Lately, I’ve been kind of obsessed with lemons. I love the way they look piled high in a glass bowl, the fresh, citrus scent that lingers in the air after slicing, and the kick
Photo by Katerha
they add to everything from green tea to fish tacos.
There are dozens of practical and well known uses for lemons – from deodorizing the smelliest of garbage disposals to preventing browning on sliced apples. But there are just as many unexpected uses for lemons that are both practical and natural.
Did you know lemons can?
- Serve as a natural air freshener and humidipher – in a small pot simmer water, lemon peels, cinnamon sticks, apple peels. Great for parties, eliminating dry air in the house and a natural alternative to aerosol air fresheners that can be overpowering or irritating to the sinuses. If you have a fireplace, try throwing a lemon peel into the fire to prevent unpleasant odors during burning.
- Clean tarnished brass – make a paste of lemon juice and salt or baking soda. Coat the brass, copper or stainless steel and let sit for 5 minutes. Wash, rinse and polish dry. Great for kitchen sinks because it also acts as a disinfectant killing bacteria.
- Act as a natural insecticide – Ant proof your kitchen with lemons. Squeeze lemon juice into windowsills, doorways, cracks or anywhere ants are entering or might enter. You can also boil lemon juice and leave it out on the table during tailgates or backyard gatherings. Mosquitoes, mites and other insects are repulsed by certain ingredients in lemons so this will generally help keep them away.
- Lighten age spots and freckles – wash your face nightly with a small amount of lemon juice and rinse with cool water in the morning.
- Strengthen and whiten nails – If you wear nail polish a lot, especially dark colors, you know it can discolor your nails. Soak them in a lemon juice for about 10 minutes then briefly dip them into a bowl of vinegar and warm water.
The best lemons are bright firm and feel heavy for their size.
Have you found any unexpected uses for lemons?
