We all originally bought our Thermomix machines to make yummy, quick, simple food amazing!
Then people started posting about making non food items. Could it be true?! Yep! :)
The Thermomix is an amazing machine for creating all different types of food, but it's also great for creating products we use everyday that no longer have nasty chemicals!
A great example of this is a recent post on our ThermoFun Club Facebook Group from Corinna.
Here is what Corinna had to say about using the Lemon Cleaning Concentrate:
"I find because there are no chemicals I don't have as many dermatitis flare ups. This cleaning concentrate has a pleasant smell too. If I have any cooked on food stuck to the base of the TM bowl I add a tablespoon of concentrate and cover blades with water cook for 5mins and comes up clean.. no scrubbing!!! YAH!! and it's something that I use everywhere in my house from kitchen, laundry to bathroom etc"
BENEFITS & USES
• Non-chemical
• Effective
• Smells great
• Cheap
• Easy to make
• Use on a damp cloth to clean the oven, hob, fridge, sink & non-wood worktops – rinse and dry thoroughly – if marks appear rinse again and polish with a dry clean cloth.
• For hand-washing dishes, mix some with your usual washing up liquid for a brilliant degreaser.
• Excellent for cleaning bathrooms – tiles, toilets, sinks, mirrors.
• Add 1 tablespoon to the washing machine for a cleaning boost, a pleasant natural fragrance without chemicals, and whiter whites. Add 2 tablespoon for an American-size washing machine.
• Dilute with an equal amount of coconut oil or olive oil, mix well and use as an excellent hand-wash. No chemicals, no artificial fragrances. It leaves your skin soft too.
• Use a little on a wet cloth to spot clean fabrics – it has worked to remove curry stains on cotton and poly/cotton for us. Test a hidden area of the fabric first.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the high acidity and the salt combination it is NOT recommended to cook this in your Thermomix bowl.
ThermoFun – Everyday Basics – Lemon Cleaning Concentrate
Ingredients
- 400g to 500g lemons, quartered
- 300g salt (preferably fine table salt)
- 300g water
- 100g vinegar
Instructions
- Place lemon (including skins and pips) into TM bowl and chop 30 sec / speed 10.
- Transfer the lemon into a pot and add salt and water and cook for 5 mins on the stove.
- Whilst stirring add the vinegar and continue cooking in the pot for another 5 mins.
- Pour lemon mixture into TM bowl and blend 1 min / speed 10.
- The mixture will resemble a lemon curd. Put into a jar or a heatproof plastic container. Allow to cool before closing the jar with a vinegar-proof lid.
- Straight away add enough water to your TM bowl to cover the blades and self-clean 20 sec / speed 8 then rinse and dry.
Notes
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the high acidity and the salt combination it is NOT recommended to cook this in your Thermomix bowl.
If you've made this cleaner or something similar, why not share your experience and recipe (if not copyright) below. We could all use a little less chemicals in our home! :)
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Steve says
I had a bunch of lemons to use up after I had zested them, so I made a batch of this. I had run out of dishwasher tablets so I tried a tablespoon of the lemon cleaner. The results are mostly just as good as commercial dishwasher tablets ! Including on very greasy cooking items. It doesn't do a totally thorough job of burnt on items, probably not abrasive enough.
Hannah Brayshaw says
Your reviewer, Corinna, whom you cite above, says she "cooks" the paste in her Thermie for 5 mins to clean it, but you state in red font after the recipe that it would not be'cooked' in the Thermie. Which is correct, please?
thermofun says
Hi Hannah, as Corinna only uses a tbsp and approx. 2 cups of water to cover the blades, this would be ok as the acidity and salt proportions would be extremely low compared to making the whole recipe in the TM bowl.
Tamika says
Silly question but does it matter at what temperature we cook it on the stove? Thanks
thermofun says
Hi Tamika, just have it simmering. :)
clare Jelenic says
What can't you use it on?
Can you use it on stone bench tops
thermofun says
Clare to my knowledge it can be used on everything with no known issues to me!
Peiling says
Preferably not on stone benchtops. You shouldn't use anything acidic on them as they are porous and acid is not good for them.
