In case the warmer weather, chirping birds, and budding plants haven’t quite registered, we’re well into springtime at this point. In fact, we’re about ⅔ of the way through it. That means you’re running out of time to do your spring cleaning! Do you have the supplies you need? You might be surprised to find some of them hiding in your pantry or fridge. For example, limonene found in lemons, lemon juice, and lemon essential oil can be an amazing cleaner.
Getting Rid of Grime
After winter and the increased time spent indoors, your home is probably a little more grimy than usual. The good news is that you can use lemon to get rid of that grime and grit. If you find soap scum or mineral deposits building up in your kitchen or bathrooms, the acidic nature of lemon juice may be just what you need to take care of it. Add the juice to a clean cloth or sponge, apply to the area, allow it to sit for a few hours, and then rinse and clean. If you need something a bit more abrasive, simply add salt to the juice. It doesn’t need to be fancy salt, simple table salt will do. Remember, you’re cleaning with it, not eating it.
Degreasing Your Kitchen
Sticky residue, grease, and grime have an annoying tendency to build up rather quickly in the kitchen, and they can be difficult to get rid of. You could spend time scraping and scrubbing with harsh chemicals, or you could let lemon do the heavy lifting for you. The acid in lemon juice can cut through grease, making it easier to remove oil from stove tops and countertops. Lemon oil can also be used to clean away grime that would otherwise be difficult to remove, as it can quickly and easily dissolve sticky residues. Add it to a cleaning agent, in a 2-5% dilution, or directly to the area as needed. Keep in mind that a little can go a long way.
Removing Stains
Lemon has natural bleaching properties. If you have white clothing or linens with stains, try applying lemon juice to the stain and letting it dry in the sun. You should find the stains get bleached away.
Extra Tip: These are the same lightening properties of lemons that are used to naturally bleach hair and lighten darker skin spots.
Deodorizing Your Home
You’re bound to have areas in your home that smell a little funky from time to time, even if it’s just lingering smells from dinner. Lemons can be used in multiple ways to deodorize your home. Grind lemon rinds in your disposal to freshen it up. Add lemon juice to a vinegar cleaning solution to let lemon take over that vinegar smell. Simmer lemons in water as an air freshener, or use lemon essential oil in a diffuser. It’s the perfect way to get your home smelling like the sunny season we’re in. And, as an added bonus, take advantage of lemon’s rejuvenating and uplifting scent!
If you haven’t already gotten on top of your spring-cleaning checklist, it’s about to become a summer cleaning checklist. Regardless of when you do your deep cleaning this year, make sure you have all the right supplies. Lemon can be a marvelous, natural cleaning ingredient. Give it a try and be refreshed by that pleasant citrus smell and the lack of chemicals wafting through the house.
