Lemon juice is handy for a lot more than just flavoring your tea or adding to fish. Read on to learn the great ways you can use it for cleaning!
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Can You Use Bottled Lemon Juice for Cleaning?
The short answer to this question is yes! There are plenty of uses for lemon juice to clean around your home.
Buying bottled lemon juice is cost-effective and will minimize the time you spend preparing a lemon juice cleaning solution.
Can I Use Bottled Lemon Juice Instead of Fresh?
As long as your bottled juice is 100% lemon juice, it contains the same properties as freshly squeezed lemon juice and you can use it instead of fresh juice.
However, if you need a whole lemon or lemon peel for a cleaning solution recipe bottled juice will not work for you and you will need to use fresh lemons. Bottled juice is also a better option because it lasts longer than fresh juice.
Is Lemon Juice in a Bottle the Same as a Real Lemon?
Bottled lemon juice is often concentrated lemon juice. Don’t worry, though – this doesn’t mean that it loses all good stain-fighting, soap scum removing, and cleansing properties as freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Why Is Bottled Lemon Juice Good for Cleaning?
There are many perks to using bottled lemon juice for cleaning. Here is a brief list of the benefits of using citrus juice, specifically lemon juice, when you clean:
- Bottled lemon juice is easy to use, close, and reuse again
- Bottled lemon juice is only a few dollars at any local grocery store
- Lemon juice and lime juice are natural stain removers
- Boiled lemon water in the microwave makes it easy to remove grime
- The combination of lemon juice and vinegar is an excellent degreaser
- It is perfect for removing soap scum from kitchens and bathrooms
- Bottled lemon juice products and concoctions fill your home with a pleasant lemon scent
Can I Use Lemon Juice Instead of White Vinegar for Cleaning?
Using vinegar on its own is a classic way to rid your household of mold and mildew with a natural solution. However, lemon juice and vinegar together make a concoction that works to remove dirt and grime on any non-porous surfaces in your home.
You can use lemon juice instead of white vinegar for cleaning when the properties of white vinegar aren’t needed. However, I recommend using vinegar when called for.
White vinegar is very acidic and most white vinegar you can purchase at the store for household use is diluted to about 5%. You can use only white vinegar instead of the solution but adding lemon increases the potency and adds a pleasant smell to the cleaning solution.
Can You Mix Vinegar and Lemon Juice to Clean?
Mixing lemon juice and white vinegar is a tried and true mixture to keep your home clean with a non-toxic, affordable, environmentally friendly cleaner. This mixture is useful as a surface cleaner, natural weed killer, descaling solution for coffee makers, and removing mineral deposits from showerheads and faucets.
Here are a few ideas for how to use vinegar and lemon juice for cleaning projects.
Making a natural weed killer
Here’s what you’ll need for a natural DIY weed killer:
- Lemon juice
- White vinegar
- Spray bottle or watering can
The citric acid in the lemon juice attacks the waxy coating on the weed’s leaves, removing its outer layer of defense, and causing it to dry out then die. To make a DIY weed killer:
- Mix about four ounces of lemon juice with a quart of vinegar in your bottle or can.
- Spray or pour a generous amount over your weeds.
- In a few days, they should be dead and gone!
Descaling a coffee maker with lemon juice
To descale your coffee maker you can do the following:
- Pour lemon juice into your coffee maker’s water tank.
- Add an equal part of water to the tank.
- Start the brewing cycle, shut it off halfway through, then let it sit for about an hour.
- Finally, run a complete brewing cycle.
Voila! You have better-tasting coffee and a clean coffee maker.
How Do You Make Homemade Surface Cleaner?
Making homemade surface cleaner is an easy task. You only need a few ingredients and they should be stored in the fridge.
You will need:
- 1 cup of distilled water
- 1 cup of distilled vinegar
- ½ of a lemon, juiced, and 15 drops of essential oil of your choosing (Many people choose lavender, lemon, orange, or peppermint)
Combine the water, vinegar, lemon juice, and essential oils into a spray bottle. Gently shake the bottle to thoroughly mix the ingredients.
Store it in the fridge. Gently shake the bottle before each use to break up any settled ingredients or separation.
2 Things You Need to Avoid With Lemon Juice
Though lemon juice is a naturally occurring acid, it’s way too acidic for certain surfaces and can create bad chemical reactions when mixed with an abrasive and aggressive product like bleach.
Here are two things to avoid when using lemon juice.
1. Do Not Mix Bottled Lemon Juice With Bleach
Mixing bottled lemon juice with bleach will cause a chemical reaction that is not safe for humans. The mixture creates a toxic vapor that should never be breathed in.
The same guideline goes for vinegar. Avoid mixing vinegar with bleach to avoid harmful vapors.
2. Avoid Lemon Juice on Natural Stone Surfaces
Natural stone surfaces are durable, but they are still sensitive to abrasive acids like the citric acid in lemon juice and lime juice. Lemon juice can scratch and etch marble which damages the surface area.
It can also lead to staining.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
We have gone through many ways to use lemon juice, lemon slices, lemon peels, and lemon rinds, but you might still have some unanswered questions. Keep reading for the answers to your burning questions.
Is bottled lemon juice as effective as fresh lemon juice?
Bottled lemon juice is as effective as fresh lemon juice for cleaning. If you are concerned with the origin of your lemons, then it is better to buy organic lemons and freshly squeeze them yourself to be sure you know the origin of the materials you are using in your cleaning solution.
Which cleans better: lemon juice or vinegar?
Lemon juice and vinegar have acidic properties that help break up dirt and grime on many surfaces in your home. Lemon juice is considered a more efficient cleanser because it is stronger in terms of its acidity than vinegar.
Some people regard vinegar as being the better option in terms of practicality and availability, but in terms of cleaning, it is lemon juice that reigns supreme.
The best course of action is to mix the lemon juice and vinegar and dilute it with a little water. This helps avoid any stickiness or residue left behind by the vinegar and lemon.
Is cleaning with expired lemon juice ok?
Cleaning with expired lemon juice is not recommended.
Once the juice expires it can become molded and start to lose its beneficial properties. Once the lemon juice sits for a while, it is unhealthy to ingest or use to put atop your countertops and other hard surfaces.
It is a good rule of thumb to throw out fresh lemon juice after about three days even if it is stored in the fridge. Bottled lemon juice should be thrown out about 6-12 months after opening or by the best by date on the bottle.
How much does bottled lemon juice cost?
Bottled lemon juice is only a few dollars at your local grocery store. Bottled juice made with organic lemons can be a bit more expensive due to its organic nature, but overall you can expect to pay anywhere from $2-$5.