Cleaning products come in a variety of lemon scents, so you probably already associate the citrus fruit with a tidy home. There’s a reason for that: lemons are one of the best natural cleaning products out there. They can remove stubborn stains and eliminate difficult odors. If you’re finally ready to ditch the harsh chemicals and toxins in your usual cleaning products, lemon juice is a useful and affordable alternative that’s surprisingly effective.

The citric acid in lemons kills germs and removes mold, while the oil in lemon peels can dissolve grease and other substances. If you have access to a supply of lemons, try these household cleaning tricks.

More household tips: Learn the secret ingredient for cleaning burnt cast iron cookware or check out simple tricks to help you lower your electric, gas and water bills this fall.

Here are seven ways you can use lemons to tackle your spring cleaning this year.

1. Clean your windows

To remove streaks from windows and other glass surfaces, add about two tablespoons of lemon juice to an empty spray bottle. Add about a tablespoon of white vinegar and a cup of hot (but not boiling) water.

Shake the mixture well and apply to the area to be cleaned.

2. Refresh your garbage disposal

If your kitchen sink has an unpleasant smell, throw a few lemon slices or peels down the garbage disposal and rinse them away with cold water. For particularly strong smells, you can add some baking soda to the mixture.

3. Remove stains from sheets and pillowcases

Has a stubborn stain ruined your laundry? Treat it with a mixture of lemon juice and salt and leave it for 30 minutes.

Rinse with warm water and vinegar, then let it dry in the sun. Repeat if necessary. (This technique also works well for sweat stains on shirts.)

If your white sheets have become dingy, you can also use lemons to brighten them up. Fill a large pot with water, add a few lemon slices and bring the water to a boil. After turning off the heat, add the sheets and let the water soak for a good hour. Then wash your bedding as usual.

4. Clean chrome taps and fittings

Even if they aren’t dirty, chrome faucets can lose their shine due to hard water stains, limescale, and soap scum. To restore their shine, cut a lemon in half and run it over the faucet, handles, drain, and any other metal surfaces. When you’re done, rinse thoroughly and dry.

5. Polishing brass and copper

Coat half a lemon with coarse salt and rub it on tarnished pots, cabinet handles and other metal items. (Make sure they aren’t painted, though.) Then wipe with a damp cloth and then blot with a soft, dry cloth. You can also breathe new life into wooden furniture with a two-to-one solution of olive oil and lemon juice.

6. Kill weeds in your garden or yard

If you don’t want to keep harsh chemicals within reach of children or pets, a little lemon juice can serve as an effective weed killer.

Be careful about the amount and where you apply it, because the acid in the lemons can harm the plants you want to save and even change the pH of the soil.

7. Remove stains from your plastic containers

If you’ve ever put spaghetti in a plastic container, you know how easily tomato sauce can leave an unsightly stain. Instead of throwing it away, fill the container to the brim with lemon juice and let it sit for a few hours. Pour out the juice, then scrub the item thoroughly to get rid of the stain.

Read more: Prevent your food from exploding in the microwave