Top 10 Tested Cleaning Tricks with Lemons

Next time you need to tidy up your home, consider using an ingredient you likely have in your kitchen – lemons! Lemons, thanks to their acidity, are amongst nature's most effective natural cleaners. They can handle stains, grime, and dust as efficiently as many commercial cleaning products found in stores. Moreover, using lemons means you and your family are not exposed to harmful chemicals.

There are countless ways to clean with lemons. A quick search on Google or Pinterest will provide you with a plethora of options.

I selected several cleaning tips to try out myself to determine which ones are truly effective.

Here’s my report.

Trick #1: Clean Your Microwave with Lemons

Heat some water (or vinegar) with lemon juice in the microwave for three minutes, then let it sit for five minutes. This loosens any stubborn residue inside, which can then be easily wiped off with a damp sponge.

My results: This method was incredibly effective. The residue wiped off effortlessly! I wonder why I hadn't tried this sooner.

Trick #2: Scrub Your Sink

Sprinkle coarse salt (and optionally, baking soda) into the sink and scrub it with half a lemon.

My results: This technique was surprisingly effective! I used salt on one half of my sink and added baking soda to the other. The side with baking soda accumulated more gunk as I scrubbed, but ultimately, both sides cleaned up equally well. The lemon juice darkened as it absorbed the grime, showing a clear difference.

Trick #3: Refresh Wooden Cutting Boards

To clean wooden cutting boards, apply some lemon juice, spread it with a lemon half, sprinkle coarse salt on top, and add more lemon juice. Then, rub the mixture in with the lemon half. Wipe the board down with damp paper towels and let it dry upright.

My results: Our wooden cutting board was in poor condition initially due to dishwasher use. However, this method provided a quick, easy, and safe way to clean it, leaving it slightly more revitalized.

Bonus tip: This method is also effective for cleaning copper pots!

Trick #4: DIY Lemon Dust Cloths

Create your own dust wipes by mixing 1 cup of water, 1 cup of vinegar, and 2-3 drops of olive oil or lemon essential oil in a bowl. Saturate a cloth, wring out excess liquid until it's damp, add lemon rind pieces, roll up, and store in an airtight glass jar.

My results: I appreciated that this tip offered a chemical-free alternative to commercial products like Pledge, and it performed equally well. After using a microfiber cloth to clean my end table, I rinsed it, wrung it out, and stored it back in the jar for future use. Note: Lemon rinds can mold if stored too long, so it's best to use these cloths within a week.

Trick #5: Brighten Whites

Boil socks or other white linens (excluding delicate fabrics) in a pot of water with sliced lemon to restore their brightness.

My results: Despite my skepticism, this method proved effective. I boiled a dingy sock belonging to my husband with lemon slices for about 20 minutes, then rinsed and wrung it out. Although the difference wasn't dramatic, it was noticeable.

Bonus tip: Applying lemon juice directly to stains on white fabrics before laundering is also an effective stain removal method, though I didn't test this myself.

Trick #6: Remove Water Marks

Applying lemon juice to shower knobs effectively removes stains and water marks. Simply rub, rinse, and wipe.

My results: While not miraculous, this method was helpful. The lemon juice removed significant water marks and general grime, leaving the surface shinier.

Trick #7: Clean Shower Grime

For a quick and natural solution to soap scum, spray it with lemon juice.

My results: I reused the lemon from my faucet cleaning to tackle some areas on my tub and tile. Although it didn't affect the darkened caulk spots, it effectively removed pink stains, presumably soap scum or general grime.

Trick #8: Clean Grout

To clean grout, combine a few cups of water, a few tablespoons of baking soda, several squirts of lemon juice, and vinegar in a spray bottle. Apply the mixture to tile and grout, let it sit for five minutes, then scrub and rinse with water.

My results: Despite causing a foamy overflow (remember to mix this over a sink!), once I managed the situation, I used a special grout brush for cleaning and a damp cloth for wiping. The grout stains were deep-set, but the solution made a slight improvement and enhanced the shine of my tiles.

Trick #9: Refresh Food Containers

Soak plastic food containers in diluted lemon juice to tackle stains and odors. Add baking soda, scrub, rinse, and dry.

My results: Unfortunately, this method didn't produce noticeable results, possibly because I didn't use enough lemon juice or allow enough soaking time. I tested it on containers with stubborn sauce stains, which may have impacted the effectiveness.

Trick #10: DIY Window Spray

Clean windows and mirrors with a mixture of 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1/2 cup of vinegar, and water in a spray bottle. Apply and wipe clean.

My results: This method was somewhat disappointing. Although it removed dirt and specks from my glass patio doors, I struggled with streaks despite multiple attempts. However, I plan to continue using this mixture due to its non-toxic properties, and I might experiment with different wiping cloths.

Bonus tip: This solution also serves as an excellent all-purpose cleaner.

How do you like to clean with lemons?

Sources

http://swoonstudio.blogspot.com/2012/04/natural-cleaning-101-wooden-cutting.html
http://everydayroots.com/homemade-lemon-dust-cloths
www.marthastewart.com/275491/how-to-wash-and-remove-stains/@center/277000/homekeeping-solutions#224532
www.prototypemama.com/18-ways-spring-clean-with-lemons/
www.thecountrychiccottage.net/2013/04/25-ways-to-clean-naturally-with-lemon.html
www.coupons.com/thegoodstuff/cleaning-with-lemons/
www.mnn.com/your-home/at-home/stories/24-things-you-can-clean-with-lemon