Pucker Up! Here Are 6 Ways to Clean With Lemons

Not only do lemons smell great, they’re also packed full of naturally disinfecting properties that are said to be safer and gentler on your household than store bought cleaners. If you want to make the switch to a green cleaning routine, check out these tips for cleaning with lemons in every room in your home.

  1. Clean the copper bottoms of frequently used pots and pans by sprinkling coarse salt on half of a lemon and scrubbing away.
  2. If you’re unsure of how to properly disinfect wooden cutting boards, rub lemon juice onto stained areas and watch as they fade away overnight. You can also use lemon juice to clean your cutting boards after each use.
  3. Remove odors from your microwave by filling a cup 3/4 of the way full with tap water, then adding two tablespoons of lemon juice. Heat the mixture to boiling, and then let it sit for approximately 10 minutes to fully dilute odors.
  4. Create an all-purpose cleaner for countertops and tables by filling a spray bottle with diluted lemon juice.
  5. Clean grout from the bathtub or shower by using lemon juice and an old toothbrush. Simply dip the toothbrush in the lemon juice, then scrub until the debris disappears.
  6. Polish the faucets on your bathtub and bathroom sink by gently rubbing them with half of a lemon and coarse salt.

Cleaning With Lemon Juice [DIY Network]
24 Things You Can Clean With Lemon [Mother Nature Network]
10 Ways to Clean the Kitchen with Lemon Juice [How Stuff Works]

How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar Beyond the Kitchen

Many natural cleaning enthusiasts have been touting the amazing benefits of apple cider vinegar for years, but vinegar's list of uses often ends in the kitchen. You may be surprised to find that there are a number of other ways to use apple cider vinegar in every room in your home. Here are a few of the best.

  1. Use it like an odor eliminator. Instead of masking odors with a perfume-heavy scented spray, neutralize odors by letting a dish of apple cider vinegar permeate the air.
  2. Clear your sinuses. Sip some warm water with a bit of apple cider vinegar to help break up mucus in your sinuses and even kill the bacteria that causes the common cold. (Be sure to consult with your doctor first.)
  3. Soothe sunburned skin. Instead of using a cream or lotion, rub sunburned skin (or bug bites, rashes and poison ivy) with apple cider vinegar to relieve the itch naturally. Do so at the instruction of your physician.
  4. Rinse hair. Many people cite apple cider vinegar as the source of their shiny, silky locks. Mix 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar with 4 cups of water and use it as a weekly hair rinse.

7 Surprising Ways to Use Apple Cider Vinegar [The Dr. Oz Show]
25 Ways Apple Cider Vinegar Will Change Your Life [Mamavation]
15 Reasons to Use Apple Cider Vinegar Every Day [Mind Body Green]

All-Natural Household Cleaners You Can Make Yourself

Yes, cleaning is a mundane chore, but it doesn't have to give you a headache—from chemicals, anyway! Making your own green household cleaners is easier than you might think. All you need is a few ingredients you probably already have at home. Here are three recipes for do-it-yourself cleaners that are equal parts effective, eco-friendly, and easy on the wallet.

1. Excellent Homemade 3-Ingredient All-Purpose Cleaner [Apartment Therapy]
Combine 1/4 cup lemon juice, two cups water, and one cup hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle. Suitable for a variety of cleaning tasks, this all-purpose solution can tackle everything from grimy windows to greasy stovetops. According to the pros at Apartment Therapy, the key to this recipe's effectiveness is the hydrogen peroxide, which is said to be a more powerful cleaning agent than vinegar.

2. DIY Tub/Shower Cleaner [Fabulessly Frugal]
If you have blue Dawn liquid soap and vinegar, you can tackle tough soap scum in your bathroom. Simply heat 12 ounces of white vinegar in the microwave, pour it into a spray bottle, add 10 ounces of blue Dawn, then gently shake the mixture. The key here is to use blue-colored Dawn; don't substitute another dish detergent.

3. Easy Laundry Soap [Potholes and Pantyhose]
This DIY version of laundry detergent will cost you a mere $.05 per load. The recipe requires one bar of Ivory soap and two cups of super washing soda and borax. You'll also need a blender or cheese grater for shredding the soap.

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