Its spring time and you need to scrub away the residues of winter. You need not buy costly natural cleaners when you have a bowl of citrus fruits on your table. Lemons and oranges are amazing for cleaning, specially when they are combined with vinegar and baking soda.
How can they help in cleaning?
The answer to the question is simple. Citrus has a natural solvent called d-limonene which cuts off grease and dirt, and keeps your house smelling fresh.
Citrus Spray Cleaner
Place the citrus peels in a jar (glass jar is more preferable) with any variations you may want to. Choose any combination from below. Splash white vinegar over the peels and let the mixture be left for 2 weeks. Then, remove the peels and discard them. You now need to dilute the flavored vinegar with water in any ratio (1:1 ratio of vinegar to water is recommended). Pour this solution into a spray bottle and use it to clean ceramic, porcelain, granite, marble, and laminate surfaces. This cleaner could discolor furniture. So make sure that you test first on a sample.
Variations:
- Add lemon peels with vanilla and rosemary.
- Use cinnamon sticks, or almond extract with orange peels.
- Grapefruit peel - mint leaves
- Lime peels - thyme sprigs
Shortcut:
Pour freshly squeezes lemon juice, water, and vinegar in the spray bottle for speedy natural cleaning power.
Soapy citrus spray cleaner
- 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice, ½ tsp liquid soap, ½ tsp washing soda and 1 tsp Borax.
- Mix with 2 cups of hot water until everything is dissolved and then pour it into the spray bottle.
- Scrub underarm stains with equal amount of lemon juice and water.
- For ink stains, use straight lemon juice, as soon as it happens. Wash the garment using cold water.
- Get rid of mildew on clothes using a paste of lemon juice and salt. Dry it in sunlight.
- Add fresh lemon juice to a wash cycle to remove mineral stains and brighten whites.
- Mixing equal amount of baking soda and lemon juice can be used as a mild bleach soak for delicates.
- For a fresh and clean smelling load of dishes, keep a half lemon in the dishwasher.
- Rub lemon juice soaked cloth over copper pots.
- Paste of lemon juice and cream of tartar can also be used to polish brass and aluminum.
- Increase the degreasing power of liquid dish detergent by adding a teaspoon of lemon juice.
- Solution of lemon and water in a spray bottle can be used as natural air fresheners.
- Use ½ cup lemon juice and 1 cup olive oil to polish furniture and shine wooden floors.
- Place a half lemon in your fridge to have a fresh smell.
- Keeping a half lemon in a bowl of and cook for three minutes in your microwave can clean and will smell fresh.
Tags: Citrus fruits, orange, lemon, how are citrus fruits used in cleaning, natural air fresheners, washing dishes, natural solvent d-limonene, vinegar
By
Medi Home
Updated:
Published: April 13th, 2014
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