WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS, CLEAN!
Most of us have heard the age-old expression of, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Lemons have many other purposes, however, such as being perfect, cheaper tools for cleaning and freshening up your home!
Cutting Board Cleaner
Lemon juice can be a salmonella and E.coli bacteria killer, which is why it’s a great fruit to keep around! Mix fresh lemon juice with a little salt and scrub your board with it. Allow the board to sit for 5 minutes before rinsing.
Tarnish Remover
That same lemon juice and salt mixture can be used to remove tarnish on copper and brass items. The lemon’s citric acid removes the oxidation in the metal, leaving it pristine and shiny once more. Remember to test a spot before rubbing away, just to be on the safe side! This method works on chrome appliances as well, including faucets.
Refrigerator and Microwave Freshener
Is your fridge smelling a little musky or funky? Lemon juice can help! Dab a little lemon juice on a cotton ball, leave it in the fridge for several hours, and the odor will be gone! Food particles left in your microwave? A cup 3/4 full of water with a couple tablespoons of lemon juice will make those come right off. Heat the cup to boiling, leave it in the microwave for 10 minutes, then wipe the particles away with a dry cloth.
Insect Repellent
If you’re tired of seeing ants and other pesky bugs crawling around your home, then reach for some lemon instead of the insecticide. Lemon juice on thresholds and windowsills along with some peels around entrances will keep the ants at bay. This is effective with roaches and fleas as well. Just mix the juice of four lemons with a half gallon of water and wash your floors with the mixture. Goodbye, pests!
Fabric Whitener
Bleach isn’t the only effective thing to fight tough stains on your white clothes! Add thinly sliced lemons to a pot of water, bring to a boil then turn off the heat and add your clothes. Leave them sitting for an hour and you’re good to wash them as normal! This mixture should not be used on silks or anything delicate.
Scratch Repair
Furniture legs get scratches. It’s inevitable. In some cases, however, you can remove those scratches by using what? That’s right, lemon juice! Mix equal parts of lemon juice with salad oil and rub the scratched area with a soft cloth. Those scratches should disappear in no time!
Hard Water Stain Remover
Is your shower head looking a little grimy? That could be the result of mineral deposits from the water. Add a little bit of baking soda or salt to the cut side of a lemon and then rub on the hard water spots to clean away the deposits.
Do you have your own little house cleaning secret involving a lemon? Let us know! WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Leave us a comment and we might use your suggestion!