Crazy as it may sound, lemons aren’t just good for adding to your gin and tonic. They can also be a god-send when it comes to making a clean home.
Try putting a good slice of fresh lemon into a jug of clean tap water and blasting it in the microwave for three to four minutes on high power. Let the jug sit in the microwave for fifteen minutes or so to let the steam get to work on the dried-on food.
At this point it may be worth pointing out that you should ensure that the jug or bowl you use is microwave-safe and that you keep an eye on the water while it is boiling. If it looks as though it is starting to over-boil, stop the microwave for a moment and then re-start it. Burnt fingers aren’t a very helpful way to get a clean home.
When you’re happy that the steam has done its job, open the microwave and give it a wipe round with a sponge or cloth. You should have maximum results with minimum effort.
Lemons, like vinegar, also have bacteria-killing properties meaning that you can replace your usual anti-bacterial cleaner with a squirt of lemon juice. The germs will be killed and you will avoid using harsh chemicals in your home. Also, your home will smell lovely and fresh if you use lemon as a cleaner.
Because of the clean fresh smell that lemons have, you can also use them as a natural room fragrance in your quest for a clean home. Mix together in a spray bottle 500mls of warm water and 22.5g of bicarbonate of soda with the juice of half a lemon. You can spray this around your home to remove bad odours and leave a pleasant smell in their place. Don’t be tempted to mix up too much of this in advance however. The lemon will only stay fresh for around a week so you will need to make it when you need it.
For more tips on how to maintain a clean home visit us next week.
