When life give you lemons, you know the rest: You make lemonade. But did you know that lemons can do so much more around your home? Here are just a few of the amazing things that you can do with this citrus fruit:
1. Mask odors
Add lemon peels to your garbage can or throw some down the garbage disposal to ward off odors. For the fridge, put some lemon juice on a sponge or cotton ball and leave it there for a few hours. You can place cut-up lemons, open side up, in bowls or vases throughout the house as a decoration and deodorizer.
2. Brighten aluminum
Rub the cut side of half a lemon over dull pots and pans. Buff with a soft cloth and you’ll be left with sparkly cookware.
3. Revive cutting boards and cheese graters
To clean and sanitize boards or graters, rub the cut side of a lemon over the tools.
4. Soothe sunburns, poison ivy rashes or itchy bug bites
Rub the cut side of a juiced lemon directly and gently onto sunburned, rashy or itchy skin.
5. Tackle skin issues
For quick lightening of age spots, dab some lemon juice onto the spots for a few days. To help eliminate acne, rub half a lemon on your clean and dry face. Leave on for 10 to 20 minutes and rinse with cool water. (Beware that lemons make you more sensitive to the sun.)
6. Prevent bugs
Place cut-up lemon peels or lemon juice on windowsills and door thresholds and in any cracks or holes where ants are getting in.
7. Brighten nails
For bright and shiny nails, mix lemon juice and baking soda into a paste. Apply paste to nails and massage lightly.
8. Bleach plastic storage containers
Rub some lemon juice on plastic containers that have been discolored from foods like tomato sauce or tomato soup. Let them dry in the sun.
9. Clean toilets
Pour half a cup lemon juice into the bowl. Let it sit, and then use a toilet brush to get rid of stains more easily.
10. Deal with dandruff
Apply 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to your scalp. Rinse with water. Then stir 1 teaspoon lemon juice into 1 cup water, and rinse. Repeat daily until dandruff is gone.
11. Remove water stains on shower doors
Dip half a lemon into baking soda. Rub onto the glass. Rinse and dry.
12. Polish hardwood floors
Create a homemade lemon-vinegar floor cleaner to use with a microfiber cloth or damp mop (never saturate hardwood floors). It’s a nontoxic and aromatic way to prevent bacteria, mold and germs. Plus it will ward off fleas and roaches.
13. Soften elbows
To relieve scaly, dry elbows, mix lemon juice and baking soda into a paste. Rub paste into elbows.
14. Remove berry stains
Wash hands with undiluted lemon juice. Wait a bit and then wash with soapy, warm water. Repeat until stains are gone.
15. Use as a substitute for sour cream
Combine whipped cream and lemon juice. It will sour after 30 or so minutes.
16. Disinfect scrapes and cuts
Pour a few drops of lemon juice directly onto minor scrapes and cuts to stop bleeding and disinfect them. Or, put the juice onto a cotton ball and apply for a minute.
17. Soothe sore feet and rough hands
Mix equal parts water and lemon juice to feet or hands. Rinse and massage with olive oil. Dry with a soft cloth.
18. Help remove warts
Apply lemon juice to a cotton swap. Dab directly onto wart for several days to help it dissolve.
19. Kill weeds
Fill a spray bottle with lemon juice. Spray any weeds until they’re well-coated. The offending plants should shrivel after a few days.
20. Prevent brown apples
Lemons can keep apple slices from going bad. Soak cut apples in a bowl containing a mixture of 1 tablespoon of lemon juice per 1 cup of water.
21. Clean your humidifier
Pour lemon juice into your humidifier water. Turn on the humidifier and let it run. It will naturally deodorize the machine and add a fresh scent to the room.
22. Freshen breath
Squeeze a little lemon juice into some water. Swish the mixture in your mouth for a few seconds. Swallow for even more freshening.
23. Revive stained white sneakers
Spray lemon juice on sneakers. Let them dry and whiten in the sun.
24. Remove spots from shirts
Pour lemon juice on the stain and add some table salt. Rub the stain between your fingers. Rinse. Dry in the sun.
25. Shine shoes
For a homemade shoe polish, mix 2 teaspoons of lemon juice with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
26. Avoid sticky rice
While rice is cooking, add a spoonful of lemon juice to the water. Cool and fluff with a fork.
27. Revive limp lettuce
Soak soggy lettuce leaves in a bowl of cold water and juice from half a lemon. Refrigerate for one hour and then dry thoroughly.
28. Deodorize cat smells
To freshen the air, place lemon slices in a bowl near your litter box.
29. Get rid of odors on hands
To remove the smell of garlic, fish or other odors from your hands, wash hands with lemon juice and soap.
30. Prevent brown vegetables
Potatoes and cauliflower often turn brown when boiling. Keep them white by squeezing a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice into the water.
