31 Ways To Use Lemons & Lemon Peels In Your Home

Learn on the different uses of lemon peels and juice. Check out the article we found over at Mercola.

By Dr. Mercola

In the US, lemons have been grown since the 16th century in Florida, after being brought to the New World by Christopher Columbus. With their high vitamin C content, lemons (along with limes) were valued to protect against the development of scurvy.

During the California Gold Rush, lemons were in such high demand that people paid up to $1 per lemon, which would still be considered pricey today (so it was extremely expensive during the 1800s).

The vitamin C content alone provides good reason to keep a steady supply of lemons on hand, but these bright citrus fruits also contain additional antioxidants known as flavonoids that may play a beneficial role in fighting heart disease, cancer, and inflammation. As noted in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry:

“The anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Citrus flavonoids can play a key role in their activity against several degenerative diseases and particularly brain diseases.”

Ways to Use Lemons Around Your Home

Deodorizing

Garbage disposal: Freeze lemon slices and vinegar in ice cube trays. Place a few frozen cubes down your disposal for cleaning and freshening.	Refrigerator: Soak a sponge in lemon juice and let it sit in your fridge for a few hours; it works better than baking soda to remove odors.	Room freshener: Simmer a pot of water and add lemon peels, cloves, and cinnamonsticks.
Humidifier: Add lemon juice to the water in your humidifier, then let the machine run for deodorizing.	Breath: Drinking lemon water helps freshen your breath (rinse your mouth with plain water afterward since lemon juice may erode your teeth).	Trash cans: A few lemon peels added to your garbage can will help with odors.
Fireplace: Dried citrus peels can act as kindling in your fireplace, adding a wonderful smell and acting as a flame starter. Simply let the peels sit out for a few days before using.	Hands: Add lemon juice while washing your hands with soap to help remove stubborn odors like garlic.	Cat box: Place lemon slices in a bowl near your cat box to help freshen the air.

Cooking

Prevent browning on fruits and veggies: Soak cut-up apples, cauliflower, bananas, pears,potatoes, and avocados in a bowl of cold lemon water to prevent browning.	Revive limp lettuce: Add the juice of half a lemon to a bowl of cold water, then soak soggy lettuce leaves. Refrigerate for one hour then dry the now-crisp leaves.	Clumpy rice: To keep rice from sticking, add a spoonful of lemon juice to the water while the rice is cooking. Simply fluff with a fork when it’s done.
Ice cubes: Add lemon slices to your ice cube trays to add some flavor to your beverages.	Marinade: Combine lemon juice with your favorite oils and herbs to marinate meats. The acidic lemon juice helps break down the meat so the flavor of the marinade can infuse it.	Buttermilk substitute: Two tablespoons of lemon juice added to a cup of milk, and left to sit for 15 minutes, makes a fine substitute for buttermilk in recipes.
Sour cream substitute: For a sour cream alternative, add lemon juice to whipped cream and let it sit for 30 minutes.

Health

Lemon water: Lemon water provides you with vitamin C and potassium while helping with digestion and immune system health.	Sore throat: Lemon is both anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. Gargling with lemon water may soothe a sore throat while consuming lemon water provides vitamin C for your immune system.	Canker sores: Lemon juice has antifungal and antibacterial properties, so gargling with a cup of hot lemon water may help speed the healing of canker sores.
Skin rashes: Soak a cotton ball in lemon juice and apply it to rashes, such as poison ivy, for relief.	Insect bites: Lemon juice can help to relieve the swelling and itching of insect bites.	Coughs: Sip hot lemon water with honey to help reduce mucous buildup and relieve coughs.
Warts: Coating warts with lemon juice may help break them down and speed recovery.

Miscellaneous

Leather shoe polish: Combine one-part lemon juice with two parts of olive oil, then apply to leather shoes. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes, then buff with cloth.	Invisible ink: Dip a cotton swab into lemon juice and right a message on a piece of white paper. After it dries, hold it up to a lamp or light bulb to see your hidden message.	Jewelry sanitizer: Add one tablespoon of lemon juice to 1.5 cups of water. Use the solution to sanitize earrings and other jewelry, but do not use it on pearls or gold.
Insect repellant: Mopping floors with lemon juice and water will repel roaches and flees. Spray concentrated lemon juice on areas where ants are getting in. You can also place lemon peels near entryways to repel insects.	Stains on your pet’s fur: To remove pink or red-colored stains from around your pet’s eyes or mouth, apply a paste of baking soda and lemon juice and rub into the fur. Let it sit for about 10 minutes then rinse off. Be careful not to get the mixture into your pet’s eyes.	Berry stains on hands: Rub a paste of cornmeal and lemon juice onto your hands, let sit, then rinse off to remove berry stains.
Kill weeds: Spray weeds with lemon juice for a non-toxic weed killer.	Dog and cat repellant: If you want to keep neighborhood dogs and cats out of your yard, sprinkle the perimeter with coffee grounds and lemon peels. Most dogs and cats dislike the scents and will go elsewhere.	Hardened paintbrushes: Bring lemon juice with a splash of water to a boil, then add in hardened paintbrushes. Let sit for 15 minutes, then wash with soap and water. The bristles will become soft again once they dry.

Next Article: Lemons Cure Cancer: A Myth Or Reality?

Read full article: The Things You Can Do with Lemon Peels and Juice