America’s first salt factory opened in 1630. Today we’re the world’s largest producers of salt turning out 45 million tons a year of which only ten percent goes into food and only three 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 and concrete but there are lots more uses, too, like water softeners. Table salt sprinkled on a cutting board and rubbed with lemon removes stains and a half-cup in the wash softens new denim. Got black soot on your carpet? Cover it with salt, wait an hour and vacuum it up. Rock salt melts snow and ice. Ice cream salt dissolved in water kills weeds and if you’re not on a septic system, flushing it down the drain prevents tree roots from clogging lines. While too much salt isn’t good for you there are ways to use it around the house that won’t harm your health. Salt is a good thing. And that's the On The House tip for today...