Most people wouldn’t think twice about tossing a glass of salt into their car. After all, salt is for the kitchen, right? But here’s the truth: salt can be one of the most practical and affordable “tools” you’ll ever carry in your vehicle.

I didn’t learn this trick from a YouTube video or a blog post—it came directly from a police officer during a roadside stop. And since then, I’ve realized how many situations this simple hack can save you from.

The Story: How I Learned the Trick

It happened on a freezing winter morning. The roads were slick, my tires struggled to grip, and I was inching along nervously, trying not to slide. At one point, while turning onto a side street, my car fishtailed slightly, and I decided to pull over.

As luck would have it, a police officer saw me and pulled in behind my car, making sure everything was okay. After the usual check-in—“Are you safe? Do you need help?”—he gave me a piece of advice that has stuck with me ever since.

He leaned toward my car and said:

“If you really want to avoid situations like this, keep a glass of salt in your vehicle. It sounds old-fashioned, but it works.”

I was puzzled. Salt? In the car? But as he explained the uses, I realized this was one of those rare simple tricks that can actually make a big difference.

Why Salt is a Lifesaver on the Road

1. Emergency Traction When You’re Stuck

If you’ve ever tried to move your car after it’s gotten stuck on ice, you know the frustration. The tires spin, snow flies, and you go nowhere. Salt can change that. Sprinkling it directly under your tires melts the ice quickly, giving you grip to get back on the road.

This is why many road crews spread salt in winter—because it works fast. Having even a small amount in your car means you can handle minor ice patches on your own, instead of waiting for help.

2. Preventing Ice on Your Windshield

The officer also told me something I’d never heard before: you can actually use a light saltwater solution on your windshield the night before frost. It helps reduce the buildup of ice and makes scraping much easier the next morning.

Instead of waking up to a thick, stubborn layer of frost, you’ll find a thinner, more manageable coating—or sometimes none at all. That can save you both time and frustration on those cold mornings when you’re already running late.

3. Absorbing Moisture and Odors

Cars can collect strange smells—spilled drinks, damp floor mats, gym bags, even takeout food. Salt naturally absorbs both moisture and odors, making it a cheap alternative to air fresheners.

An open glass or jar of salt in the cup holder acts as a natural deodorizer. And if you do spill something, sprinkling salt on the spot can soak up liquid before it seeps in and causes stains.

4. A Low-Cost “First Aid” Kit for the Car

Beyond traction and cleaning, salt has even more creative uses:

• Rust prevention (in moderation): Sprinkling saltwater on icy locks can thaw them if your door freezes shut.
• Quick cleaning: Mix a pinch with water to scrub sticky cup holders.
• Emergency hygiene: In case you need a quick rinse for your hands or even gargle for a sore throat while traveling, saltwater works in a pinch.

It’s not a replacement for proper car supplies, but it’s a surprisingly versatile backup tool.

How to Keep Salt in Your Car Safely

The officer gave me a few tips that make all the difference:

• Use a sealed container: A glass jar, travel cup, or sturdy plastic container works best. You don’t want loose salt spilling everywhere.
• Keep it handy: Store it in your glove compartment or trunk, but make sure it’s easy to reach in case you need it quickly.
• Mix it with sand for traction power: Some drivers keep a 50/50 mix of sand and salt. The sand adds extra grit, making it even easier to drive off icy patches.

Small Item, Big Impact

What surprised me most about this whole experience is how simple the trick was. Salt is cheap. It doesn’t take up space. And yet, in an emergency, it can do what expensive roadside gadgets can’t—get you moving again, keep you safe, and give you peace of mind.

The officer’s advice has stuck with me, and I’ve passed it on to friends and family. More than one person has thanked me later after using salt to escape an icy driveway or keep their car fresher inside.

When it comes to car safety, we usually think of big-ticket items—snow tires, jumper cables, tool kits. Those are important, but sometimes it’s the smallest, simplest things that save the day.

So the next time you’re restocking your car, add one more item: a glass of salt. You might never need it—but if you do, you’ll be glad you listened to the advice of a wise police officer on a cold winter morning.

Sometimes the best survival tools aren’t fancy or expensive. They’re everyday items used in clever ways.