Go Green: Cleaning with Lemons

Using lemons to clean your house is another way to make your home environmentally- friendly and save money at the same time. Lemons smell good, are readily available and have a multitude of uses. They are also effective against most household bacteria. You can buy big bags of lemons at most warehouse stores to stretch your dollar even further.


•Disinfect a wood chopping block or cutting board by rubbing a lemon slice across it – pour lemon juice straight on stubborn stains, let sit 10 minutes and wipe clean with water

•Make a home made air freshener spritzer by dissolving 2 – 3 tablespoons baking soda in 2 cups hot water, add ¼ cup lemon juice, pour into spray bottle and spray into air

•Make an air freshener by placing cut lemon slices in a bowl on your counter for a natural fresh smell; or place a few leftover lemon rinds in a pot of simmering water on the stove for a few hours to remove odors

•Make a glass cleaner by mixing ½ cup lemon juice and 2 cups water in a spray bottle; you can also add ¼ tsp Murphy’s oil Soap

•Remove hard water or rust stains - pour straight lemon juice on the stain, let it sit until the stain dissolves, rinse and repeat if necessary

•Put a whole lemon peel down the garbage disposal to clean the disposal and freshen the whole kitchen

•Mix 1 cup olive oil with ½ cup lemon juice and you have a natural furniture polish for wood – apply a thin coat with a soft cloth, let sit 5 minutes and buff with clean soft cloth (make a fresh batch each time you use it)

•Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle with baking soda to clean surfaces, dishes and stains

•Use lemon juice to clean and polish brass and copper

•Dried lemon peels in a cheesecloth deter moths


~Taken from the Rachael Ray Site~