(Prosperity)
The citric acid in lemons is an antibacterial and antiseptic, making them perfect for bleaching, disinfecting and cutting grease. Plus, they smell good and mix well with other natural cleaners like white vinegar and baking soda. Here’s how to use them to:
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Whiten your whites: Soak the fabrics in lemon juice for 15 minutes then wash as usual. You can use the mixture you soaked the clothes in as your laundry detergent too. Don’t use on silk.
- Remove stains from clothes:Mix lemon juice with baking soda or powder, pat it into the stain and let it sit. Don’t worry about how long; you can’t over bleach from lemon. You can even let the garment sit out in the sun. Then wash as usual. This also works for stained plastic containers.
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Dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits: Soak a paper towel in lemon juice, cover the desired area with the towel for one hour before rinsing. Do not use on thinly plated surfaces, such as gold taps.
- Buff brass or copper: Mix juice with coarse salt, dip a soft cloth into the mixture, and then rub away the tarnish. Polish with a dry cloth.
- Clean your microwave: Set a bowl with half a lemon and water in it on high for about two minutes, and then wipe away the dirt.
- Clean stovetops and counter tops: Spritz lemon juice and let it sit for a few minutes before wiping. For greater scrubbing ability add some baking soda to the juice.
- Clean and disinfect cutting boards: Scrub the board with half a lemon (and salt if needed), let sit for a few minutes then wipe off.
- Clean dishes, pots and pans: Cut a lemon in half, sprinkle salt or baking soda on a half and scrub.
- Polish furniture: Mix ½ cup of lemon juice with 1 cup of olive oil and you’ve got a great polish for hardwood furniture.
- Freshen drains and garbage disposals pour hot water with lemon down the pipe. Grind a lemon in the disposal to get rid of odors. You can also use orange peels.
