Cleaning Green Supplement: Lemon and Baking Soda

In Cleaning Green I dubbed vinegar and peroxide the workhorses of the green cleaning arsenal. Most of your home can be cleaned with these two all natural disinfectants. Lemon juice (a bleaching agent) and baking soda (good for scouring) are two other all natural and non-toxic ingredients that are great for cleaning all over your home.

Cleaning with Lemon

  • Use lemon juice (bottled or fresh) to clean non-marble countertops. Just wipe on the juice with a cloth before rinsing with water. Pour extra juice on stains and wait for them to disappear before rinsing.
  • Lemon juice or half a lemon can be used the same way to clean a stainless steel kitchen sink. For extra cleaning power, mix in a bit of salt and scrub gently before rinsing.
  • Bleach stains on dishes, cutting boards, and other surfaces by pouring lemon juice on the stain and allowing it to sit before sprinkling baking soda and scrubbing.
  • Lemon can clean, shine, and remove rust stains from brass, copper, and stainless steel. Simply sprinkle half a lemon with salt and use it as a scrubber. Continue adding salt and buffing until all stains are removed. Finish by rinsing with water and buffing dry with a cloth. Note: Only use lemon on solid brass, never on brass plated.
  • Shine aluminum by buffing it with a cloth wet with lemon juice or half a lemon.
  • Add a teaspoon of lemon juice to dishwasher detergent for extra grease-cutting power.
  • Make easy work of cleaning the inside of the microwave by heating a mixture of lemon juice and water for a minute before wiping down the inside of the machine.
  • To freshen up the garbage disposal toss some lemon peel into the disposal while running hot water.
  • Make your own furniture polish by mixing two parts olive oil with one part lemon juice.
  • To remove rust stains from clothes, pour lemon juice on the stain and then rub in cream of tartar. Let the mixture sit until the stain disappears. Then launder as usual.
  • To bleach white clothes, soak them in half a cup of lemon juice mixed with a gallon of hot water for at least an hour. Then launder as usual.
  • To bleach white shoes, rub lemon juice all over the shoes and place them in the sun until dry.
  • Pour lemon juice anywhere you wish to repel ants.
  • Mix equal parts lemon juice and water for an all natural air freshener.
  • When cleaning with vinegar you can always add a bit of lemon juice to neutralize vinegar's strong scent.

Cleaning with Baking Soda

  • Keep a container of baking soda in the refrigerator, freezer, or any cupboard to prevent odors.
  • Sprinkle baking soda on anything you want to deodorize, including (but not limited to) garbage containers, hampers, gym bags, sneakers, and the dishwasher.
  • To remove odors from carpeting or upholstery, sprinkle the area with baking soda, let stand for at least twenty minutes, and vacuum. Repeat as necessary.
  • Remove tea stains on teapots and cups by soaking stains in a mixture of ¼ cup baking soda and 1 quart warm water overnight before washing.
  • Degrease dishes, ovens, and other surfaces by sprinkling baking soda on the grease and rubbing with a dry cloth. The baking soda will soak up the grease making it easy to rinse messes away.
  • To remove food burnt onto pots, pans, and grills, sprinkle with baking soda, add hot water, let soak overnight, and wash as usual.
  • Clean and polish silver, stainless steel, and chrome with a paste made of 3 parts baking soda mixed with one part water. Simply rub on the paste, rinse with warm water and dry with a soft cloth.
  • To remove scuff marks or grease spills from floors, sprinkle with baking soda and wipe clean with warm water.
  • To clean bathroom floors, mop with half a cup of baking soda mixed in a bucket of warm water and rinse.
  • Clean walls and laminate furniture with a damp cloth dabbed in baking soda. Think Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.
  • Give laundry detergent a boost by adding half a cup of baking soda to the wash.
  • Clean toys with a solution made from 4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of water. To clean stuffed toys, dust on baking soda, let it sit for 20 minutes, and dust off.

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