The sharp, sour punch of lemon juice comes from its high acid content. That same acidity makes it a cheap, powerful cleaner for home projects. It is especially effective in one of the dirtiest rooms in your house: the bathroom.
You know the feeling. Your husband volunteers to mow the lawn. The kids offer to wash the dog. No one wants to get on their hands and knees to scrub the tub. Or the toilet. Avoid breathing in harsh chemical fumes. Ditch the heavy bottles of surface cleaners. Grab the lemon juice from the fridge. Here are five ways to clean your bathroom with lemon juice naturally.
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5: Remove Soap Scum from Bath Tiles and Fixtures
Soap scum is a white or gray film. It coats bath tiles, toilets, shower curtains, fixtures, and floors. Minerals in tap water mix with dirt and soap residue in the bathtub, shower, or sink. This combination forms a stubborn layer on tiled surfaces.
To remove soap scum from the bathtub and tiles, rub the surfaces with a cut lemon. The acid breaks down the bacteria and dirt trapped in the scum. To keep these areas free of buildup, rinse them thoroughly after each use. You need to remove any standing water so there is nowhere for bacteria to grow.
4: Remove Rust Stains from Fixtures
Rust forms when iron begins to corrode. It creates an ugly brown stain on bathroom fixtures. Remove these stains immediately. If you accidentally rub against them, they will leave a tough stain on your clothes.
Rubbing a cut lemon directly on sink and tub rust stains often removes them. The acid lifts the corrosion. Just press the half lemon onto the stain and scrub gently. The rust should start to come off.
3: Create a Lemon and Laundry Paste for Stubborn Stains
Salt can accelerate rust stains. The resulting stain becomes deeper and more stubborn to remove. Painting over a rust stain seals off the iron from oxygen, stopping it from growing. But that is not always an option in a bathroom.
For tougher spots, make a paste of lemon juice and laundry booster. Apply it with a scrub sponge. Scrub the area, then rinse. This same paste works on toilet stains. The laundry booster helps lift the stain and restore the sink or tub to its original appearance. It works just like it would for a grass stain on jeans.
2: Treat Mineral and Mildew Stains on Shower Curtains
Mildew loves dark, warm, and damp environments. Showers and bathtubs are perfect homes for it. Too much exposure to mildew can be harmful to your family. It can cause respiratory problems.
To remove mineral and mildew stains from a shower curtain, start by soaking it in salt water for 15 to 20 minutes. Hang it up to drain excess water. Rub the stains with lemon juice while the curtain is still damp. Finish cleaning the curtain as usual. You can wipe it with a damp sponge, rinse with clean water, or run it through the washing machine.
1: Make a Homemade Glass Cleaner
Your home has glass surfaces. Whether you decorate in Dutch Colonial, Cape Cod, or Mid-Century style, glass is likely present in furniture and accessories. Sweat. Touches. Even a glance can leave marks on these surfaces.
You can make your own glass cleaner. Mix 3 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1/2 cup of rubbing alcohol, and 1/4 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. Add all ingredients to a spray bottle. Fill the rest of the bottle with water. Shake well to mix. Use it like any commercial window cleaner. Label the bottle clearly before storing it.
“The acid in the lemon breaks down bacteria and dirt found in soap scum.”
Adapted from “Lemon Juice: Lighten Your Hair and Solve Household Problems,” © 2009 Publications International, Ltd.
