15 Clever Household Uses for Citrus Fruits

Among our New Year’s resolutions are simple ways to incorporate more green practices into our every day. You might be surprised to know there’s a simple staple (that you probably have in your refrigerator or pantry right now) that can clean and refresh your entire home!

Citrus fruit, including oranges, lemons and limes, can work wonders around the house. Plus, citrus is an inexpensive, all-natural alternative to traditional cleaners. Here are 15 wonderful uses for citrus for your household needs.

1. Polish copper by rubbing it with a lemon juice soaked cloth and buffing it dry. Brass and aluminum can be polished with a paste of lemon juice and cream of tartar.

1. Rub lemon on your faucets to remove lime scale, hard water stains, and soap residue. It also works on porcelain.

1. Whiten tennis shoes by spraying them with lemon juice and placing them in the sun.

1. Boost your laundry detergent’s power by adding lemon juice to a wash cycle for fresh smelling laundry, to brighten whites and remove rust and mineral stains.

1. Remove unsightly underarm stains from shirts and blouses, simply by scrubbing them with a mixture of equal parts lemon juice (or white vinegar) and water.

1. Grind citrus through the garbage disposal to get rid of nasty odors and freshen the drain.

1. Add half a lemon to the dishwasher load for sparkling, spot-free and clean smelling dishes.

1. For an all-purpose cleaning solution: combine lemon juice, vinegar, and water in a spray bottle.

1. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle baking soda on the cut section. Use the lemon to scrub dishes, surfaces and stains.

1. For a natural furniture polish, combine 1 part lemon juice with 2 parts olive oil.

1. Create a wonderful, natural air freshener by mixing lemon juice and water in a spray bottle.

1. Humidifiers can pick up unwanted scents. Freshen up the aroma by adding 3-4 teaspoons citrus juice to the water.

1. Clean your windows and glass by rubbing lemon juice on them and buffing them with newspaper.

1. Rub fresh orange or lemon peels over your exposed skin to keep away mosquitoes and gnats.

1. Puree orange peels in 1 cup of warm water. Slowly pour the solution over and into anthills to get rid of them.

As you can see, these uses for citrus fruits are beneficial for a variety of needs. Not to mention, you can easily find citrus fruits at local retailers, or find them easily among your own produce supply. So here's to a cleaner, GREENER 2016!