Discover a practical and eco-friendly hack: boiling lemon peels with salt. This simple technique harnesses the natural cleaning and freshening properties of lemon and the abrasive power of salt, offering a homemade alternative to several store-bought products. Here’s how to utilize this mixture effectively in your home, helping you save money and cut down on chemical use.

What You Can Replace:

• Natural Cleaner: The acidic nature of lemon combined with its essential oils makes it an excellent natural cleaner, especially when mixed with salt, which acts as a gentle abrasive. This mixture can effectively clean and disinfect kitchen countertops, sinks, and even bathrooms.
• Air Freshener: Boiled lemon peels with salt naturally neutralize odors and refresh the air, reducing the need for synthetic air fresheners.
• Insect Repellent: The strong citrus scent of lemon is unappealing to many household pests, including mosquitoes and ants, making this an effective natural repellent.

How to Prepare and Use:

1. Ingredients:
   • The peels from 2 large lemons
   • 1 tablespoon of salt
   • Water
2. Instructions:
   • Peel the lemons and place the peels in a pot.
   • Add sufficient water to cover the peels.
   • Add the tablespoon of salt to the pot.
   • Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and allow it to simmer for about 20 minutes. The simmering process releases the essential oils from the lemon peels and infuses them with the salt, creating a potent mixture.
   • Once done, you can use the liquid as a cleaning solution or pour it into containers to act as an air freshener.

Benefits:

• Environmentally Friendly: Utilizing natural ingredients like lemon and salt reduces the use of harmful chemicals in your home, making this method safer for you and the environment.
• Cost-Effective: This method makes use of kitchen scraps and simple ingredients that are usually on hand, saving money on commercial cleaning products.
• Health and Safety: This natural alternative is safer for use around pets and children, reducing their exposure to synthetic chemicals and allergens.

Additional Tips:

• Enhanced Cleaning Power: For tougher cleaning jobs, you can add white vinegar to the mixture for extra disinfecting power.
• Storage: Make this mixture in larger quantities and store it in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Warm it up slightly before use for better results.
• Potpourri Use: After boiling, the lemon peels can be dried and used as a natural potpourri that will continue to emit a pleasant fragrance.

By boiling lemon peels with salt, you create a versatile, effective, and natural product that can be used throughout the home. This method not only promotes a healthier living environment but also embodies a resourceful and sustainable approach to everyday cleaning and freshening needs.