You might expect to see soap, shampoo and razors in the shower — but what about lemons? You have multiple shower cleaning options, but cleaning with lemon is a great way to get rid of mineral deposits and hard water stains. The acid in lemon juice — not to mention the lovely scent — makes this citrus fruit an economical and effective bathroom cleaner.
Remove Soap Scum
The gray-colored film that lines your bathtub and shower walls is a nasty combination of water minerals, body oil, skin cells, dirt and soap residue. To remove soap scum, cut a lemon (or two or three) in half and rub it on all scummy surfaces. (Alternatively, you can squeeze bottled lemon juice onto a sponge and apply it that way.)
The acid in the lemon juice breaks down dirt and bacteria found in soap scum. Let the lemon juice sit for 30 minutes, and then scrub the shower to remove loosened grime. Rinse the surface to wash the soap scum away.
For added effectiveness when removing soap scum from the glass shower door, dip the cut lemon in kosher salt. The salt provides additional abrasiveness to scrub grime away.
Remove Hard Water from Shower Fixtures
Hard water leaves deposits on all surfaces, but the unsightly buildup is most noticeable on chrome showerheads, faucets and drain covers. Before tossing out the cut lemons you used to clean soap scum off the shower walls and floor, give the fixtures a once over as well.
Simply rub the fixtures with the lemon until you see the spots disappearing. Then rinse with water and dry with a soft cloth. With hardly any effort, your shower fixtures now look sparkling new.
Remove Mildew from the Shower Curtain
Mildew loves warm, damp places, making the folds of your shower curtain a veritable haven. Not only is slimy mildew unsightly, but overexposure can harm your family’s health.
Fortunately, lemons work wonders on mildewed shower curtains. First, take the curtain down and soak it in warm salt water for 15 to 20 minutes. Hang it back up to drip dry. While the curtain is still wet, rub it with a cut lemon or sponge dampened with lemon juice. Rinse the curtain and repeat scrubbing if necessary to remove any lingering mildew.
Other Ways to Clean with Lemon
The shower isn’t the only place to clean with lemon. If you have any extra lemons after cleaning the shower, try these tips to freshen up other areas of your home:
- Sanitize wood cutting boards by scrubbing them with a cut lemon dipped in salt.
- Polish your copper pots with a cut lemon dipped in salt. Rinse the pots and buff with a clean, dry cloth for additional shine.
- Clean the inside of the microwave by cooking two cups of water and two lemon halves for 3 minutes. Leave the microwave closed for five more minutes to let the lemony steam work its magic. Then quickly and easily wipe down the inside of the microwave.
- Toss all the used up lemon halves, one at a time, into the garbage disposal. Run cool water down the drain as you run the disposal. As each lemon is chopped up, it freshens the drain and leaves a lovely citrus scent behind.
As home cleaning professionals, we know cleaning bathrooms is a dreaded task for our clients. Let us handle your chores so you can spend time doing what you really enjoy! Contact your local Molly Maid or call to discuss a custom cleaning plan that works for you.