Sheila Pybus says
Can anybody advise on the ratio to use for bench tops, shower screens and tiles, just made my first batch and can't wait to use it
Beth says
what is a "vinegar-proof" lid?
thermofun says
Beth, Vinegar-proof means lids that don't have metal that will come in contact with the vinegar. So try and use jars that have a plastic covering on the inside. :)
Jayne says
I love this idea! But I totally detest the smell of vinegar,especially for cleaning (when used on its own). Does the lemon/salt over power the vinegar smell? I would love to make it, but couldn't if I can smell vinegar. Any advice from those who have made it?
karen bieling says
i made it today and there is only a great smell of lemons
Victoria Bradley says
Thank you for sharing! I have to try this awesome recipe! I use lemon juice for cleaning my kitchen appliances inside and outside. Also I use lemon peels for making an infusion and for cleaning the windows and mirrors. Lemon peels can be used also for garbage disposal. Greets!
Stella says
I used limes instead of lemons this afternoon. It works well and my whole house smell so nice.
Just wondering if I want to dilute with water in spray bottle, what is the ratio?
Thanks
Felicia says
can limes be used instead of lemons?
thermofun says
Felicia I haven't tried it with limes but I reckon it would work. Let us know if you try it. :)
Lara says
Made the Lemon concentrate today. House smells amazing. I'm gifting some & keeping some too! Thanks for the great recipe. I was too nervous to cook this in my scanpan so used an old saucepan instead
margaret says
there is a warning not to cook the mixture in the Thermo bowl due to high acidity, yet after cooking the cleaning mixture in pot you instruct to further mix in the thermo bowl. This is a little ambiguous can you please explain further.
thermofun says
Margaret because it is not being cooked in the TM only mixed for a minute and then bowl washed immediately as advised in recipe.
L says
Hi
Would like to try this.
I notice that you say don't cook in the Thermi but is it okay to do the last stage in the Tm ?
L
thermofun says
Yes it's only in there for a minute to be mixed and then bowl washed out immediately after. :)
Siobahn says
Could you do this with oranges too?
thermofun says
To be honest I haven't tried with oranges Siobahn. But only one way to find out! Let us know how it goes. :)
Tiffany says
I just made this and my whole house smells delicious!! Thank you :)
Just wondering how to use it for general household cleaning like benchtops and bathrooms etc? I i just splodge a blob on or do I dilute it with water in a spray bottle?
thermofun says
You can do 'either or' Tiffany! :)
lhayne says
I added a squirt to some hot water in my TM bowl and whizzed it on 6 for a few seconds. It cleaned my bowl beautifully!
alaina says
Hi, just wondering if I can do the cooking part in the thermomix to save the extra step of transferring to the stove?
thermofun says
Alaina, it is not recommended as there can be some kind of chemical reaction between the lemon, the salt and the vinegar and may damage your bowl. :(
lhayne says
It's also great for cleaning stains from chopping boards, and the glass in my shower has never been cleaner. I made up a triple batch to use up the last of the lemons on my tree - I love it!
H says
Wow - my house smells amazing!
I had lots of lemons to use up so tried this…. can't wait to test it on my bathrooms!
It made HEAPS so I'm thinking of popping it in little jars for xmas gifts.
Thanks for the 'recipe'!
Rena says
Please let me know if the salt will damaged the cooker top if I use this recipe for cleaning the cooker top?
thermofun says
Rena - I really would not know as it depends on what your cooker top is made of. Maybe test on a small unobtrusive part of the cook top before tackling the whole thing?
Jacqueline says
How long does this keep for please?
thermofun says
Jacqueline I have some left from my batch I made 6 months ago and it still looks perfect.
Trish says
This is wonderful, makes everything smell so nice as well as cleans, just make sure you don't forget to rinse the measuring cup immediately after making it, otherwise it wont be a clear plastic cup anymore.
thermofun says
Yes it does smell lovely doesn't it Trish? :) That's a good tip about the MC too. Thanks :)
Lorraine says
Just made it...I decided not to use the MC...didn't want to take any chances...I held a saucer over the top...allowing for any steam to be able to escape...worked perfectly :)
Renee says
I will definately be trying this...but I couldnt find the recipe on the UK website you linked?
thermofun says
Renee, it seems they have moved it! Will update post for you.
pasaltmarsh says
I did this and find it very refreshing, still to try it on the oven, but as we are in the process of moving , am using it nearly everywhere and my house smells great. My Thermie loved the afterglow as well
thermofun says
Awesome! I bet your house does smell lovely and fresh! Good luck with the move too! :)