By Nature’s sunniest fruits are bursting with natural compounds that make it easy to keep your kitchen spotless!
Dissolve chalky deposits with lime
To get your faucets gleaming, sprinkle baking soda on a slice of lime and rub it over dull taps. “The lime’s acidity breaks down mineral buildup, while baking soda provides gentle abrasiveness to lift limescale,” says cleaning expert Karina Toner of Spekless.com. “Together, the lime and baking soda restore sparkle without scratching surfaces.”
Freshen your garbage disposal with citrus ice cubes
“One of my favorite kitchen hacks is to use ice cubes made from white vinegar and citrus peels to deodorize the garbage disposal,” says Toner. “The ice sharpens the disposal’s blades, the vinegar disinfects and the citrus peels add a fresh scent.” To do: Pack roughly chopped citrus peels—lemon, orange or both—into an ice tray, cover with white vinegar and freeze. Once a week, toss the cubes into the disposal and run it to kill odors at the source.
Clean a mucky microwave with a lemon steam
When life gives you lemons…use them to steam-clean your microwave! Simply fill a bowl with water, add a few lemon slices and place the bowl inside the microwave; heat for 5 minutes. “The steam loosens food particles stuck to the microwave’s interior,” says Toner. Meanwhile, citric acid in the lemon breaks down grease, making it a snap to wipe away with a cloth.”
Polish wood furniture with the skin of an orange
Moisturize wooden furniture by rubbing the white pith of an orange peel over the surface, then buffing gently with a soft cloth. “The oils in fresh orange peels nourish and restore shine, while leaving a pleasant citrus scent,” promises Toner. Boost the conditioning effects by adding a few drops of olive oil to the pith.
Lift baked-on gunk with grapefruit wedges
After enjoying your morning grapefruit, don’t toss the rind! Instead, sprinkle the inside of the skin with coarse salt and use it to clean pans. “Grapefruit’s citric acid cuts through grease and its oils loosen gunk,” says Toner.
