10 Ways to Clean with Grapefruit
Updated: Jan. 05, 2022
Follow our tips for turning grapefruit into a citrusy Cinderella. Your house has never looked so clean or smelled so nice.
Save the microwave
No worries. Place a grapefruit half in a microwave-safe bowl filled with water and heat for about three minutes on high. The steam will soften any gunk, making it easy to remove, and the citrus itself will leave a pleasant odor. Psst! This trick works with lemon, too.
Deodorize the drain
Instead of tossing grapefruit rinds into the trash, pulse them through the garbage disposal. Goodbye stink, hello freshness.
Make your own multipurpose cleaner
Green cleaning is in right now, so get on board by trading chemical-filled products for a homemade alternative. Place citrus peels and white vinegar in a tightly sealed jar. Leave it to steep for about a month before removing the peels. Dilute this fermented vinegar with some water. Voilà! You’re ready to check off every item on your spring cleaning checklist.
Get rid of grease
Whether it’s in your oven or sticking to your pots and pans, grease is tough to tackle. Sprinkle some salt onto the affected area and squeeze grapefruit juice on top, letting it sit for five to 10 minutes. Then take a sponge and scrub off the grease effortlessly. Learn more grease-fighting hacks, here.
Restore your cookware
Any pots or pans that are aluminum, copper or brass tend to tarnish and dull easily. To make them shine again, simply rub half a grapefruit over the dish and wipe with a dry washcloth.
Scrub the tub
Meet the dynamic duo of bathroom cleaning: grapefruit and salt. Sprinkle half a grapefruit with about 1/4 cup kosher salt, then use it to scrub away rust and stains in the bathtub. Rinse with warm water when you’re done. Learn how to use salt to tidy up every room in the house.
Remove stains
Instead of using harsh bleach, swap in a combination of grapefruit juice and baking soda. Simply soak any soiled clothes in the citrus solution for at least 30 minutes before tossing into the washing machine.
Polish furniture
Kitchen table or hardwood floors looking a little worse for the wear? Mix the juice of a grapefruit with olive oil in an empty spray bottle and use a dry rag to buff gently into wood furniture. We recommend testing it first on a small, hidden section before trying to restore an entire surface.
Prevent pest problems
It’s a little-known fact that insects hate citrus smells. For a natural deterrent, place dried grapefruit peels by windows, door cracks or anywhere else that ants and other unwanted creatures could enter.
Freshen a closet
Let grapefruit peels dry completely, then place them in drawers or a closet to add a subtle scent to delicates. Bonus if you mix in lemon and orange rinds as well.
Originally Published: November 07, 2017
