A Little Lemon Love

Looking for ways to cut down on the chemicals in your household, especially since we’re spending more time than ever in them? Cleaning products tend to be packed with unpronounceable and harsh ingredients. Certain icky situations, especially if you have kids or pets, may warrant chemical warfare, but for your everyday messes, sometimes a little lemon and ingenuity will work just as good, if not better. Here are just a few clever uses:

1. Cut a lemon in half and use it to clean chrome bathroom fixtures or copper pots and pans.
2. Add a few tablespoons of lemon juice to a small bucket of water and use a small scrub brush to clean the grout in your bathroom or kitchen.
3. Add a few teaspoons of lemon juice to a cup of water in a microwavable dish. Heat it in the microwave for a few minutes, and then let it sit for a few more. Wipe away any food particles.
4. Remove odors from your refrigerator by keeping half a cup of lemon juice in a small bowl or cup.
5. Fill a dishwater-safe cup with a water-lemon solution. Run the dishwater with the cup in the lower rack. It will both clean and deodorize your machine.