America's first salt factory opened on this day in 1630. Today we're the world's largest producers of salt, turning out 45-million tons a year, of which only 10 percent is used for food. Of that, only 3 percent becomes table salt. The rest is used for chemicals and household products like bleach, soap and paint. It's also used in glass, plastics, cement and water softeners. But there are a lot more uses. Rock salt melts snow and ice. Table salt sprinkled on a cutting board and rubbed with lemon removes stains. A half-cup in the wash softens new denim. Cover black soot on carpeting with table salt. Wait an hour and vacuum it up. Ice-cream salt dissolved in water kills weeds, and flushing it down the drain helps prevent tree roots from clogging lines -- if you're not on septic. While too much salt isn't good for you, there are lots of ways to use it around your house that aren't harmful to your health. And that's the On The House tip for today.