Lemons have a multitude of cleaning purposes that you may not be aware of. Not only does it smell fresh, but it also has natural cleansing potential. Cleaning with lemon is a low-cost way to make your own non-toxic cleaning products. For those of you trying to cut down on plastic, lemons also fit the bill here. Here are 8 great ways to use lemon in your household.
Keep Your Microwave Fresh
You can deodorize your microwave inside by adding lemon wedges to a bowl of water. Put the bowl inside the microwave and heat on high until you see the microwave window getting steamy. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes and then open the door. When you clean with lemon, you can easily clean away any grease and food. It leaves a great, fresh smell.
Remove Stains in Linens
If you have a stain on delicate fabrics, you can clean it with a lemon by covering it with a paste of lemon and salt. Juice a lemon and add salt to it then put the paste on the stained area. Let it sit for 30 minutes and then rinse it off with a little bit of warm water mixed with a teaspoon of vinegar.
Remove Stains from a Chopping Board
You can get rid of stains on your chopping board by running the cut side of a lemon over the board. For a more powerful clean, sprinkle some salt and bicarbonate on beforehand. If you have a stubborn stain, let it sit overnight. To seal the chopping board, wipe a food-grade oil onto it afterward.
Metal Polish
You can clean with lemon to naturally polish your metal surfaces like stainless steel, copper fixtures, and more. You dip a half lemon in salt and rub it onto the metal surfaces you want to polish. It can be used on all types of metals like polished brass, chrome, aluminum, bronze, and stainless steel. However, don’t use it on metal that’s plated as it can get under and lift the plating right off. Clean off with a dry cloth and you’ll see a noticeable difference.
Stain Removal
Lemon juice with salt is a strong mildew and rust fighter. You’ll want to put the mixture on any mildew and rust stains, letting them sit in the sun to dry. Reapply the mixture if it’s not gone and then wash as normal. Lemon juice on its own is also great for getting rid of sweat stains. Rub some lemon juice on the stains and give it a wash as you normally would.
Shine Up Bathroom Fixtures
Cut a lemon in half and run the cut side over your faucets and drains. This removes mineral deposits that are causing them to become dull and lemon cuts right through, leaving a sparkling shine. Once you’re finished, you’ll want to rinse off all the lemon and dry the fixtures. If you have gold-plated taps, don’t use this method. Lemon juice can also remove stubborn water stains and the fog that’s left on your glass shower walls. For jobs like this, you can use lemon juice on a sponge. That, or you can dilute a lemon’s worth of juice in a cup of water and spray it on.
Make a Room Smell Lovely, Naturally
By simmering a saucepan of water with some lemon slices, you can make your room smell lovely and fresh. It also combats dry indoor air, acting as a natural humidifier.