowroot flour

Arrowroot is a starchy flour made from the ground roots of the Maranta genus of plants. While it may be a less common ingredient in your pantry, many chefs mark it as their favorite cornstarch substitute. This is because arrowroot can produce the same thickening effect and glossy finish as cornstarch at a 1:1 ratio. Not only that, but arrowroot flour also contains more fiber than cornstarch and it doesn’t alter the flavor at all. 

 

You can use arrowroot to thicken almost anything, with the exception of dairy-based recipes, as the combination can result in a slimy texture. It’s recommended to mix 2 tablespoons of arrowroot in ½ a cup of water and pour the mixture into whatever you’re cooking to thicken it.

4. Tapioca flour

This gluten-free flour is made from the processed starch product extracted from cassava, a root vegetable from South America. It is an excellent thickener with a neutral flavor. If you plan on freezing your leftovers, tapioca flour may not be the best choice, as it doesn’t hold up very well when frozen. Also, boiling tapioca starch can sometimes result in a stringy texture. Most chefs recommend substituting 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of tapioca flour.

 

5. Potato starch

Potato starch may not be the best choice for thickening purposes, but it is a phenomenal pick for frying. The reason why potato starch doesn’t work well as a thickener is that extreme heat may cause the starch to break down, so it won’t absorb moisture properly and lose the thickening effect. However, its structure does allow it to provide a rigid coating for food cooked shortly in high heat. 

 

It is also gluten-free and bland in taste, so it won’t add any unwanted flavor. If you choose to substitute cornstarch for potato starch, do it in a 1:1 ratio. 

 

6. Ground flaxseed

If you’re looking for a cornstarch substitute that is well-suited for baking, ground flaxseed is the way to go. This is due to the gritty consistency of flaxseed flour. Ground flaxseed is very absorbent and forms a gelatinous texture when mixed with water. It is also high in soluble fiber, so using it instead of cornstarch can boost the fiber content of your dish. 

 

Rather than adding it directly into the recipe, make a paste mixing 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed with 4 tablespoons of water (the ratio is ½ tablespoon of found flaxseed to 1 tablespoon of cornstarch). 

 

7. Glucomannan

Glucomannan is a water-soluble powder derived from the roots of the konjac plant. It is also known as the elephant yam and can be seen in the picture above. Glucomannan is extremely absorbent and forms a thick, colorless, odorless gel when mixed with hot water, which makes it an excellent thickener. 

 

Glucomannan is pure fiber. Therefore, it contains no calories or carbs, making it a popular substitute for those who follow a low-carb diet. It’s also prebiotic, which means that it feeds the good bacteria in your large intestine and supports gut health. It is generally recommended to use around a quarter of a teaspoon of glucomannan for every 2 teaspoons of cornstarch. It thickens at quite low temperatures, so mix it with a little cold water before you pour it into your food to avoid clumping. 

 

Other thickening techniques 

In case you don’t have any of those cornstarch substitutes on hand, there are several other techniques worth knowing that will help you thicken your recipe. 

 

Blended vegetables: To make a tomato-based sauce thicker and richer in nutrients, add some pureed leftover veggies. 

 

Sour cream or Greek yogurt: Adding these ingredients to a sauce can help make it thicker and creamier. 

 

Simmering: Cooking food for a longer time at low heat will help evaporate some of the liquid, resulting in a thicker texture.

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5 Surprising Household Items That Are Great Stain Removers

Did you ever have to deal with a spill or a stain on your clothes just as you were about to leave? That is a common and very frustrating situation. Luckily, not every stain requires a special product or a cycle in the washing machine. There may be a much simpler way to resolve the issue. These household items can be found in every home, and they are surprisingly effective at removing stains.

1. Bread

One of the most important steps of treating a stain is stopping it from spreading. That’s where a slice of bread could really come in handy. It could be white or whole wheat - any type of bread will do. Simply grab a slice and use it to blot the stain. The bread will act like a sponge - it will absorb the stain and prevent it from spreading or moving deeper into the fibers of the fabric. 

 

This method can even be effective at lifting old grease stains on suede or leather. Place the slice of bread on the stain for an hour or so to absorb the oil and proceed cleaning the item as usual. 

 

2. Vodka

If you’re dealing with a particularly stubborn ink stain, grab a bottle of vodka. Saturate a clean white cloth or a cotton swab with vodka. Then, blot away the ink, working from the outside edge of the stain towards the center. Only use a clean area of the cloth, rotating it from time to time, or replace the cotton swab with clean ones until all the ink is gone. Finally, blot the area with a cloth dipped in plain water. 

 

Another trick is to use vodka as a DIY fabric freshener. Many commercial refreshers are high in alcohol. To make your own, simply mix half a cup of vodka with 1 cup of cool water in a spray bottle and spritz any stale-smelling clothes.

 

3. Shaving cream

Shaving cream is a great stain remover because it's essentially whipped soap. For a spill on a clothing item, dampen the stain with water and rub in just a dab of shaving cream with your fingers. Then, wipe it with a white cloth or paper towel dipped in cold water. This is important to prevent color transfer from one fabric to another. Finish by blotting the area with a dry white cloth or paper towel, or use a blow dryer on low heat. 

 

The basic variety of shaving cream is the best one for stain removal. Avoid gels or products with added moisturizers and colors.

4. Permanent markers

Yes, we know that sounds rather counterproductive. After all, permanent markers are usually the cause of a stain and not the solution. So you might be surprised to learn that permanent markers can be used as stain removers. If you accidentally splash bleach on your shirt, you will be able to save it by filling in the bleached areas with a permanent marker. 

 

Black markers work best with black fabric, blue ones with blue clothes, and so on. Try to match the color of the permanent marker with the color of your fabric as closely as possible. The idea is to get a match that will not be noticeable unless you know exactly where to look

5. Cream of tartar 

 Cream of tartar is a mild acid that helps baked goods maintain a fluffy texture and stability. It also works well at removing berry or red wine stains from white fabrics. 

 

Make a paste of hot water and cream of tartar, then apply the paste onto the stain and let it sit for at least 15 minutes. Rinse and repeat, if necessary. For rust stains, you can boost your solution by mixing the cream of tartar with a bit of lemon juice. The added citric acid from the lemon will help remove the stains. Note that this method should be used carefully on colored fabrics. Test the mixture on the inside seam of the garment first to make sure that the fabric is colorfast, and only then proceed to remove the actual stain.

 

 

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