Salt can provide mild abrasion and may be included in homemade cleaning recipes, but it won’t repair plumbing, reliably clear serious clogs, eliminate sewer-gas problems, or magically clean an entire drainage system.
If you enjoy natural or inexpensive household cleaning methods, salt can be one ingredient to experiment with cautiously—but always consider what you’re actually trying to accomplish.
For everyday cleaning, a suitable toilet cleaner and regular scrubbing are generally more dependable.
For mineral scale, use an appropriate descaling product.
For clogs, use the right mechanical tool.
For leaks, recurring blockages, or sewage odors, investigate the plumbing problem itself.
And remember that a “secret” doesn’t become more effective simply because it’s presented as something plumbers supposedly don’t want you to know.
Sometimes the best household advice is also the simplest:
