Lemons are a really useful fruit. They’re not just for lemonade and to squirt on fish – they have lots of uses around the house. Here are just a few of them and this is NOT an exhaustive list, but just our idea of really cool ways to use this bright yellow fruit. And don’t forget lemon essential oil, although we strongly recommend the real stuff, and not artificial smells which are always combinations of horrid chemicals. It probably goes without saying that these uses are for the real fruit and not a bottle of RealLemon or its imitators.
Laundry Uses For Lemons
#1: If you’re using vinegar in in your laundry cycle, add 3 drops of lemon essential oil to make your clothes and towels smell nice. I sometimes use vinegar when a piece of clothing, or whatever, has gotten that ‘musty’ smell because it was damp and didn’t get washed soon enough.
#2: White sneakers usually don’t maintain that pristine white color for long but you can bleach sneakers by spraying them with lemon juice and leaving in the sun for a few hours.
#3: Make your own DIY fabric softener: juice 4 lemons, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 20 cups water. Mix thoroughly and add a few drops to your laundry. It’s healthier and better smelling than those sheets – although, I admit the sheets are definitely handy. Keep your fabric softener in the refrigerator so the lemon juice doesn’t go bad.
#4: Get chewing gum out of clothing: wipe half of lemon and press lightly. This will work if you wash the garment right away and it hasn’t gone through a cycle. Caution: lemon will bleach fabric so don’t use this ‘cure’ on your fav black pants.
#5: To get your socks really white, soak them soak in a bath of hot water and juice of one lemon.
*#6: In case of fabric burn: juice of lemon, rinse with hot water and leave the burned fabric out in sun. The degree of “burnedness” makes a difference in whether this will work or not. If the fabric is too burned, nothing will save it. Still, this is worth a try.
#7: if/when your linen turns yellow, put it in 1 liter of boiling water with the juice of two lemons.
#8: To descale your iron (does anyone really iron any more?) pour salt on a lemon and scrub your iron. Rinse and dry your iron immediately.
In The Kitchen
#9: Lemon juice deodorizes/cleans wooden utensils and bowls.
#10: Lemon help keep fruits and vegetables – like avocado and apple – from turning brown. The operative word is ‘helps’ – nothing will keep them pristine.
#11: If you have smelly plastic boxes, pour in one spoonful lemon juice, 1 spoonful of baking soda, fill them with water and let them sit overnight. You may need a second treatment but this will usually do the job.
#12: Lemon will get rid of any mold in your refrigerator.
#13: I love homemade mayonnaise, but it can be tricky. To have lumpless mayo put the mustard and egg yolk in a bowl with salt and add the juice of one lemon. Use a whisk before you pour in your oil. SLOWLY pour in the oil – if you do it too fast, it will be liquidy and runny. Ask me how I know.
#14: To clean your sink pour salt on half a lemon and use like a sponge.
#15: For an inexpensive DIY dishwashing liquid combine two ounces of dishwashing liquid, 1 Tablespoon white vinegar, 1 Tablespoon baking soda and 15 drops lemon essential oil. The essential oil obviously isn’t necessary but it adds a pleasant fragrance.
#16: Then the microwave gets yucky, rather than hard scrubbing mix the juice of one lemon with a cup of water and microwave on high for two minutes. The gunk should wipe right off with a sponge.
In The Bathroom
#17: Make a body scrub of the juice of one lemon, 2 Tablespoons brown sugar, 1 teaspoons of your favorite oil. Use twice per week.
#18: To clean grout mix equal parts lemon and baking soda and leave on your grout for a few minutes.
#19: For descaling your faucets, use lemon on a sponge like #14.
For Your Pets
#20: To make an anti-flea shampoo for dogs mix 20 drops lemon essential oil with a neutral shampoo.
#21: Keep cats away from houseplants by mixing slivers of lemon peel with coffee grounds and adding the solution to the soil.
Health & The Lemony Yellow Fruit
#22: For sunburn: one Tablespoon lemon juice and one Tablespoon honey. Dab it on and reduce your pain and speed healing. If you need more ideas for sunburn relief, check out our article 61 Sunburn Treatment Tips to Relieve The Agony.
#23: If you’ve taken a whack and want to prevent a bruise, soak a cloth with ice cold lemon juice and hold on the area for 15 minutes.
#24: Stop annoying hiccups by placing one drop lemon juice on your tongue.
#25: Keep insects far away by rubbing your skin with lemon juice.
#26: To make a lovely air freshener put lemon essential oil on a light bulb (when it’s turned off), in a diffuser or pot pourri machine or put in a saucer on radiator if you have an older home.
#27: Make a leather cleaner by beating an egg white until stiff and then adding the juice of a lemon.
Two Interesting Uses …
#28: Lemon will make old coins shine! Put lemon juice in a container and immerse your coins for about 20 minutes. If you’re a collector or trader in old coinage, this is a safe way to make them sparkle.
#29: Lemon is a good polish for DARK shoes: 1 Tablespoon lemon juice mixed with 2 Tablespoons of olive oil.
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