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Loading...Nontoxic Housekeeping: 3 Versatile Natural Cleaners
- Jessica Kellner
- February 3, 2012
- 2:30 pm
- 84 comments
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Cut grease. An enzyme in the citric acid of lemon juice cuts through grease as effectively as any commercial cleaner. Combine the juice from two lemons with ½ cup of vinegar to create a powerful grease-fighting cleaner.
Banish odors. Nothing says clean like the fresh scent of lemon. And lemons don’t just cover up bad smells, they actually remove the offending odor.
Dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits. Pour undiluted lemon juice on deposits, or rub a cut lemon over trouble spots.
Clean cutting boards. Disinfect and freshen wooden cutting boards by rubbing a cut lemon over the surface. Let the lemon juice sit for a while before wiping clean.
Refresh your garbage disposal. Strong odors and bacteria can buildup in your garbage disposal over time. To clean this hard-to-reach area, cut a lemon up into chunks, place in the garbage disposal and turn it on.
Remove stubborn stains from countertops. Rub half a cut lemon over the surface, let the juices sit, then wipe clean.
Brighten copper. Make a paste from a quarter cup of table salt and lemon juice. Apply the paste to copper or brass pots and pans, let sit for five to 10 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Buff dry with a soft cloth.
Naturally brighten whites. Want whiter whites? Skip the bleach and add ½ cup of lemon juice, which has natural bleaching properties, to the rinse cycle. (The lingering scent of fresh citrus isn’t a bad effect either.)
Prevent pests. Strong odors are a deterrent to household pests such as ants, spiders and fleas. To keep them away, rub lemon juice or leave lemon peels in bug-prone areas such as along baseboards, in the cracks of windowsills, in the backs of cabinets or cupboards and other areas where pest might enter your home.
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Read more: Green Kitchen Tips, Home, Household Hints, Non-Toxic Cleaning, Uncategorized
Jessica Kellner
Jessica Kellner is the editor of Natural Home & Garden magazine, a national sustainable home and lifestyle magazine. She is dedicated to helping readers create more sustainable, delightful homes that are in tune with the natural world. She is also the author of Housing Reclaimed: Sustainable Homes for Next to Nothing, published by New Society Publishers in autumn of 2011. Email her at jkellner@naturalhomeandgarden.com.
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
84 comments
+ add your ownI like to make citrus vinegar for cleaning because it has a more pleasant smell than straight vinegar. I add citrus peels to a quart jar of white vinegar and let it sit for a week or so. Then I add a cup of the citrus vinegar to a spray bottle and dilute with water. I use this to disinfect and clean a ton of stuff.
I made a copy of these to put on the refrigerator. Thanks.
I love posts that offer natural solutions to cleaning and freshening. Thank you.
I prefer using natural ingredients for cleaners.
thanks Jessica
Great ideas
Citric acid and baking soda will also unclog drains. Why did I buy that all purpose spray bottle of Mr. Clean? Sheesh....
vinegar with hot water also helps unclog sinks...and citrus juice can help prevent clogs (rinds work on sinks with garbage disposals if you choose to use it).
Thanks!
Cool!!
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