How to Lift Fingerprints With Lemon Juice & Heat

Lemon cleans, freshens and, at the end of the day, it is delicious, too.

The lemon is the surprise tangy power player of the organic cleaning world. An all-natural solution for cutting grease and grime off just about any surface, it is the acidity of the lemon which gives it an edge over other organic cleaning solutions. Lemon is particularly good at removing fingerprints from glass, glazed ceramic, metal and other shiny surfaces. Add heat to the equation and there's very little you can't clean with lemon juice given time and adequate elbow grease.

Things You'll Need

• Lemon
• 1 cup water
• Microwave oven
• Microwave-safe container
• Rubber gloves
• Knife
• Sponge
• Dry cotton cloth

Instructions

1. Roll the lemon back and forth on a flat surface under the weight of your hand as you press down on it. This helps to loosen the juice in the lemon, making it easier to squeeze.

2. Cut the lemon in half. Squeeze the juice of each half into the microwave container. Remove and discard any pits from the juice.

3. Add 1 cup of water to the lemon juice. Place it into the microwave and heat on high for one minute. Carefully remove from the container from the microwave, as it will be very hot.

4. Put on the rubber gloves, as the cleaning solution will be hot and you need to protect your hands. Dip the sponge into the hot lemon and water mixture. Squeeze out the excess liquid.

5. Apply the hot lemon solution to the fingerprints and smudgy area. Allow to sit for a minute or two so that the acid in the lemon has adequate time to break down the oils in the fingerprint. Wipe away with the clean, dry cotton cloth and polish any streak marks you see.

6. Repeat steps 1 through 5 for all fingerprinted and smudged surfaces in your home. Lemon works exceptionally well on counters, mirrors, windows and other glazed surfaces.

Tips & Warnings

• Lemon is an effective cleaning agent which isn't harmful to the environment or toxic to people or pets. A heated lemon solution can be used to clean out a refrigerator, too.

• To clean a grungy microwave, put 1/2 of a whole lemon into a glass measuring cup halfway filled with water. Place the container in your microwave and heat on high for 10 minutes. Remove the container and the built-up grease and grunge should wipe away easily with a sponge. You can do this for a conventional oven, too--only heat on the "Clean" setting for one hour.

• Grind up 1/2 lemon in your garbage disposal to get rid of a dank smell.

• Add 1 cup of lemon and 1/2 cup of baking soda into a hot wash load of whites instead of bleach.

References

• Green Living: 24 Handy Lemon Tips

Resources

• Wingtips: Cleaning Safely