When faced with plumbing problems, the first instinct for many people is to call a professional plumber. Plumbers certainly have the training and expertise to handle everything from leaks to major backups, but there are some simple home maintenance tips they don’t always share—possibly because they’re too easy and inexpensive to be profitable.

One of these overlooked tricks involves a common household ingredient that you probably already have in your kitchen: salt. Believe it or not, salt isn’t just for seasoning your food—it can also be an effective and affordable way to help maintain your toilet and even prevent clogs, odors, and mineral buildup. It might sound surprising, but sprinkling salt in your toilet bowl on a regular basis can keep it clean, fresh, and functioning better. So, why is salt such a useful tool for toilet maintenance?

First, it helps with preventing clogs. The coarse, gritty texture of salt allows it to break down toilet paper and waste, which reduces the chances of them clumping together and causing a blockage. This can be especially beneficial in households that frequently deal with slow-flushing toilets or stubborn backups. Using salt regularly as a preventive measure can reduce the need for harsh chemicals or costly emergency plumbing calls. Another big benefit of salt is odor control. Bathrooms are a prime place for unpleasant smells, especially if there’s limited ventilation. Salt acts as a natural deodorizer by absorbing excess moisture—the main culprit behind lingering bathroom odors. Additionally, salt helps neutralize bad-smelling compounds, which can leave your toilet and bathroom smelling noticeably fresher.

If you live in an area with hard water, you’re likely familiar with the white or brown stains that form inside your toilet bowl due to mineral buildup. These deposits, mostly composed of calcium and magnesium, can be stubborn and unsightly. Fortunately, salt’s abrasive properties make it an effective and gentle scrubbing agent. When used with a toilet brush, salt can help loosen and remove these mineral stains, keeping your toilet bowl clean and polished without relying on harsh commercial products. One of the best parts about using salt is that it’s incredibly cost-efficient. Unlike name-brand toilet cleaners that can cost several dollars per bottle, salt is cheap and widely available. It’s a simple switch that can save you money over time, especially when you consider that it can reduce your dependence on chemical-laden cleaners. Plus, salt is an eco-friendly option—it doesn’t contain the harsh additives found in many conventional cleaning products, which means it’s safer for the environment, especially aquatic life, when it gets flushed down the drain.

Using salt in your toilet is also incredibly easy and doesn’t require any special skills or tools. All you need to do is pour about one cup of salt directly into the toilet bowl. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes, or overnight if you want to maximize its effects. After that, scrub the bowl with a toilet brush, focusing on any stained or mineral-rich areas. Once you’re done scrubbing, flush the toilet to rinse away the salt and debris. Repeat this process every couple of weeks to maintain a cleaner, fresher toilet and reduce the likelihood of clogs and odors. So why don’t plumbers talk about this simple solution more often? There are a few possible reasons. For one, plumbers rely on service calls for income, and revealing easy DIY maintenance tricks might cut into their workload. Additionally, while salt is effective for light cleaning and preventing minor clogs, it’s not a fix for serious plumbing problems. Plumbers are still essential when there’s a more complex issue that requires professional intervention. Lastly, many professionals are cautious about recommending at-home remedies because of liability concerns—they don’t want to be held responsible if a homeowner misuses a method and ends up making the problem worse. Still, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try this trick yourself. Adding salt to your toilet routine is a low-risk, high-reward way to keep things running smoothly and smelling fresh. With its affordability, ease of use, and natural cleaning power, salt might just be the best toilet maintenance secret plumbers aren’t telling you.