3 Ways to Use Lemon Essential Oil in the Kitchen

4 min to read
Andrea Butje
06/03/2021

Lemon, botanically known as Citrus limon, is a wonder fruit.

This sunny citrus is much more than just a delight for our taste buds. Its vibrancy extends beyond its bright color and tangy flavor, offering a host of health benefits and uses in our day-to-day lives.

But let's dive deeper and talk about Lemon essential oil. Lemon essential oil is a highly concentrated from lemon peels and is a powerhouse of benefits.

One of the star components of Lemon essential oil is "d-Limonene," which is found in all citrus essential oils. Research indicates that d-limonene possesses anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, making it an effective natural remedy to calm inflammation, ward off germs, support immunity, and clear congestion.

This oil also shines in aromatherapy with its fresh and uplifting scent that can enhance mood, relieve stress, and invigorate the mind. Its purifying properties make it a popular choice in green cleaning routines.

In the kitchen, Lemon essential oil shows off its versatility. It's not just for recipes; it's also perfect for keeping your kitchen fresh and clean. From diffusing it for a bright and invigorating aroma, using it to clean sponges and cutting boards, to freshening up the fridge, Lemon essential oil is a kitchen superstar.

Lemon is truly a versatile fruit, with the essential oil derived from it being a fantastic companion in the kitchen.

Here are three simple yet effective ways to utilize Lemon essential oil (Citrus limon) in your kitchen:

  1. Use Lemon essential oil in your diffuser!

Who doesn't love the smell of a freshly cut lemon? It's uplifting, refreshing, and instantly brightens up any room. By placing 6 to 10 drops of Lemon essential oil in your diffuser, your kitchen will be filled with a bright, inspiring aroma. It's like having a freshly sliced lemon in your kitchen all day long!

  1. Use Lemon essential oil to clean your kitchen sponge.

Dirty kitchen sponges can be a harbor for bacteria, something none of us want where our food is prepared. Lemon essential oil can come to the rescue here. Its key component, d-Limonene, is known for its antibacterial properties, making it perfect for this task.

There are two ways to approach this:

First, simply put two or three drops of Lemon essential oil directly onto your kitchen sponge and let it sit, preferably overnight.

Second, make a lemon sponge spray:

  • 1 fl oz (30 ml) water

  • 18 drops Lemon essential oil (Citrus limon)

If you prefer to use a solubol dispersant in your spray, add 4 drops of solubol for every 1 drop of essential oil. Shake well before use and spray it onto the sponge every time you finish using it. This blend might be used up quite quickly, but in case it lasts longer, consider making a fresh bottle every few weeks to ensure its effectiveness.

With these three easy methods, you can utilize the power and delightful scent of Lemon essential oil to keep your kitchen fresh, clean, and uplifting!

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  1. Use Lemon essential oil to clean your cutting boards.

Cutting boards can hold onto a lot of unwelcome germs. It's important to keep them nice and clean if we want our food to be the same.

Here's how I use Lemon essential oil for my cutting boards . . .

First, I wash my cutting board in hot, soapy water.

Then I put 2 drops of Lemon essential oil directly onto the surface and use a paper towel to rub it all over.

If you like, you can also use your Lemon Sponge Spray on your cutting board. It's just water and Lemon essential oil, so it will work great for this.

One thing I want to mention is that Lemon essential oil may lighten the color of some wooden or bamboo cutting boards, and it may help lighten stains on the boards. Not dramatically, but it's something to keep in mind. You can test a corner or edge of your cutting board with a bit of the essential oil.

Do you remember things better when you watch videos? I made a YouTube video about this topic!

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