9 Uncommon Uses of Salt That Aren't Found in the Kitchen

Salt, the mineral that is essential to all life. The mineral that keeps us safe on the roads in the winter. Or the mineral that improves our water quality. But it is far more than that – it’s a mineral essential to industries around the world. From metal processing to medicine, salt’s unique chemical properties make it indispensable in manufacturing, energy production, and beyond. Here are nine surprising industrial and commercial uses of salt that highlight its critical role in modern life.

1. Textile Dyeing and Printing

Salt helps bind dyes to fabric, ensuring vibrant and long-lasting colors in clothing and textiles. In the dyeing process, salt drives the dye into the fabric fibers, improving color absorption and reducing waste. Without salt, your favorite brightly colored shirts might look a lot duller!

2. Metal Processing and Aluminum Refining

In metal production, salt is used in fluxes to remove impurities from molten metals, especially aluminum and steel. The process improves metal quality, enhances efficiency, and reduces waste, making salt a hidden hero in manufacturing everything from cars to skyscrapers.

3. Rubber and Tire Manufacturing

Salt plays a crucial role in the production of rubber, particularly in extracting and curing latex. It helps coagulate rubber from natural latex, which is essential for making tires, industrial seals, and other rubber-based products. Without salt, your car tires wouldn’t have the durability they need!

4. Oil and Gas Drilling

In the energy sector, salt is a key component in drilling fluids. These fluids help cool drill bits, maintain pressure, and prevent the collapse of well walls. Without salt-based drilling fluids, extracting oil and natural gas from deep underground would be far more challenging and hazardous.

5. Battery Production

Salt-based compounds, such as sodium chloride and lithium salts, are essential in battery manufacturing. Sodium-ion batteries, an emerging alternative to lithium-ion batteries, use sodium derived from salt as a key electrolyte component. This innovation could make batteries more sustainable, cost-effective, and widely available.

6. Chemical Manufacturing

Salt is a foundational ingredient in the chemical industry. It’s used to produce chlorine and caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), two critical chemicals in making plastics, paper, detergents, and pharmaceuticals. Many everyday products wouldn’t exist without salt’s role in chemical reactions and industrial processes.

7. Pharmaceutical and Medical Uses

Salt is used in producing intravenous (IV) fluids, saline solutions, and various medications. It helps maintain hydration, balance electrolytes, and is even used in tablet coatings for controlled drug release. In hospitals and laboratories, salt is a lifesaving mineral!

8. Glass Manufacturing

Salt plays a crucial role in producing glass by acting as a flux to lower the melting point of silica, making the process more energy-efficient. It also helps remove impurities, ensuring clear and high-quality glass for windows, bottles, and optical lenses. Without salt, the glass industry would be far less efficient and more costly.

9. Salt-Glazed Pottery

Salt is a key ingredient in a unique pottery-firing technique known as salt glazing. During the high-temperature firing process, salt is thrown into the kiln, where it reacts with the silica in the clay body to form a distinctive, glossy, and slightly textured glaze. This technique has been used for centuries to create durable, waterproof ceramics with a beautiful, natural finish.

From energy storage to essential chemicals, salt is a behind-the-scenes powerhouse that keeps industries running. The next time you sprinkle salt on your meal, remember—Minerals Make It Happen!