Green Cleaning – Using Lemons in the Laundry Room

Frugal Friday

So many cleaning products on the market are full of dangerous chemicals that can harm both the environment and your health.  They are also expensive.  So why not look to the past for both inexpensive and healthier alternatives?  Over the next few weeks, we're going to look at ways to use common household products to clean your home.  This week, we'll look at using lemons in the laundry room.

·         Lemons are a natural bleaching agent.  For white garments or linens, squeeze lemon juice on the stain, then let it dry in the sun.  Do not use on silk!

·         Add one cup lemon juice to the washing machine for tee shirts and underpants to get rid of stains and deodorize.

·         For whites that can't be bleached, add a small amount of lemon juice to the start of the wash cycle.

·         Squeeze lemon juice on raspberry or red currant stains, then launder as usual.

·         Mix lemon juice and salt, and rub on mildew stains.  Dry the garments in the sun.  Repeat until the stain is gone.

·         Make a paste of lemon juice and salt to get rid of rust stains on clothes.

·         For stubborn stains, mix vinegar and lemon juice, then soak the stain for 30-60 minutes.

·         For really white socks, boil them in water with a sliced lemon.