LEMONS AND HOUSEKEEPING

There are several ways to put lemons to work for green cleaning your household. Whether you’re spring cleaning, getting ready for summer or deep cleaning before the winter months hit, lemons should always be in your eco-friendly house cleaning arsenal as they take on and assist all sorts of cleaning and housekeeping projects. Fresh citrus, particularly lemons and lemon juice, are an amazing addition to natural cleaners as they contain antibacterial properties which aid in fighting unwanted germs and bacteria in your home. Plus, this invigorating fruit provides amazing and fresh scents to your home cleaning routine.

Fun Fact
Did you know our local Anatolia, Rancho Cordova Raley’s strives to buy products directly from local farms in order to reduce their carbon footprint and offer fresh, local produce? Their Living Local program sources produce from family-owned operations located within 50 miles of the store to which their product is delivered.

Window Cleaning
Juice two lemons and strain 2 tbsp of lemon juice. Add your strained lemon juice and one cup water to a spray bottle and use it as an all natural window and mirror cleaner.

Tip: For best, streak-free results, use a microfiber cloth made for windows and mirrors.

Monthly Cleaning Your Coffee Makers and Tea Kettles
Clean away mineral deposits and gunk, monthly, by adding one-half cup of lemon juice along with some boiling water to your Coffee Maker or Tea Kettle and run a complete heating cycle. Run another cycle with plain water.

Natural Clean Air Freshener
Create a natural air freshener by adding several lemon slices (peels included) to a pot of water. Simmer for about an hour and your home will linger of lovely, invigorating and bright scents of this beautiful fruit, matching the feel of your clean home.

DIY Furniture Polish
Mix one part lemon juice and two parts olive oil to create your own Natural Furniture Polish. Shake well before using and apply with a microfiber cloth. Then buff to shine.

Daily and Weekly Cleaning with Lemon Multi-Purpose Surface Cleaner
Add lemon peels to a spray bottle and cover with vinegar. Let the mixture sit for two weeks. Then, remove the peels and add 1:1 ratio of water. You can use this multi-purpose cleaner on many surfaces, although avoid using on marble surfaces.

CLEANING SERVICE TIP
As with any cleaning products, it is always important to be safe and cautious. Never mix lemon juice with bleach! Also, stay mindful of the surfaces you are using cleaners on. Avoid using lemons on surfaces that might discolor easily, like marble countertops or colorful fabrics. Always test surfaces before using any cleaning products.

WHY ARE LEMONS GOOD FOR CLEANING?

by Klean Kulture

WHY ARE LEMONS GOOD FOR

CLEANING?

WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS, MAKE LEMONADE…OR CLEAN WITH THEM!

This beautifully colored fruit and its distinctively clean, sharp and citrus scent has stunning antibacterial properties that can be used for many cleaning and freshening projects around the house.

So whether you’re headed to your local Rancho Cordova Farmer’s Market or Anatolia Raley’s, don’t forget to pick up a few extra lemons for an extra all-natural boost to your cleaning routines.

Cleaning Your Microwave:

You’ll Need…

One Lemon (cut in half)
One Medium Size Bowl Filled Halfway With Water
Microfiber Cloth or Paper Towel

1. Squeeze juice from both lemon halves to your bowl of water and place lemon halves in bowl. Microwave for three minutes.

2. Let hot-lemon-water bowl continue to sit in the microwave for another couple minutes, allowing the lemon steam bath you’ve created to do its work.

3. Wipe sparkling clean with a microfiber cloth or paper towel. You’re good to go!

Deodorize Your Kitchen Sink Drain: Drop lemon rinds into your sink and run the hot water and garbage disposal until the rinds are gone to eliminate bad odors that accumulate.

Freshen Your Refrigerator: Keep your refrigerator smelling fresh!! Cut a lemon in half and place both halves in a bowl inside your refrigerator. Replace lemons as necessary to keep your refrigerator smelling fresh and lovely!

Shine and Brighten Your Faucets: Cut a lemon in half and rub flesh part of the lemon all over your faucet, allowing the acidic juices to eat away grease & grime and loosen mineral deposits. Finish by wiping everything away using a clean, dry microfiber cloth. Your faucet is now glowing and beautiful!

Degrease Your Pans: Add 1-2 teaspoons of lemon juice to your soapy dishwater. This helps take on the greasiest of dishes; smells amazing, too!

Cutting Board: In between regular cutting-board cleaning, scrub your cutting board with lemon and salt to fight odors and stains. Sprinkle coarse salt on your cutting board and scrub around using half of a lemon, flesh side down, squeezing juice as you go. Rinse and of course, NEVER forget to dry your cutting board!

Polish Copper. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle table salt on the flesh side. Rub on your copper pot or pan or any piece of copper. Wipe clean and let your copper shine!

Clean the Blender: Cut a lemon into chunks and add to your blender. Add ½ cup – 1 cup and blend. Rinse well and dry. The lemon will help odors and leave your blender smelling lemony and lovely!

Cheese Grater: Run flesh of half a lemon down side of the grater to remove the stuck-on gunk, then clean, rinse and dry as usual.

Give Your Dishwasher Elevated Cleaning Power: Fill a dishwasher-safe container with a cup of lemon juice or add in a few lemon wedges to top the rack and run your loaded dishwasher as usual for extra clean, shiny dishes!