The 30p fruit that will clean your house and save you money | Personal Finance | Finance

When you think of lemons, you might think of cakes or even a gin and tonic, but it can actually tackle some of your most hated cleaning jobs too.

This 30p fruit is so versatile you can use it on limescale to rust, cleaning expert Lynsey Queen of Clean reports, and they are probably sitting on your kitchen counter at home.

Here are some of the stubborn jobs where lemons really shine, so you can opt for an all-natural product that saves the pennies. 

Microwaves

If you place a few lemon halves in a bowl of cold water and heat on full power for five minutes, the steam will loosen grease so it’s easier to wipe away, replacing any smells with a fresh citrus scent. 

Wooden chopping board

Firstly, sprinkle some coarse salt on the surface then rub the lemon over the board while will create friction to loosen up any residue. Let it sit for about 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water and wipe it down with a sponge or cloth.

Limescale

For taps, rub a halved lemon over the limescale and leave it for a while before rinsing – you can also leave the lemon resting on the tap. 

For kettles, boil a few used lemon halves inside with water. Let that sit for about 30 minutes, boil it again and rinse it out thoroughly to avoid any flavoured tea. 

Hard water marks 

Rub half a lemon into a little bicarbonate of soda onto any affected areas, which will help create a reaction to lift the stains.

Rust 

Mix lemon juice with salt to form a paste, then apply this to the rusted area, scrub gently, and rinse with warm water.

Fridge odour 

If your fridge smells unpleasant, soak a clean sponge in lemon juice and place it on a saucer inside the fridge overnight to leave it smelling fresh by morning. 

Dishwashers 

To freshen up your dishwasher, pour lemon juice into the sealed tablet section and run a rinse cycle.