How to Clean Inside a Salt Shaker

Is salt build up or pepper build up making you want to clean your salt and pepper shaker? Cleaning your salt shaker is easier than you might think. Whether you've got a glass salt shaker or a stainless salt shaker you can use these tip to clean inside your salt shaker today.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hot water
• Dish soap
• Uncooked rice
• Baking soda
• Salt and pepper shakers

1. Dump out the contents of your salt and pepper shakers. Because moisture can build up from kitchen steam, you don't want to reuse the discarded salt and pepper from the shakers. If you don't want to be wasteful, you can simply plan to clean your shakers when the salt and pepper runs low.

2. Fill a bowl with hot water and put your shakers inside. You might need to put them in sideways so that the inside fills with water instead of floating. If you're using a glass salt shaker, you will see it filling up from the inside. Allow the pepper and salt shaker to soak in the hot water for 10 to 15 minutes.

3. 
   Buildup is visible through the side of a glass salt shaker

   Rinse the salt shaker with running water. If there is still a build-up in the shaker, sprinkle a bit of baking soda and uncooked rice into the shaker. Use your thumb to seal the top and shake vigorously until the build-up is released.

4. Turn the shaker upside down and allow the shaker to air dry. A glass salt shaker can be dried in the oven and 200 degrees for an hour. Allow it to cool completely before refilling.

Tips & Warnings

• Add uncooked rice to the inside of a salt shaker to keep the salt from clumping up. The rice absorbs the steam and moisture that can cause salt to solidify in the shaker.
• Be sure that the lid is also dry before refilling salt and pepper shakers. A damp lid can cause salt and pepper to stick together.