Pocketbook friendly and multi-talented, at least one box of Epsom salts should be in every home. Good for use in the garage, bathroom, garden and other home areas, so it’s a good idea to keep few boxes stashed around house.
Rejuvenate Car Battery
When the battery sounds like it barely has enough power to crank the car, rejuvenate that dying car battery with Epsom salts. Dissolve 7 ounces of Epsom salts in a ½ quart of boiling water, then let cool. Remove car battery (from a cooled engine) and open each cell cap, fill each cell with the salt solution, replace caps and shake battery well to distribute the salt water. Place battery on a charger and slow charge for 24 hours. The Epsom salts breaks down the corrosion (sulfate deposits) in the cells that has been preventing the battery from re-charging.
Remove a Splinter
Remove a splinter painlessly by mixing up a paste of Epsom salts and a few drops of water. Place the paste over the splinter and let sit for ten minutes. The magnesium sulfate in the salts will draw the splinter to the skin’s surface and so you can pluck it out painlessly.
Add Volume to Hair
To add bounce, shine and volume to hair, try this quick beauty trick- Pour ¼ cup of your favorite conditioner into a small bowl or cup and microwave for 15 seconds. Add 1 teaspoon of Epsom salts to warm conditioner and stir. Apply mixture to just shampooed and still wet hair and leave on for 2 minutes, then rinse with cool water.. The abrasive salt granules will gently slough off the excess oil that has kept your hair weighed down.
Add Sparkle to Fire
To add a little sparkle and pizzazz to your fireplace fire, dissolve 8 ounces of Epsom salts in a ½ gallon of hot water. Pour into a large bowl and 10 add pinecones and let soak overnight. The following morning, remove pinecones from salt mixture and place on several layers of newspaper to dry. When the pinecones are dry and the time is right, toss one on a roaring fire and watch a sparkling white-light fire show.
Keep Critters out of Garbage
To keep raccoons, squirrels, rats and other critters from feasting on garbage in outdoor trash cans, sprinkle Epsom salts over the top of the trash. Critters of all species dislike the taste of Epsom salts and will leave trash alone. Re-apply after adding more trash.
Indoor and outdoor plants benefit from an occasional Epsom salts cocktail. Mix 2 tablespoon of Epsom salts into 1 gallon of water and give plants a drink. The magnesium and sulfur in the salts will feed the plants and boost their flower power.
Fake Snow for Glass
Mix Epsom salts and stale beer until the salts dissolve and apply to glass with a sponge to create the appearance of snow-covered windows or other glass objects. The fake snow is easy to wash away with warm water.
Use Epsom salts as an all-over body exfoliater. Massage salts into damp skin in the shower, let sit on five minutes then rinse off. Great for rough knees, elbows and acne prone back skin.
Clean Bathroom Tiles
Mix Epsom salts with an equal amount of dishwashing liquid, then apply to bathroom tiles and grout. Let soak in for 5 minutes, then scrub to remove grime and soap scum.
Soothe Sore Muscles
At the end of a long, tiring day, a soak in a Epsom salts bath will sooth sore muscles and relieve tension. Add 2 cups of salts and soak 20 minutes, the magnesium will be absorbed by your body and reduce inflammation and relax muscles.
