Lemons add zest to our favorite salad dressings, teas, and desserts – but, did you know that lemon also packs a punch, when it comes to cleaning power? Chalk it up to lemons’ citrus oils – which are naturally cleansing and deodorizing – and abrasive acidity, which is key for eliminating grit and grime. Though you can certainly clean common things like countertops with lemon juice, there are a few other, lesser-known things that benefit from lemon, too. Here are 5 such things.
Brass and Copper
Sprinkle salt on half of a lemon and start scrubbing dirty brass and copper wares, like cooking utensils, pots, and pans. Just be careful when dealing with antiques. When cleaning an old or cherished piece, test this method on a small portion first and ensure it won’t cause any damage.
Your Microwave
Put ¾ cup of water and two tablespoons of lemon juice in your microwave. Heat the mixture for about three minutes, or until it boils, before letting it sit in the microwave with the door closed for ten minutes. When 10 minutes is up, wipe the inside of the appliance and enjoy a clean microwave.
Your Cheese Grater
Not sure how to clean your cheese grater? Join the club. Luckily, lemons provide just the right amount of cleaning power. Simply run half a lemon down the side of the grater to remove food particles, before rinsing with warm, soapy water.
Earrings and Jewelry
If you want to clean and sanitize earrings and other pieces of jewelry, a lemon can get the job done. Sanitize your pieces in 1½ cups of water and a tablespoon of lemon juice and watch as the gunk lifts away. Just don’t use this method with gold or pearls, which are more fragile than other materials.
Your Face
Finally, lemons make for an excellent DIY facial cleanser. Mix the juice from half a lemon with one tablespoon of olive oil, a ½ cup of granulated sugar, and a tablespoon of honey, before spreading the mixture on your skin. You can also use a cotton ball dipped in lemon juice to help fight acne.
Vail Village Club Apartments in Dallas, Texas is committed to making sure that our residents can live their best life! By taking advantage of our tips & tricks, we hope that you can easily maintain—and even improve— your normal routine.