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15 Lemon Cleaning Hacks That Make Your Whole House Smell Amazing

When life gives you lemons, use them to clean the kitchen, bathroom, and more.

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lemon cleaning hacks home closeup of a persons hand in protective rubber glove scrubbing a wooden cutting board with half a lemon and coarse salt. concept of natural eco friendly cleaning, household disinfecting, and non toxic home remedies
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Sometimes, the best cleaning product is the one you already have on hand. If you have a lemon, you're ready to clean everything from your garbage disposal to your windows to the bathtub. We tapped cleaning pros for the best lemon cleaning hacks you can use at home.

Lemons can be used to clean so many different things because their juices contain citric acid. According to the experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab, citric acid can break down hard water stains, cut through soap scum and grease, and kill bacteria. It also doesn't hurt that it leaves behind a pleasant scent.

Here are some ideas for lemon cleaning hacks anyone can use.

1

Clean a Cutting Board

fresh lemon cut in half with knife on wooden cutting board
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Sprinkle some salt on top of your cutting board, cut a lemon in half and get scrubbing! Then, wash your cutting board in the sink to get rid of any leftover residue.

2

Refresh Your Oven Door

close up of hand with rubber glove cleaning oven with rag
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Spruce up your oven door with some natural cleaner. Fill a spray bottle with water and juice from one whole lemon. Spray the oven door and let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing and wiping it down with a cloth or sponge.

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3

Deodorize a Garbage Disposal

vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, lemon, sponge, bamboo toothbrush, cotton towels on the kitchen stainless stil sink next to the tap
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Smelly garbage disposal? You're not alone. Pour half a cup of baking soda followed by half a lemon cut into slivers down the drain. Run cold water, then turn on the disposal to grind it all up.

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4

Polish Glassware

various glassware on a shelf including drinking glasses and a martini glass
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No one likes drinking from a cloudy glass. Let your stemware soak in lemon juice for a sparkly finish. The fruit's natural acid will begin to dissolve the mineral deposits. Then, rub on some baking soda to scrub them off once and for all.

5

Make an Air Freshener

lemond and clove seeds, syzygium aromaticum
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Whether an unwanted odor has found its way into your home or you just love the smell of citrus, consider creating your own air freshener. Add two lemons cut into slices and a handful of cloves to a pan of water and bring the mixture to a simmer for 30 minutes.

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6

Wipe Windows Down

cropped hand cleaning glass window at home
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If you're distracted by fingerprints when you look out the window, it might be time to give them a good wipe. To clean the glass, follow the same instructions for cleaning the oven door and create a lemon juice and water mixture in a spray bottle. After spraying, wipe them down with a microfiber cloth.

RELATED: The Right Way to Clean Windows

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7

Shine Metal

rusty showerhead
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With just lemon juice and salt, you can break down rusty metal for a shinier finish. Squeeze lemon juice onto a sponge, pour some salt on top and scrub the rust or area of metal that needs shining. If you need something more abrasive, try adding more salt or using a tougher cleaning brush to break it down.

8

Remove Soap Scum

cleaning bathtub
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Acting as a natural acidic cleaner, lemon juice, when mixed with water to create a solution, breaks down soap scum. Spray the surface and scrub away. However, if you have marble in your bathroom, avoid using this mixture as it can damage the surface.

RELATED: How to Clean a Glass Shower Door

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9

Freshen up a Microwave

a method of cleaning in a microwave oven with water and lemon
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Cut one lemon into slices and place them into a bowl with one cup of water. Put the mixture in the microwave, and warm it up on high for two to three minutes or until the window steams up. Let the bowl cool for five minutes before taking it out and wiping the inside clean with a sponge.

RELATED: The Easiest Ways to Clean a Microwave

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10

Wipe Down Your Stovetop

close up of hand with rubber glove cleaning induction stove with rag
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When life gives you a greasy stovetop, make a lemon and baking soda paste! Sprinkle the baking soda across your stovetop. Then, cut a lemon in half and use it face down to scrub all over the surface until it forms a paste. Let it sit for a few minutes before wiping the stove with a damp cloth.

11

Fix Stained Containers

clean plastic containers ready to use in the kitchen
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Add stained containers to the long list of things lemons can fix. The citric acid present in lemon juice breaks down stains so they can be easily be rinsed away with water. To get started, just scrub half a lemon face down onto the stain, squeezing out the juice. Then, wash the container as you normally would.

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12

Restore a Grill

black grill pan background with lemon
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Cleaning the grill doesn't have to be a long and strenuous process. Turn your grill on high to heat it up. Once heated, turn it down so you can safely scrub off any grime or buildup using half of a lemon face. Make sure to use tongs to hold the lemon in place to avoid burning yourself.

RELATED: The Best Grill Brushes for Cleaning Your Grill

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13

Clean a Cheese Grater

parmesan cheese with grater on wooden background
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Getting in between each and every opening on your cheese grater can be nearly impossible with a standard sponge. Skip all the hard work and replace your sponge with half a lemon. Rub the surface of the cheese grater with lemon to get any leftover chunks of cheese out. Then, wash as you normally would.

14

Tackle Build-up on Pots and Pans

high angle view of dirty pot soaking in kitchen sink
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If you've ever scrubbed a burnt pot or pan for what feels like forever, try this hack. Cut up two full lemons into slices and place them in the pan. Fill it with water so it covers the burnt area and bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling, turn off the stove and let it cool off before dumping it into the sink. At this point, you should be able to get all the gunk off with a gentle scrubbing and rinse.

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15

DIY a Cleaner for Miscellaneous Surfaces

environmentally friendly natural homemade cleaning supplies
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For a lemon-infused all-purpose cleaner, combine one part white vinegar, one part water, a lemon rind and rosemary sprigs and pour everything into a spray bottle. Let the mixture infuse for a week before using. However, avoid using lemons and lemon-based cleaners on surfaces like natural stone, wood, electronics and upholstery as the natural acidic properties have the potential to leave them damaged.

RELATED: The Best All-Purpose Cleaners

Headshot of Laura Millar
Laura Millar
Contributing Writer

Laura Millar (she/her) is a freelance lifestyle journalist for Good Housekeeping. She holds a degree in Film, TV & Media from the University of Michigan, and was previously the assistant lifestyle editor for GH, where she covered home design. Her byline has appeared in NBC's TODAY.com, PEOPLE, Real Simple, and Business Insider.

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