Lemon Uses That'll Surprise You

By Ready Expert

Lemons are one of those great tools that can help you save money and become more self-sufficient. Knowing its multiple uses can help you become more self-reliant when you are cooking, cleaning, using first-aid or homesteading.

Check out these amazing uses of lemons below and add your own at the bottom!

Disinfect Cuts and Scrapes

This might burn a little bit but you can stop bleeding and disinfect minor cuts and scrapes. Pour a few lemon drops directly on the cut. You can also place a few drops of juice onto a cotton swab and hold it firmly on the scrape for 1 minute.

Keep Ants Out of the Kitchen

Don’t waste money on all those fancy insecticides and ant traps, just give lemons a try! Squirt some lemon juice on door thresholds and windowsills. Squeeze lemon juice into holes or cracks that might allow ants to crawl through. You can also scrape some lemon peel around open areas of the doors. You can also get rid of roaches and fleas by mixing 4 lemons (along with the rinds) with 1/2 gallon of water. Use the concoction to wash your floors.

Clean Tarnished Brass

By making a simple paste of lemon juice and salt, you can get rid of those gross tarnish marks on brass pots and pans. Create a thick paste and coat the affected areas. Let the paste sit for 5 minutes and then wash with warm water. This will also work on metal kitchen sinks.

Rid Clothes of Mildew

I hate finding that my clothes have mildew on them once I’ve stored them for a long winter. To get rid of mildew on clothing, simply create a paste out of lemon juice and salt and rub the affected area. Dry the clothing in sunlight. Repeat the process until the stain is gone.

Make Soggy Lettuce Crisp

It’s important to never waste any food. That’s why it’s so frustrating to see that the lettuce in your fridge has gone soggy. But no worries, lemons can help! Add the juice from a half a lemon to a bowl of cold water. Place the soggy lettuce in the water and refrigerate for 1 hour. Make sure the leaves are completely dry before putting them in salads or sandwiches.

Sooth Poison Ivy Rash

You don’t necessarily need a tub full of calamine lotion next time you come in contact with some poison ivy. Instead, apply straight lemon juice to the affected area to soothe itching.

Remove Berry Stains

You're out picking berries from your bushes and realize that you now have stains all over your fingers. The stains don’t usually come of with soap and water so use lemon juice instead. Wash your hands in the lemon juice and wait a few minutes. After the wait, wash your hands with warm, soapy water. Repeat the process until the stain is completely gone.

Sanitize

Lemons are very acidic and contain a lot of antibacterial properties that are great for sanitizing. You can clean surfaces like cutting boards or counters by rubbing a half a lemon on them. Allow the surface to sit for a few minutes and then rinse.

What Have You Done?

How have you used lemons? Share your knowledge below and help others save money and time!

11 years ago

Comments

Kathy Wilson

11 years ago at 3:39 AM

When you want to clean and clear pimples, and black heads from your face, mix one egg white with a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice, and apply to your face as a mask. Let dry about half an hour, then peel off. This will help remove dead skin, and all extra oil, and help slough off material clogging pores. Works for me....

Rosa

5 years ago at 9:30 AM

Why add egg? Lemon alone will clear up pimples, citrus fruits are know as natural antibiotics also, i drink tea with lemon daily in mornings first thing along with water regularly and have not been sick with colds, flu etc for years. I am a 9 yr. breast cancer survivor cancer free i do not use otc meds. I also use a lot if onions

Dave

11 years ago at 5:23 AM

Better trick for "mildew" on clothes that have been packed and/or stored. Make SURE they are dry FIRST. Mildew usually takes moisture to form...unless it's "dry rot".

Beth

11 years ago at 6:51 AM

I've been asking for lemon powder for over a year-wish you had it to purchase.

Ryan

11 years ago at 8:01 AM

Lemons are great for so many things. I just use a few drops of lemon oil for most of the things mentioned above. It's more concentrated and I don't have to worry about a box of lemons going bad.

Scott

11 years ago at 8:23 AM

To clean a stained glass coffee pot diner style, carefully add a handful of ice cubes, tbsp of salt, and squeeze 1/2 a lemon into it. Swirl the mixture in the pot for 2-5 mins and dump and rinse. Ready for the next pot, clean & clear!

Dave

11 years ago at 8:57 AM

A slice of lemon or lime is an effective deodorant. Just wipe your pits - it works! Cut up lemons and boil in water, peel and all, until the water's half gone. You now have natural styling gel for your hair.

Jim

11 years ago at 9:49 AM

You can used lemon juice to make hair conditioner go a lot further. The leave in conditioners like It a 10 can be mixed 50/59 with half lemon juice so one bottle makes two and it is much more expensive than lemon juice...

Rick

11 years ago at 10:05 AM

I like to mix lemon juice with sugar, pour it over ice and drink it. it satisfies my thirst quite well.

Jon

11 years ago at 2:51 PM

Lemon juice will take the smell of fish from your hands or ice chest.

Jason

11 years ago at 8:49 PM

I like to slice them up and add to herbs from garden to make a marinade. Lemon basil lemons oregano olive oil. Soak herbs n lemonsfirst in small amount of vodka then when you see it change color add to olive oil vinegar and water and more fresh herbs makes great for chicken seafood.

Will

11 years ago at 7:57 AM

These are awesome tips. I have 2 lemon trees in my yard and they don't stop sprouting fruit... I have endless supply of lemons so this will help me get more use out of the lemons. I just juice mine and pour in ice cube trays and drop a few lemon juice cubes into my drinks for a time release hint of lemon in my water or soda but that is mundane compared to some tips here. Thanks!

