5 Ways to Clean and Freshen Your Home with Lemons

Having a house filled with the scent of lemons makes it feel so bright, fresh, and clean. It may also make you feel uplifted and energized, too. 

What’s more, lemons don’t only make your house smell clean and fresh, they work wonders to genuinely make your house clean and fresh. Why do you think so many commercial cleaning products are lemon-scented?

Lemons contain citric acid which is naturally antiseptic and antibacterial. As well, its acidic nature is excellent for breaking down grease and alkaline buildup such as limescale, and it works as a natural bleach, too.

All these powers combined make lemons a great, cheap, non-toxic, and compostable solution for many household cleaning jobs. Check out these innovative ways to use lemons at home.

1. Clean the Microwave

Source: wikiHow/YouTube

Sure, you can just take a cloth to the inside after every use to keep your microwave sparkling, but if things have gotten a bit out of hand, grab a lemon and make things right.

The great thing here is that you don’t have to use a full lemon, you can just use leftover peels. Put the peels in a (microwave-proof) bowl of water in the microwave and set the timer for 3-5 minutes. You want the water to boil. Once the ‘ding’ has gone, leave the door shut for a few minutes to let the steam do its job.

Once you open the door, remove the bowl of lemons, and wipe the inside of the microwave clean.

2. Polish Furniture

Make a batch of lemon peel-infused olive oil to use as a furniture polish to restore and add luster to your wooden furniture. It is worth doing a spot test on special pieces to make sure that no problems occur. You wouldn’t want to smear it all over a family heirloom only to find that it hasn’t taken well to the polish.

To make your own polish, remove the zest of the lemon. You don’t want the white pithy part, just the yellow part that contains all the lovely oils. Pack the peels down into a jar and cover them with olive oil. You want all the peel to be covered.

Now leave it in a dark place for up to 2 months. Once it is ready, strain out the peel and use the oil as you would any other furniture polish.

3. Freshen Up Stinky and Stained Chopping Boards

Source: Life is Made with Kate Miles/YouTube

Chopping up all that garlic and onions for your delicious vegan meals can leave your wooden and bamboo chopping boards a little stained and stinky. To freshen things up, just take a lemon, cut it in half, and squeeze the juice all over your board.

Next, take some salt and sprinkle it all over the board, too. Then, take the half of lemon again and rub it in a circular motion all over the board. The acid in the lemon will act as a cleaner and deodorant, and the salt will act as an abrasive to help remove stains.

Once you have finished, just clean the board as you usually would. A little of the furniture polish mentioned above wouldn’t go amiss, either!

4. Brew Up a Lemon Simmer Pot

Simmer pots are a wonderful way to add chemical-free, yet intoxicating, aromas to your home. All you need to make a lemon simmer pot is some lemons, water, and a pot! Leftover rinds will do just the trick; you don’t need to use new lemons.

Put your lemon peels into a pot of water and fill it with water. Then set it on your stovetop to simmer. Be careful not to let it boil dry, so only do this in you are in the vicinity of your kitchen and can keep an eye. Just like aromas from cooking food permeate the house, the scent of simmering lemons will freshen the air beautifully.

5. Mix Up an All Purpose Cleaner

Source: Creative Explained/YouTube

Take lemon scraps and add them to a jar. Next, fill the jar with one part white vinegar to one part water. You can add a little soap, too, if you like. Leave the lemons to infuse into the mixture for a week or two before straining the liquid and adding it to a spray bottle.

What you have made is an all-purpose cleaner that will cut through grease and grime in the kitchen and bathroom and leave things smelling lemony and fresh. Use it on tiles and floors to give shine, and brighten kitchen and bathroom fixtures by removing limescale and water spots.

Related Content:

• Ultimate Guide to DIY: Cleaning
• DIY Detergents, Cleaners, and Scrubs for the Kitchen
• 8 Super-Easy Natural and Eco-Friendly DIY Home Cleaning Hacks
• How to Grow Your Own Lemons at Home
• 37 Apple Cider Vinegar Hacks for a Clean, Chemical-Free Home

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