Amidst the rising cost of living and a growing awareness of the environmental impact of chemical cleaners, a professional cleaner’s $1.80 trick has captured the attention of savvy homeowners.
Sophie Webb, a cleaning and organisation expert, takes to social media to share cleaning hacks with her followers. In one of her videos, she shared an unassuming fruit that is ‘so versatile for household tasks.’
Her secret weapon is lemons. This citrus marvel, often found in the fruit bowl or adorning a drink, is now taking centre stage in the cleaning cupboard. At approximately $1.80 from Coles, lemons are not only affordable but also surprisingly a powerhouse of natural cleaning potential.
‘You can squeeze lemon juice down your kitchen drain to freshen it up, or use half a lemon sprinkled with bicarbonate of soda to scrub and shine your sink. They are natural and effective, and leave everything smelling amazing,’ Sophie tells Yahoo Lifestyle.
One of Sophie’s most popular hacks involves using lemons to eliminate limescale from the bottom of kettles. By boiling chopped-up pieces of lemon in the kettle and then discarding the water, you could be left with a spotless interior that gleams like new.
Sophie’s simple trick has garnered praise from followers, with comments such as ‘great idea,’ ‘worked,’ and ‘one of my favourite hacks,’ among many others.
The online influencer credits her grandmother for introducing her to the lemon-cleaning hack for kettles, which has since become her go-to method.
‘It is so simple and leaves the inside of the kettle looking shiny and spotless every time,’ she says, explaining, ‘The citric acid in lemons naturally breaks down limescale and leaves a fresh, clean fragrance.’
‘Just be sure to empty and rinse the kettle thoroughly before making your next cup of tea,’ she reminds.
But the magic of lemons does not stop there. Sophie also uses this citrus wonder to rejuvenate old chopping boards. She rubs them with coarse salt and a lemon half, followed by a wipe-down and a layer of coconut oil.
With this simple hack, she restores her chopping boards to their former glory.
‘When it comes to chopping boards, lemons work wonders on all types, but they are especially great for wooden ones as the juice can get into any cracks or crevices,’ she explains.
‘The lemon juice cuts through grime, while the salt acts as a gentle abrasive to lift stains. I recommend giving your chopping boards a deep clean every month, or more often if they are heavily used.’
Finally, Sophie shares another ingenious use for lemons in the kitchen – cleaning the microwave.
‘Just place a bowl of water with lemon slices inside, microwave it for a couple of minutes, and then wipe down the interior, it makes stubborn grease and grime so easy to remove,’ she shares.
Next time you are faced with a kitchen clean-up, remember that a $1.80 lemon could be your best ally.
We would love to hear from you, our YourLifeChoices community. Have you tried using lemons in your cleaning routine? Do you have any other natural cleaning hacks to share? Join the conversation in the comments below, and let us inspire each other with our resourceful and eco-friendly cleaning tips!
Also read: 8 genius ways to use dishwasher tablets for a sparkling home