Going Green
Nearly every house has lemon juice or fresh lemons in the kitchen. Sure, you could use them to make lemonade; but sometimes you've got juice leftover, or of course, the rinds. Fortunately, lemon juice and lemon peels can be used as an eco-friendly alternative in several different areas of the home.
Plastic Food Container (such as Tupperware) Stains
Nothing is worse than finding out your new tupperware has a food stain, such as spaghetti. Using half a lemon, squeeze the juice into the container and rub thoroughly. Allow the container to sit for approximately 20 minutes and then rinse thoroughly.
Grease
Anywhere you've got grease, you can use lemon juice to clean: stove tops, pots and pans, even microwaves. Using a lemon half and some salt, rub the grease until gone and then wipe up with a clean towel.
Nothing is worse than finding out your tomato soup lunch tastes like your significant other's reheated bacon from breakfast. To prevent these issues, place lemon rinds into a bowl of water and microwave for 2 to 5 minutes (5 minutes for tougher food build-up.) Wipe away the steamed interior with a towel for a clean, fresh-scented microwave. This works especially well for food that's exploded and crusted onto the microwave's interior.
Ink Stains on Clothing
When applied directly, lemon juice can help remove ink stains. Pour directly onto the stain and wash in cold water.
Beauty Treatments: Age Spots, High Lights and Dry Elbows
If you're familiar with beauty tips that utilize lemon (think, lemon in your hair for natural summer high lights,) then perhaps you've heard of this one: lemon can be used to to lighten age spots. Simply take a small piece of lemon peel and apply it to the affected area. Leave the peel on for up to an hour. (Author's Note: this remedy will not necessarily remove all of the age spot and may not work for everyone.)
Not only that, but lemons can also be used to soften elbows. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle each half with baking soda. Then, use your elbow as if it were a juicer for several minutes; rinse and dry for softer elbows.
Clothing and Under Arm Stains
Combining equal parts lemon juice and white vinegar in the wash can help remove under arm stains on shirts.
Cat Box Odor
If you're like me, you've got a cat (or two) and you hate the smell of the litter box. Fortunately, a few slices of lemon in a small dish near the litter box can help deodorize the area.
Lemon Juice as a Polish
You can use lemon juice to polish chrome (such as your faucets or pots and pans.) Once you've used the juice up on the chrome, you can use the rind of the lemon (dipped in salt) on copper, brass and stainless steel items, such as pots and pans, faucets or kitchen sinks. Scrub down with the rind and salt mixture, allow to sit for approximately five minutes, rinse with warm water and allow to dry.
Cleaning Your Garbage Disposal
Instead of throwing out the used lemon peels once you've used them for these other issues, you can squeeze one last use out of them: deodorizing your garbage disposal. Just throw the rinds down the drain, run the water and turn on the garbage disposal and voila: your garbage disposal is fresh, clean and lemony-scented.
Nearly every house has lemon juice or fresh lemons in the kitchen. Sure, you could use them to make lemonade; but sometimes you've got juice leftover, or of course, the rinds. Fortunately, lemon juice and lemon peels can be used as an eco-friendly alternative in several different areas of the home.
Plastic Food Container (such as Tupperware) Stains
Nothing is worse than finding out your new tupperware has a food stain, such as spaghetti. Using half a lemon, squeeze the juice into the container and rub thoroughly. Allow the container to sit for approximately 20 minutes and then rinse thoroughly.
Grease
Anywhere you've got grease, you can use lemon juice to clean: stove tops, pots and pans, even microwaves. Using a lemon half and some salt, rub the grease until gone and then wipe up with a clean towel.
Nothing is worse than finding out your tomato soup lunch tastes like your significant other's reheated bacon from breakfast. To prevent these issues, place lemon rinds into a bowl of water and microwave for 2 to 5 minutes (5 minutes for tougher food build-up.) Wipe away the steamed interior with a towel for a clean, fresh-scented microwave. This works especially well for food that's exploded and crusted onto the microwave's interior.
Ink Stains on Clothing
When applied directly, lemon juice can help remove ink stains. Pour directly onto the stain and wash in cold water.
Beauty Treatments: Age Spots, High Lights and Dry Elbows
If you're familiar with beauty tips that utilize lemon (think, lemon in your hair for natural summer high lights,) then perhaps you've heard of this one: lemon can be used to to lighten age spots. Simply take a small piece of lemon peel and apply it to the affected area. Leave the peel on for up to an hour. (Author's Note: this remedy will not necessarily remove all of the age spot and may not work for everyone.)
Not only that, but lemons can also be used to soften elbows. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle each half with baking soda. Then, use your elbow as if it were a juicer for several minutes; rinse and dry for softer elbows.
Clothing and Under Arm Stains
Combining equal parts lemon juice and white vinegar in the wash can help remove under arm stains on shirts.
Cat Box Odor
If you're like me, you've got a cat (or two) and you hate the smell of the litter box. Fortunately, a few slices of lemon in a small dish near the litter box can help deodorize the area.
Lemon Juice as a Polish
You can use lemon juice to polish chrome (such as your faucets or pots and pans.) Once you've used the juice up on the chrome, you can use the rind of the lemon (dipped in salt) on copper, brass and stainless steel items, such as pots and pans, faucets or kitchen sinks. Scrub down with the rind and salt mixture, allow to sit for approximately five minutes, rinse with warm water and allow to dry.
Cleaning Your Garbage Disposal
Instead of throwing out the used lemon peels once you've used them for these other issues, you can squeeze one last use out of them: deodorizing your garbage disposal. Just throw the rinds down the drain, run the water and turn on the garbage disposal and voila: your garbage disposal is fresh, clean and lemony-scented.
