We present a mechanism for the stabilization of colloids in liquid mixtures when a salt is added. The coupling of the colloid's surface chemistry and the preferential solvation of ions leads to the stabilization of charged and charge-free colloids in a large range of temperatures, mixture compositions and salt concentrations. Dispersion with a salt could be useful in situations where the chemical modification of the colloid surface with surfactants or polymers is undesired. Two experimental realizations of the mechanism are presented.