Diana

11 years ago at 1:54 PM

Unless you, like Will, have an endless supply of homegrown lemons, I would respectfully suggest it is a lot more economical to restrict your lemon household hints to such peels of lemons squeezed for juice as you may occasionally have around and substitute cheap citric acid for expensive lemons in a lot of the above. And Beth, what is usually sold as lemon powder or lemon juice powder is generally not powdered lemons/lemon juice, but rather a concoction of flavored maltodextrin, corn syrup solids and lemon oil, or something similar. Such products are strictly for adding lemon flavor to baking/cooking and would not substitute well for lemons in these hints, any more than the "granulated honey" the Ready Store sells that is really crystalized cane syrup (ordinary table sugar) flavored with some honey will make an adequate substitute for real honey in your medicine chest. For real storage lemon powder you would need powdered freeze-dried lemons or possibly dehydrated lemons (and good luck on finding any freeze-dried lemons for retail sale, plus even if you could, they would be rather expensive stuff to use for household cleaning). Powdered versions/substitutes for what is ordinarily a liquid may have a place in your food storage, but they are only rarely the straight dehydrated or freeze-dried liquids, so you should know exactly what it is you are storing and how and where it can be used successfully before spending money on any of them.

Liz

11 years ago at 2:10 PM

I dehydrate my lemons and reconstitute as needed. I recently used my dry lemons as part of my concoction for my Christmas turkey brine. The family thought it was the best bird yet.

Jean

9 years ago at 4:03 AM

Would you share your marinade recipe? I a always looking for a good recipe using lemons. Thanks.

Vicci

11 years ago at 4:50 PM

For years I've been using lemons and ice cubes to clean and freshen my garbage disposal.

Ashley

11 years ago at 9:09 PM

Recently I used lemons cut in half and salt to scrub my tub. It took more elbow grease than my favorite bleach spray, but it was much kinder to my septic system.

Sam

11 years ago at 6:08 AM

Why can't you just dehydrate sliced lemons, blend them into powder. We dehydrate sliced oranges and oven seal them for future use. At least you know your using the real thing.

Patti

11 years ago at 7:37 AM

It is a medical fact that by drinking a small amount of lemon juice it cures hiccups!

Storm

11 years ago at 12:31 PM

I changed the "Disinfect Cuts and Scrapes". After adding the lemon to the wound, I usually rub salt in as well.

Robin

11 years ago at 10:34 PM

When I was a little girl and sick, Mom would mix honey and lemon and use it to calm coughs and sore throats.

Kathy

11 years ago at 6:15 AM

I've always used lemon juice to keep sliced fruit from turning brown. Put sliced fruit into a container, squirt some lemon juice in there, toss the mixture, then drain. You can cover the container,(or a Ziploc bag) to save for a little later.Doesn't' change the flavor either!

Sandra

11 years ago at 9:26 AM

I read that you should freeze lemons, then grate them into just about every thing you eat. It supposedly doesn't change the flavor, but gives all the benefits. I haven't tried it yet, but plan to soon.

11 years ago at 4:05 PM

I've enjoyed just eating lemons and salt. I've been doing it almost 65 years, I not only have all of my teeth, but my dentist says they're in great shape.

Roscoe Benjamin

10 years ago at 3:35 AM

Lemon juice one one ounce freshly squeezed mixed with half cup of water and 1/4 teaspoon of salt and half teaspoon of sugar is a good ectrolute replacement therapy

Michael

10 years ago at 3:15 PM

Lemon juice sprayed on Strawberries will prevent them from getting infected with a fungus. Also a little lemon juice added to Whitefish salad will preseve it longer.

Monica Chavez

10 years ago at 12:52 AM

I always use lemon on my salads and adding herbs I don't need to add salt.

Jean Reeves

9 years ago at 4:07 AM

When I make potato, pasta or chicken salad, etc. I substitute lemon juice for almost all of the vinegar or add it to the mayonnaise and it gives the dish a delightful flavor.

Carole Bird

9 years ago at 7:11 AM

after you squeeze and use almost all the juice of a lemon cut in half -- use each half to bleach and soften your elbows -- get something to read -- protect your table with a towel / plastic -- and place your elbows in the lemon skins -- 15 minutes -- or more if you have the time --

Cora

3 years ago at 7:31 AM

If you find that you have a rust stain on a garment or tablecloth, etc., Rub a fresh lemon into the stain and lay it outside in the direct sun. I have watched the rust stain disappear!!!! Magic!!!

Kim

3 years ago at 3:05 PM

Concerning lemons and other citrus, submerge their peels in vinegar and leave to sit on the counter for a week or so, then use in a spray bottle to clean porcelain appliances. Does good to disinfect and shine after a quick spray and wipe then polish with a clean dry microfiber cloth.

Barbara

3 years ago at 9:12 AM

I have had several kidney stones in recent years that always resulted in having a lithotripsy to break them up. My last stone was 5 mm in size and was stuck in the tube from my kidney to my bladder. Being desperate for something natural that worked, my research led me to the solution: lemon juice and vinegar in water. In less than two weeks on this daily concoction, the stone dissolved enough to pass on through. Two tablespoons of vinegar and one tablespoon of lemon juice in 8 oz of water did it for me! My daughter has more stones than I do and she drinks lemon juice in water every day to prevent them from forming, something I need to do, myself.