Cleaning House: When Life Hands You Lemons...

After composing some pretty long, complex instructions for major cleaning projects, I had to take a nap... When I awoke, I decided it was better to start this Monday Cleaning segment with something simple.

You know you've had your husband come home with a raunchy coffee mug from work. Several years ago, my own dear husband sheepishly presented me with his prize mug - which had been living in his office for at least a year, having been used faithfully on a daily basis. You're sure you don't want to ask whether or not he ever cleaned it. You stop for a second to genuinely admire the strength of his immune system since he's never been sick a day in his adult life.

But then you realize that his good fortune may not hold forever and it's time to work out how you're going to clean this vile thing. You consider throwing it out, but it's a special mug (or Thermos, travel cup, etc). It was the grungiest, most foul mess I had ever seen. I washed it with dish soap and water - HOT water - wearing rubber gloves. I scrubbed. I sweat. Nothing worked. As a last resort, I poured lemon juice up to the top of the cup and left it to sit on the counter. And I prayed. At the time I was cleansing my own body with straight lemon juice shots and it certainly was doing it's job. I was inspired, I was desperate. I forgot the mug existed for two whole days...

When I remembered the mug, I dumped out the juice in the sink and gazed hopefully into its depths. My heart sunk. The grime was still there. Tentatively, I stuck my finger inside and ran it up the side of the mug. To my great astonishment and joy, the crud disappeared! Like a mad woman, I grabbed the dishcloth and began wiping. I was in ecstacies! I finished by filling the sink with more hot, soapy water - just as a finishing touch. When I finished tenderly drying my dear husband's special mug it was as NOT the same filthy article he'd brought home. It was exactly like brand new!

Now I know you know the vinegar trick for the coffee pot. Forget it. Use straight lemon juice. let it sit and brew. There is a lot more acid in the juice than the vinegar. It would eat the stripes off a tiger. You can also use it for old pans with baked on stains (grandma's enamel dutch oven). Combine lemon juice and Kosher salt for the best metal scrub ever invented. You'll go crazy cleaning everything in site - including those gorgeous stainless appliances you've learned to hate and your sinks. You can use the same formula in the toilet and tub. Best of all- you won't swoon from fumes or ruin your septic system.

Save a little slice of lemon for later - you'll want to garnish your celebratory iced tea!

And my husband's mug? I forbade him ever to use it again. It stands as a memorial to my genius - and to the saving power of lemon juice.