βYou put the bowl inside the microwave, and then run it for two minutes,β Brouard says. The acid in the lemon helps cut grease.Credit: Getty Images
Brighten laundry
Citrus can act as a nontoxic alternative to bleach. βAdd half a cup of lemon juice to your wash cycle to brighten whites, remove stains, and leave laundry smelling fresh,β Gill says.
For tough stains, try soaking garments or textiles in Β½ cup of lemon juice diluted in a bucket of hot water, then rubbing affected spots together to help break up stains before washing. βMy grandmother used to apply lemon juice and salt to rust stains on light-coloured fabric and then set them out in the sun to bleach,β FortΓ© says.
Clean your cutting board
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βIf you have stains on your wooden cutting boards from chopping beets or herbs, put some salt on the surface, then cut a lemon in half and use it like a sponge,β says Caroline Solomon, a home organiser in New York City. βLet it sit for a few minutes, and then rinse off the cutting board.β
Just remember: citrus is highly acidic and can etch or dry out some surfaces. βApply it sparingly on wood cutting boards, and treat them afterward with oil to help restore them,β FortΓ© says.
Create a most-purposes cleaner
Make your own fruity cleaner by placing the peels from two or three lemons or oranges in a jar with two cups of white vinegar. βLet it infuse for two weeks, then strain it into a spray bottle,β Gill says. βThe citrus oil enhances the vinegarβs cleaning power while leaving a fresh scent. Use it to clean countertops, appliances and windows.β
Just donβt spritz citrusy cleaners on hardwood floors or marble or granite countertops because the acid could stain or bleach those surfaces. βTest any surface for safety before cleaning it with citrus to be sure it wonβt damage it,β FortΓ© says.
Deodorise your fridge
Out of baking soda to suck up stale smells in your fridge? Put a small bowl of citrus peels inside for a quick refresh. Throw them out after a few days, then repeat.
Or assemble an old-fashioned pomander by sticking cloves thumbtack-style into an orange; it will last a few weeks, imparting a sweet, spicy odour.
Clean mirrors
Forget the glass cleaner β fresh lemon juice in a spray bottle is a cheaper, simpler way to shine up clear surfaces. βSimply spray it onto glass or mirrors, wipe with a microfibre cloth, and youβre done,β Solomon says.
Washington Post
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