1. Cooking and seasoning food 2. Preserving food by pickling or curing 3. Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces 4. Softening hard water in laundry and dishwashing 5. De-icing sidewalks and driveways in winter 6. Soothing sore throats with salt water gargle 7. Removing stains from clothing or carpets 8. Enhancing the flavor of homemade beauty products like scrubs and masks