Avoiding chemicals during a home’s renovation is difficult enough. Then you have got the constant clean-up, which is the gateway to even more consumption of household chemicals that companies have long convinced us are necessary for an immaculate and safe home. But one compound, cheap and non-toxic, should be in every home and bathroom.

I now use kosher salt almost every day during this Fig Garden Project renovation for a bevy of purposes. It is abrasive enough to clean sinks and surfaces without scratching. The removal of adhesives and other annoying stains is a cinch. And it even helped with the kitchen cabinet stripping that morphed into a life of its own. I buy the largest box I can find, and have mason jars full of it in the bathrooms and kitchen. At the end of a project, or even a long day in the San Joaquin Valley heat, I use it to remove any paint or other gunk that I may have splashed on me--no need for a $10 Body Shop salt scrub.

Want to know how to clean tile grout naturally? Salt can also help remove those unsightly grout stains that cheapen the look of your bathroom or kitchen. For this purpose, use sea salt--the tiny grains can go a long way in brighting the most rank of tile grout. Use an old rag or sponge, spray on a white vinegar solution, generously sprinkle some sea salt, and work in a circular and gentle back-and-forth motion--the task can take a while, but again, you are avoid the use of chemicals that cost far more in both money and toxins.

Naturally, if you have a better idea, feel free to share it with me on Twitter.

Tile grout before using sea salt

Tile grout after using sea salt