How to Clean Your Home With Lemon Juice
Lemon juice can be used for many different purposes, from cooking to beauty products, hair care to medical uses, and fragrances to cleaning. In fact, the powerful properties of lemon work just as well as expensive chemical cleaning products to cut through grease and leave your home sparkling. In days gone by, people used lemons and bicarbonate of soda to clean their homes, from the fridges to the windows. We can take a tip from these old fashioned methods and use lemon juice as a fast, effective and natural way to clean our homes.
Lemons have powerful anti-bacterial and antiseptic properties, which make them ideal for cleaning and leaving surfaces germ-free. The fragrance of natural lemon juice is also fresh and appealing, making it ideal for the kitchen and bathroom, while the enzymes break down fats and eliminate odours.
Uses for lemon juice
Cut a lemon in half and use the juice to clean pots and pans, while this method can also clean copper and bronze along with household decorations. Lemon is also useful for cleaning marks and stains because it has mild astringent and bleaching properties. Simply rub the lemon onto the stain and leave it overnight, the wash it off the next day. The fruit is also useful for removing marks on grills, barbecues and other kitchen items, such as plastic containers. It can even bring up a magnificent shine on bathroom and kitchen taps.
Eliminate foul smells with lemon by rubbing the fruit inside microwaves and fridges, while lemon can also be used to rub on the interior of the bin to remove old food odours. For longer lasting freshness, place a cup of water and lemon juice in the microwave and heat until it boils, leave the mixture inside for 10 minutes or so, then remove. The microwave will smell pleasant and the steam created will shift dirt which you can then remove with a damp cloth.
Lemon juice is a good choice for removing rust stains from clothing. Simply make a paste of lemon juice and cream of tartar then rub the paste into the marks. Leave it to soak into the fabric for 30 minutes then wash off. The astringent properties of lemon juice make it ideal for removing fat stains on clothing, while lemon even works in the washing machine to add an extra shine to whites.
For blocked pipes and plugholes, lemon juice can be used mixed with bicarbonate of soda. Simply mix together and pour down the plug hole to remove small blockages.
Remove stains and odours
Lemon is not only great for removing stains and marks, it can also be used to eliminate odours. Place half a lemon in the fridge and the lemon will neutralise bad smells, absorbing odours and leaving a soft, fresh scent. If you also add a small amount of bicarbonate of soda this will be even more effective at removing smells. Remember to change the lemon half at least once a week to keep it fresh.
In the same way, the anti-fungal properties of lemon can be used to freshen up the wardrobe. You can easily add some drops of lemon juice to a water spritzer and gently spray the wardrobe and rooms for a natural, homemade air freshener. The odour-fighting properties of lemon also work on your skin. If you have been preparing onion or other strong smelling food, simply rub the lemon on your hands to reduce or even remove the smell.
No more harsh chemicals
Lemon juice works wonders around the home and one of the best places to see the results is the windows. Lemon is ideal for creating a shine on glass, while vinegar also works well. Simply buff off with a cloth or use the old-fashioned method of newspaper with plenty of elbow grease! Lemon also works well on other shiny surfaces such as shower doors, bathroom tiles and mirrors.
The cleaning power of lemons means it is possible to clean your home without using harsh chemicals which are bad for your skin and the environment. Lemons are also much cheaper than commercial cleaning products so your pocket will also benefit.
