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Why?????

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ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Madge

Madge Report 16 Jan 2019 21:45

Can anyone please explain this the purpose of this practice please.


Just watching a really old Eastenders, when Lou Beale is folding either hankies or napkins she is sprinkling salt on them before folding them, why is this?

Researching:
Nothing on this site, records are complete tosh!

Berniethatwas

Berniethatwas Report 16 Jan 2019 21:57

Because if she sprinkled pepper on her handkerchiefs she'd sneeze even more?

B

Researching:
Avatar - George Cluni-kuni. Not from the South Hams.

Madge

Madge Report 16 Jan 2019 22:04

no it was salt

Researching:
Nothing on this site, records are complete tosh!

Andysmum

Andysmum Report 16 Jan 2019 22:08

It stops it sticking to your glass or bottle.

Madge

Madge Report 16 Jan 2019 22:15

Hi Andy's mum I read that on line but assumed it was paper napkins

Researching:
Nothing on this site, records are complete tosh!

Andysmum

Andysmum Report 16 Jan 2019 22:30

You could be right! But salt is also good for getting out stains, so perhaps it is to make them easier to wash.

Madge

Madge Report 16 Jan 2019 22:33

ewwwwwwwwwwww I thought they were clean she didn't even act it well

Researching:
Nothing on this site, records are complete tosh!

Caroline

Caroline Report 17 Jan 2019 01:38

To keep them dry so they don't mold ???

Dermot

Dermot Report 17 Jan 2019 07:49

To stop cold slithering slimy worms from making their homes therein.

Salt prohibits their progress.

And if you believe this, you'd believe anything. :-D

PatinCyprus

PatinCyprus Report 17 Jan 2019 15:02

Salt can kill bacteria by drying them out. Salt or salty solutions can draw water out of bacteria through their cell membranes and this dehydration (among other things) can reduce or prevent the chemical reactions they rely on to live and reproduce.

found online

Researching:
Lloyd,Paddock,Cooper,Morris,Rigby West Midlands Salop Worc

supercrutch

supercrutch Report 17 Jan 2019 16:08

well I never knew that :-( :-D :-D

Researching:
Jones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JoyLouise

JoyLouise Report 17 Jan 2019 17:29


Pat's right. It's 50 years since everyone I knew used to soak handkerchiefs in salt water before they were washed - did it myself before household tissues became popular. I'm sure some of you and/or your parents would have done it too.

It's also the reason why sea bathing became popular in Victorian times.

Glad we're living in current times though and I prefer tissues rather than washing the alternative. Just keep a couple for top pockets.

'Emma'

'Emma' Report 17 Jan 2019 17:58

Like Joy I remember doing this also with hankies.
A tip from my mother which I thought was an old wives tale
at the time till I learnt was not :-)

JoyLouise

JoyLouise Report 17 Jan 2019 18:00

Emma, we must be ancient!!! :-0 :-D

'Emma'

'Emma' Report 17 Jan 2019 18:15

How very dare you Joy :-D ;-)

Annx

Annx Report 17 Jan 2019 18:41

Well that's something new I've learned today!

Researching:
Staffordshire, Warwickshire

Madge

Madge Report 17 Jan 2019 19:36

She was not washing them, they were clean.


she was folding them and as she did she sprinkled salt on them

Researching:
Nothing on this site, records are complete tosh!

PatinCyprus

PatinCyprus Report 17 Jan 2019 20:31

It does say SALT or salty solutions Madge. :-D

Researching:
Lloyd,Paddock,Cooper,Morris,Rigby West Midlands Salop Worc

Kay????

Kay???? Report 17 Jan 2019 20:41

Sure it wasn't water before ironing,,,,,,,my mum used to do this with over dried shirts then fold them till she ironed them ,,,,,she used a sugar//.flour shaker with water in.,,,,, :-D

BrianW

BrianW Report 18 Jan 2019 18:08

Talking of salt, it is great for killing or disuading slugs.


For the non-squeemish - it makes their skins porous and they effectively dissolve.

Researching:
Sherwood (Kent); Jesson (London); Worboys (Herts)