Did you know that there are many things to do and clean with lemons? Lemons used to be so valuable that sailors took them on long trips to stay healthy. However, lemons are not just good for your health; they have other uses. They can be amazing cleaners.
Lemons have natural acids and oils that make them suitable for breaking down dirt, grease, and bad smells. The best part of using lemons is that you do not need any harsh chemicals. They also leave a fresh, citrusy scent.
If you have lemons in your kitchen, you do not need store-bought cleaning products. They are simple and eco-friendly. Here are nine things in your home you can clean with lemon.
1. Cutting Boards
Lemons are great for cleaning cutting boards. Mónica Taher, the chief operating officer of Avanti Green Eco Cleaning, gave an appraising statement about lemons. She says you can use lemon to sanitize and remove stains from cutting boards.
For a deeper clean, you can sprinkle some coarse salt, like sea salt, on the board and scrub with half a lemon.
2. Faucets and Shower Heads
Hard water stains can make your faucets and shower heads look very dull. If you have dull-looking hardware, lemons can come to the rescue.
Lemon juice can help remove these stains. Just put some lemon juice in a spray bottle and spray the area. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then wipe it clean. It will be as good as new.
ALSO READ: DIY Leather Cleaner Hacks: 10 Simple Tips for Making Your own Leather Cleaners
3. Porcelain Sinks
Porcelain sinks also get dull over time. In order to clean and make them sparkly, use lemon.
Mix lemon juice with salt and scrub. This helps remove stains and grime. However, do not use this mixture on stainless steel sinks; it might scratch them.
4. Microwave
Microwaves can get messy inside, but you can clean it up with lemon. In order to clean it easily, heat a bowl of water with lemon slices or lemon juice for a few minutes.
The steam from the water will loosen the grime. This will make it easy to wipe away. You can add a little vinegar to help disinfect the microwave.
5. Pots and Pans
Food stuck in pots and pans can be hard to scrub off. To remove them, sprinkle salt or baking soda, squeeze some lemon juice on it, and scrub. The lemon will help to break down the grease.
6. Grout
The lines between tiles, known as grout, often get dirty and moldy. You can make a cleaning paste with lemon juice and baking soda. Use a toothbrush to scrub it into the grout, let it sit for a few minutes, and then rinse it off.
7. Windows and Mirrors
If you are tired of seeing streaks on your glass, mix lemon juice with water to clean windows and mirrors. This will leave them shiny and streak-free.
8. Grill Gates
After using a grill, it can be tough to clean off the grease and leftover bits of food. While the grill is still hot, rub a lemon over the grates to loosen and clean the grime. To avoid getting burned, use a fork or tongs to rub the lemon on the grill.
9. Freshening Bed Linens
If you want your sheets to smell fresh and stay white, you cannot go wrong with lemon. Take about half a cup of lemon juice and hot water to soak the sheets. After soaking, run the sheets through the washing machine with detergent. This will help to keep them bright and clean.
Apart from keeping them clean, it will also leave your bed linens with that nice citrusy scent.
Other Things You Can Do With Lemon
Aside from cleaning, the following are other uses of lemon:
Getting Rid of Food Smells
After cooking a meal at home, there can still be strong food smells that will linger in the kitchen. The food smells can be hard to get rid of; this is where lemon comes in.
A simple way to freshen up the air is by using a lemon spray. To make it, just mix a little lemon juice with water and spray it around the kitchen. This will help you get rid of the odors. It will also leave a fresh, clean scent.
However, you have to be careful if you have marble countertops. Lemon juice has a lot of acid in it, and if it touches marble, it can damage the surface. The acid from lemon juice can eat at the surface of the marble. So, avoid spraying the mixture on any marble areas.
Deodorizing the Sink
If your sink smells bad, lemons can come to the rescue. A garbage disposal can build up food bits and grime, which can cause unpleasant odors. One easy way to freshen it up is by using lemon peels.
Cut a lemon into pieces and drop them into the garbage disposal. Then, turn it on. The lemon will clean the blades and leave a fresh, citrus scent. This trick works especially well if you have a lemon that is too soft or old to use for cooking. It is a great way to avoid wasting it.
Removing Stains From Clothes
If you are dealing with a tough stain, like pasta sauce, on your clothes, a lemon can help. According to several cleaning experts, lemon juice can loosen stubborn stains and make them easier to remove.
Here is how to use it: First, take a clean cloth, soak it in cold water, and gently dab the stain. This will help lift some of the stain without spreading it. The next thing is to cut a lemon and gently rub the part you cut over the stain.
The lemon’s natural acid will break down the stain. After that, pour a good amount of water over the area to rinse it, and dab it again with a clean cloth to soak up the water. This simple trick can help save your clothes from tough stains.
Fighting Odors in the Fridge and Trash Can
Your trash can and refrigerator can easily become some of the smelliest places in your home. Since they hold food and food scraps, bad odors can build up over time. In order to keep these smells away, it is important to regularly clean both the inside and outside of your fridge and trash can.
Lemon can help get rid of lingering odors.One simple trick is to put a few drops of lemon juice on a cotton ball. Place the cotton ball in the back of your fridge or at the bottom of the trash can. The lemon will absorb the bad smells and leave a fresh scent.
Clean Naturally With Lemons
These are some of the things you can clean and do with lemon, especially if you love natural solutions. However, this list is by no means exhautive, so share with us what you clean with lemon.