Use sliced lemons to freshen your microwave by placing a bowl of water with three or four lemon slices in the microwave and cook on high for 30 seconds.

Clean copper by dipping a cut lemon in salt and rubbing on the copper.

Rub halved lemons on cutting boards, rinse with cold water to clean and destroy cutting board odors.

Clean scratch-prone laminate counter tops by rubbing with lemons or lemon juice for gentle cleansing.

Oxalic acid is a useful household chemical that is used as stain-lifter and bleaching agent. Oxalic acid is toxic and very corrosive when it is in its pure form that is why when dealing with Oxalic acid, safety must be the first priority. Here are some tips for the safe handling of Oxalic acid.

1. Use Protective Gears

When mixing and applying Oxalic acid you should wear protective gears such as rubber gloves, safety mask and safety glasses. The rubber gloves are necessary to prevent your skin from being exposed to the Oxalic acid. The safety masks and safety glasses are essential to avoid lung and eye irritation. It is also advisable to wear a long-sleeve shirt when dealing with Oxalic acid to prevent Oxalic acid exposure to your entire arms.

2. Work in Well-ventilated Area

When mixing Oxalic acid it is best to work in a well-ventilated area. If you cannot work outdoor make sure that all the windows and doors are open to avoid inhaling the toxic fumes of Oxalic acid.

3. Have a Pail of Water in Hand

A pail of water is very useful when dealing with Oxalic acid. If you begin to experience skin and eye irritation or spill over some Oxalic acid on the floor, immediately rinse your skin and eye with water and pour some water on the spilled Oxalic acid as well.

Plastic kettles should only need a wipe down with warm soapy water – don’t use anything abrasive or it will scratch the surface. Discoloured marks may improve after rubbing them with a cut lemon.

Metal kettles will benefit from a clean with soapy water then a lovely buff with a microfibre cloth to banish streaks.

Descale a kettle by filling it with half water and half clear vinegar. Leave overnight, empty, wipe out, refill with water, reboil, empty, refill, reboil, make tea.

From carpet: Sponge with cold water, then blot dry. Shampoo the carpet if a mark persists.

From fabric: Soak in a warm water and washing soda solution, then wash on as hot a setting as the fabric can take. Stubborn marks may be removed by soaking in a 1:2 clear vinegar and water solution.

From upholstery: Sponge the mark with cold water then dab at the mark with laundry detergent solution. Rinse and blot dry. If a mark remains, try a proprietary stain remover.

Ceramic tiles: Clean up the grouting with a solution of one part bleach to four parts water, using an old toothbrush to scrub between the tiles. Stains can be tackled with an all-purpose kitchen cleaner, but be careful of abrasive cleaners on glazed tiles.

Laminate: Stubborn stains can be cleaned with cream cleaners or a paste of bicarbonate of soda with a few drops of chlorine bleach.

Solid wood: Regular oiling is required to prevent the wood soaking up water – follow manufacturer’s recommendations carefully. Firm rubbing with a cloth and a washing-up liquid solution should clean up the wood, but take care not to allow spills of tomato sauce, curry etc to sit on the surface as they can be tough to remove.

Stainless steel: Fingermarks can be removed with a microfibre cloth or try a dab of baby oil on a clean cloth. Avoid any abrasive materials, which could scratch the surface.

Granite: Hardwearing and resistant to stains, washing-up liquid is all that’s required here. Avoid any abrasive materials, which could scratch the surface.