Lemons are Not Just for Lemonade: 31 Uses for Lemons and Lemon Juice

Household:

1. Remove tough food stains from your cutting board by rubbing with lemon juice and baking soda. This will also kill germs and freshen.
2. Clean and deodorize your microwave by placing 4 tablespoons of lemon juice in 1 cup of water. Place in microwaveable bowl and boil for 5 minutes. The condensation from the boiled mixture will enable the microwave to be wiped out easily, and will deodorize the oven.
3. A paste of salt and lemon juice will clean and shine your sink while killing germs.
4. Toss lemon rinds into the fireplace to freshen stale smells.
5. Toss lemon rinds into simmering water along with cloves, cinnamon sticks, and orange peels to make a delightful aroma and humidify the air.
6. Polish chrome faucets with a paste of baking soda and lemon juice.
7. A few tablespoons added to the water in a humidifier will deodorize the air in the home.
8. Cut a lemon in half and place in dishes for air fresheners.
9. Stop potatoes or cauliflower from discoloring while cooking by placing 1 teaspoon of lemon juice in the water while cooking.
10. Stop apples or guacamole from discoloring when preparing fruit salads by sprinkling lemon juice on them.
11. Place a sponge or cotton ball dabbed with lemon juice in your fridge for several hours to displace foul odors. Do not forget to remove the spoiled food.
12. By adding a teaspoon of lemon juice to rice while cooking you can prevent your rice from sticking.




13. Freshen soggy lettuce by dipping lettuce in a bowl of cold water with the juice of ½ lemon. Place lettuce in fridge for 1 hour. Remove lettuce from the bowl and allow to dry. The lettuce can then be used for sandwiches or salad.
14. Ant-proof the kitchen with lemon juice. Squirt lemon juice on thresholds and window sills. Squeeze lemon juice into any holes or cracks that the ants are entering. Scatter small slices of lemon peel around door entrances. Ants do not like the lemon fragrance and will not enter your home. Lemons are also effective against roaches and fleas. Reader's Digest suggests a mixture of ½ gallon (2 liters) of water and the juice and rinds of four lemons. Wash the kitchen floor and the counters with this mixture and watch the insects leave.
15. Lemon or orange peels tossed regularly into the garbage disposal will keep the garbage disposal smelling fresh.
16. Make a paste of lemon juice and baking soda. Rub the solution on your aluminum pans, then buff and watch them shine.

Laundry

1. Pour lemon juice directly on ink spots and wash garments in cold water.
2. A mild alternative to bleach can be found in lemon juice. Soak garments in a mixture of baking soda and lemon juice for ½ hour prior to washing. Lemon juice is much safer for whitening delicates than bleach is.
3. Used with white vinegar lemon juice is effective in removing underarm stains from shirts, and blouses.
4. Use 1 cup of lemon juice in washer with whites to help remove rust stains, and whiten whites. Work a paste of salt and lemon juice into mildew stains and allow garment to dry. Repeat process until the stain is gone.

Health and Beauty

1. Lemon juice has been used for years to lighten age spots and freckles, and it has an added bonus of helping to clear black heads and acne. Wash the face nightly with lemon juice and rinse with cool water in the morning.
2. Create blond highlights by spraying the hair with lemon juice and sitting under the sun. Lemon juice added to shampoo aids with the removal of dandruff. Add two tablespoons of lemon juice to two cups of water to rinse hair after shampooing. Repeat process every other day until there are no signs of dandruff.
3. Dry and achy hands and feet can be relieved with a mixture of lemon juice and olive oil used as a massage. The skin will feel softer too.
4. Anyone who frequently polishes their nails knows that polish can create yellowing. Soak nails in lemon juice for ten minutes then dip in a mixture of warm water and vinegar. Not only with this help to whiten nails, but it also aids in strengthening them.
5. Lemon juice provides for antibacterial treatment in minor wounds and aids in stopping the bleeding.
6. Poured directly on poison ivy rash, lemon juice relieves the itch and discomfort.
7. There are several different cough and sore throat remedies which include lemon juice. Lemon juice can also be used to kill the bacteria that cause bad breath.
8. A few drops of lemon juice added to a glass of warm water drank before breakfast will aid with constipation.
9. Remove the foul odor of fish or the stain of berries from your hands by washing them first in lemon juice and then with soap and water.
10. Lighten, smooth, and soften elbows with lemon juice.
11. Remove warts by applying lemon juice to the site daily until the wart falls off.

There is also an added benefit in using lemon juice, baking soda, or vinegar in cleaning in that we are helping our environment by using natural non toxic cleaners.