10 Effective Ways to Clean Your Kitchen Using Lemon Juice

In the last ten years, eco-friendly living has evolved from a buzzword to a full-on movement for many Americans. With more studies confirming our suspicions that household cleaning products are harmful, it’s time to return to simpler methods. Chemicals and food should never mix.

Our grandparents didn’t rely on specialized cleaning products for every surface in the kitchen. Instead, they used basic, natural ingredients for multiple cleaning tasks. Keep reading to learn 10 effective ways to clean your kitchen with lemon juice.

10: Sink Cleaner

Germs are all around us, hiding in every corner. While it’s impossible to live like John Travolta in The Boy in the Plastic Bubble by avoiding bacteria completely, you can tackle the grime in your sink, which is one of the germiest spots in any household.

Mix lemon juice with salt until it forms a paste-like consistency. Use this mixture on brass, copper, or stainless-steel sinks and fixtures. Scrub gently, then rinse off with water. It also works to remove rust stains.

9: Loosen Mineral Deposits

Lime is commonly used in water and sewage treatment to filter impurities and lower acidity. While it’s highly effective at treatment plants, it leaves behind mineral deposits in your sink and tub drains, which can accumulate and cause clogs. Prolonged exposure can also pose health risks.

To prevent the need for an expensive plumber or the use of harsh chemicals down the drain, address the issue before it escalates. Loosen mineral buildup on faucets by applying lemon juice, letting it sit for a while, and then scrubbing it away.

8: Remove Food Odors

When food lingers in the garbage disposal for too long, it starts releasing unpleasant smells into your kitchen. No one wants to be reminded of last night’s onions or tuna. These odors can even cling to fabrics and become difficult to remove.

Simply masking the smell with air fresheners will only create a blend of unpleasant scents. To eliminate odors from a garbage disposal, cut up a lemon, drop it in, and run it through. You can also use orange or lemon peels for the same effect.

7: Scrub the Dishwasher

Dishwashers are one of the most convenient kitchen appliances, making after-dinner cleanup a breeze. Instead of scrubbing plates and utensils for an hour, you can simply load them into the dishwasher. However, when the dishwasher itself becomes dirty, it needs attention too.

To remove dried food or detergent buildup from the chrome interior of your dishwasher, rub it with a lemon. Wipe it down with a damp cloth, then dry it with a clean, dry cloth. Run the dishwasher on its hottest water setting to eliminate remaining food particles.

6: Clean a Stovetop or Oven Spill

Cleaning the oven can feel like an overwhelming task that often gets pushed to the bottom of the to-do list; who wants to stick their head inside a hot oven? While some ovens have self-cleaning functions, spills—like a pan of cake batter or scattered french fries—still need your attention.

Tackling stovetop and oven messes is easy with this solution: Create a paste of lemon juice, water, and baking soda. Apply it to the spills, let it sit for 15 minutes, then scrub and rinse with water using a sponge.

5: Clean the Windows

Windows are our connection to the world beyond, offering a glimpse of what’s outside. However, in reality, windows often accumulate handprints, dried dog slobber, and spiders' remains. They never seem to stay spotless, especially in the kitchen where grease tends to cling.

So, what’s the solution? Stand on the counter and clean greasy kitchen windows with a mix of 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1/2 cup of white vinegar, and 1 quart of warm water. They’ll be gleaming in no time.

4: Shrink the Stink

Kitchen smells can cling to window treatments, tablecloths, and napkins. Fabrics seem to attract odors—both good and bad. But why do the bad smells seem to last much longer and be harder to get rid of than the pleasant ones?

Lemons, along with a few spices, have the power to freshen up any kitchen and eliminate unwanted odors. Fill a small pot with water, add several pieces of lemon peel, and about 1 teaspoon each of whole cloves and rosemary leaves. Bring to a boil, and soon the delightful aroma will spread throughout your home.

3: Clean the Kitchen Air

The kitchen is often a battleground of changing smells—from savory beef to the sweet scent of chocolate chip cookies. It's the busiest room in the house, where families gather, kids do homework, and bills get paid. Give the room a breather by freshening the air.

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F and place a whole lemon directly on the center rack. With the oven door slightly open, allow the lemon to "bake" for about 15 minutes. Turn off the oven and let the lemon cool before removing it.

2: Attack Odors before They Start

Fragrant foods such as curry, spaghetti sauce, and fish tacos smell great while you're eating them, but the aroma can linger far beyond the meal. By that evening and the next morning? Not so pleasant. Sometimes a simple trip through the dishwasher won't be enough to rescue your bowls or cutting boards.

Don't let your apple pick up the scent of onions because you skipped cleaning your cutting board properly. After you clean your wooden board, rub it with a bit of lemon juice to eliminate lingering garlic, onion, or fish odors.

1: Fresh Air should be Clean Air

A humidifier is an appliance designed to increase the moisture level in a room, releasing a cool mist of air. Some models also release medicated or antibiotic vapors to ease breathing or reduce coughs. However, if a humidifier overheats the water in the tank, it can create an unpleasant odor.

It's common to experience bad odors from a humidifier when stagnant water in the tank becomes a breeding ground for mold. To get rid of the smell, add 4 teaspoons of lemon juice to the water in your humidifier.

Based on the article "Lemon Juice: Lighten Your Hair and Solve Household Problems," © 2009 Publications International, Ltd.