Lemons are widely regarded as a prime natural choice for homemade cleaning concoctions, especially for those seeking to steer clear of potent chemicals. Cleaning aficionados have lauded lemon oil as the optimal ‘natural degreaser’ for tackling oven grime.
Doug Rogers, the president of home service provider Mr Appliance, part of Neighborly, shared with NBC News that lemon oil is highly effective in removing challenging grease spots. Not only does it serve as an efficient cleaner, but it also helps enhance the fragrance of appliances, reports the Express.
He noted: “In addition to its scent benefits, lemon essential oil is a great degreaser and can be an excellent tool to remove stubborn grease stains naturally.”
The creation of lemon oil involves extracting oil from fresh lemon peel through a process that uses cold pressing to prick and rotate the rind. Lemon oil is also reputed to possess various antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal qualities, as endorsed by Organic Authority.
Wondering about the application? One would require water, white vinegar, and lemon essential oil. Rogers delineates the method: “Spray a mixture of one cup water, one cup vinegar and lemon essential oil onto your stovetop and simply wipe clean.
“For tougher stains, sprinkle baking soda first, then spray and wipe. You can use the same technique to clean your oven – which will help prevent kitchen fires – many of which are caused by grease.”
The reason lemon oil is such an adept grease remover lies in its citric acid content, which effortlessly cuts through both grease and dirt. Given that citric acid possesses antibacterial and antiseptic properties, lemon oil can effectively eliminate bacteria and eradicate mould and mildew, as pointed out by Blanc Living.
If you prefer not to create a spray solution, Purdy and Figg suggest applying the lemon oil onto a cloth or directly onto the area requiring treatment.