Lemons are not only excellent for culinary uses, enhancing flavors, adding zest to beverages, or freshening scents, but they also have lesser-known applications beyond food.
Like vinegar, lemons possess cleaning and disinfecting properties that make them versatile for household use. Remarkably, every part of the lemon can be utilized—the peel, juice, and pulp.
Why are lemons effective cleaners?
The sourness of lemons comes from citric acid, making them highly acidic—more so than orange juice or black coffee. This acidity is crucial for their cleaning prowess.
While many soaps are alkaline and lack acids, acids can dissolve impurities and are beneficial for cleaning. They can remove stains, especially those caused by other acids, and when mixed with alkaline substances, they produce potent chemical reactions. Therefore, lemons can:
- Lift stains
- Act as antibacterial agents, and
- Neutralize unpleasant smells.
Below are 12 alternative uses for lemons besides their culinary applications.
Garbage disposal
The scent of lemon effectively neutralizes unpleasant odors, including those emanating from garbage. To create a deodorizing agent, fill an ice tray with a mixture of water and vinegar in an 8:1 ratio, adding a small piece of lemon peel to each compartment. Once frozen, toss these cubes into the trash can, along with any tool used during the process.
Hard-water Stains
Among the various methods to eliminate hard-water stains, lemon is perhaps the simplest and most efficient. Simply slice a lemon in half and rub the exposed side on the stain, allowing it to sit for a few minutes before rinsing with warm water.
Wooden Cutting Boards
Cleaning a wooden cutting board requires a special approach different from other kitchenware. Sprinkle some coarse salt on the board, then scrub with a halved lemon, using the cut side to scour the surface. Leave the salt and lemon mixture on for 5 minutes before scraping it off with a bench scraper, then rinse with warm water and let it air dry.
Stained Tupperware
To remove persistent stains from Tupperware, squeeze lemon juice into the container and add a sprinkle of baking soda. Use the halved lemon to scrub, infusing the juice and soda into the stains, then rinse thoroughly with water.
Microwave
While cleaning a microwave isn't challenging, it remains a household task. A quick fix is to microwave a bowl containing a halved lemon for 5 minutes. Afterward, use the heated lemon to wipe down the microwave's interior, ensuring to clean each section meticulously.
Carpet Deodorizer
For anyone who has pets, one of the concerns is the condition of their carpets in the house, because children or other people need to walk safely on your carpet and do not have to inhale the unpleasant smell of carpets.This problem can be solved in less than half an hour if you use dried lemon peel. Use them in combination with baking soda in a jar with a shaker top. Sprinkle the mixture on the carpet and leave for 20 minutes, then clean with a vacuum.
Sources:
www.thekitchn.com
www.apartmenttherapy.com
Scented Vinegar
For those who dislike the smell of vinegar, there is an alternative that is just as effective but with a more pleasant aroma.
Fill a jar halfway with lemon peels, then add warm vinegar until the jar is full. Seal the jar and let it sit for 24 hours. Afterward, strain the mixture through a cake filter to remove the lemon peels. The resulting lemon-scented vinegar spray is ready for cleaning.
Laundry
Maintaining the brightness of white clothes is a common household task, often requiring chemical-laden bleach. To avoid these chemicals, add a cup of lemon juice to the rinse cycle of your laundry and let the clothes dry in the sunlight for a natural brightening effect.
Stainless Steel
Instead of costly stainless steel cleaners, use a halved lemon to remove fingerprints and stains. For tougher cleaning jobs, a paste of lemon juice and baking soda can be used to clean and polish stainless steel surfaces.
Mirrors and Windows
Cleaning mirrors and windows can be frustrating due to streaks left behind, often necessitating expensive products. However, a natural solution involves mixing two tablespoons of lemon juice with one liter of water in a spray bottle. Apply this mixture to mirrors or windows and wipe with a dry coffee filter for a streak-free shine.
Furniture Polish
If you're dissatisfied with costly furniture polishes and wish to avoid chemicals, create your own by combining 1/4 teaspoon of lemon juice with two tablespoons of olive oil and 1/4 cup of distilled water in a spray bottle. Shake well until the ingredients are thoroughly mixed. Apply a small amount of the homemade polish to a microfiber cloth and buff the furniture for a natural shine.
Linen Spray
Even with regular laundering, towels, sheets, and fabrics can eventually emit an unpleasant odor when stored. To eliminate this smell, combine 30 drops each of lemon and lavender essential oils with 1.5 cups of distilled water and 3 ounces of rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle. Shake well before use and spritz the offending material to remove the odor.
The Downsides of Using Lemon:
- Avoid using lemon on brass-plated items or marble. Lemon juice can etch marble, causing marks and stains. Therefore, never clean marble surfaces with lemon.
- While lemon can polish brass, it may damage brass-plated objects.
- Never combine lemon with bleach. Mixing ammonia and bleach is known to be hazardous, and similarly, acids like vinegar or lemon juice should not be mixed with bleach. Combining lemon juice with bleach releases toxic chlorine gas, so always keep these cleaning agents separate for safety.
Sources:
www.thekitchn.com
www.apartmenttherapy.com
