These sour little bursts of sunshine are one of the most amazing fruits. They’re not only delicious in so many recipes, but they can do so many things to make your life a little more manageable.
Now I’m not exactly sure how readily available lemons or juice may have been during WWII, but I’m sure it’s one of those items they would have used if they had access. This incredible little fruit would have been a frugal alternative to many products. I was amazed to see how many things you could do with a single lemon, besides making lemonade.
Health
- Arthritis – to reduce inflammation, drink lemon water regularly.
- Congestion – to relieve, make a tea using cut lemons and salt. Drink it while it’s still warm.
- Cuts – to disinfect, pour a few drops of lemon juice on the cut.
- Digestion – to help, drink a glass of warm water with lemon juice.
- Diptheria – to treat, take a ½-1 teaspoon every 1-2 hours until the membrane comes out.
- Headaches – to treat, drink lemon juice with a few added teaspoons of hot tea.
- Kidney Stones – to prevent, drink lemon water regularly.
- Nausea – to stop, suck on a slice of lemon.
- Phlegm – to reduce, drink lemon water regularly.
- Poison Ivy – to soothe itching, apply lemon juice directly on the affected area.
- Sore Throat – to soothe, gargle with lemon water.
- Stress – to help control, drink lemon water regularly.
- Toothaches – to reduce pain, swish some lemon juice around in your mouth.
- Upset Stomach – to settle, suck on a lemon.
- Warts – to remove, apply lemon juice to the wart using a cotton swab. Repeat until the wart is dissolved.
Beauty
- Acne – to control, dab zits and blackheads with undiluted lemon juice.
- Age Spots – to lighten, apply lemon juice to the area and let it sit for 15-20 minutes then rinse.
- Breath – to freshen, take a drink of undiluted lemon juice. Rinse.
- Dandruff – to treat, massage scalp with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Rinse and repeat daily until gone.
- Elbows – to soften, mix lemon juice and baking soda to make a paste. Rub the paste into your elbows, rinse with equal parts lemon juice and water. Then massage with olive oil.
- Face – to cleanse and exfoliate, rub face with ½ a lemon. Rinse.
- Freckles – to lighten, apply lemon juice to the area and let it sit for 15-20 minutes then rinse.
- Hair – to make it shine, rinse your hair with a mixture of 1 squeezed lemon an 8 ounces of warm water.
- Hair – to lighten, add ¼ cup lemon juice with ¾ cup water. Saturate hair with mixture and sit in the sun until your hair dries. Repeat daily for a week for the best results.
- Hands – to remove stains from berries, wash hands with undiluted lemon juice, allow the juice to remain on your hands for several minutes. Wash hands with warm, soapy water. Repeat as necessary.
- Hygiene – for douches, dilute 1-2 teaspoons of lemon juice in water.
- Nails – to clean, soak your nails in a mixture of the juice from ½ a lemon and 1 cup of warm water for 5 minutes.
- Nails – to whiten, soak your nails in a mixture of the juice from ½ a lemon and 1 cup of warm water for 5 minutes. Dry nails and rub with lemon peel.
- Skin – to reduce damage from aging, drink lemon water regularly.
Cooking
- Apples – to keep them from turning brown, sprinkle them with lemon juice.
- Brown Sugar – to keep it moist, add lemon peel to the container. Make sure that the pulp and pith are removed.
- Cauliflower – to keep it from turning brown, sprinkle the cauliflower with lemon juice before heating.
- Fruit and Vegetables – for an organic wash, mix 1 tablespoon of lemon juice with 1 cup water in a spray bottle. Use the mixture to clean your fruits and vegetables.
- Lettuce – to make it crisp, add the juice from half a lemon to 4 cups of cold water. Place the lettuce in the mixture and refrigerate for an hour. Drain and dry before using.
- Rice – to keep it from sticking, add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice to the boiling water.
The Kitchen
- Beets – to remove stains from hands, rub your hands with lemon juice, repeat until the stains are gone. Rinse.
- China – to shine, make a paste using 1 part lemon juice and 2 parts salt. Scrub the china with the paste and rinse.
- Coffee Pot – to remove stains, add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of salt and 3-4 ice cube into the pot. Swirl it around and rinse with warm water.
- Cutting Board – to refresh and sanitize, rub the board with a cut lemon or with undiluted lemon juice.
- Garbage Can – to deodorize, place lemon peels in the bottom of the can under the bag. Replace every couple of weeks.
- Grater – to clean and remove residue, grate a cut lemon. Rinse.
- Pots and Pans – to brighten aluminum, rub the pans with a cut lemon. Buff with a soft cloth.
- Refrigerator – to remove odors, pour a little lemon juice on a cotton rag and place in the refrigerator for several hours.
- Utensils – to remove discoloration, wipe the utensil with a cloth dipped in lemon juice. Rinse.
- Wooden Utensils – to remove odors and stains, rub with lemon. Don’t rinse.
Laundry
- Bleach – as a replacement, use lemon juice.
- Laundry Detergent – to boost, pour 1 cup lemon juice into the wash cycle.
- Mildew – to remove stains from clothing, mix lemon juice and salt to make a paste. Apply the paste to the area, place in the sun and wash as directed. Repeat until the mildew is gone.
- Underarm Stains – to remove, scrub the stained area with equal parts lemon juice and water. Wash as directed.
Cleaning
- Air Freshener – to make your own, combine lemon peels, cinnamon sticks, cloves, apple skins and water in a sauce pan. Simmer on stove, adding additional water as needed.
- All-Purpose Cleaner – to make your own, place a bunch of lemon peels in a large container, cover the peels with white vinegar. Cover and let it sit for 2 weeks. Strain the liquid and mix with equal parts water.
- Brass – to clean and polish, make a paste using lemon juice and salt, baking soda and cream of tartar will work too for the paste. Buff with the paste and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Wash it in warm water, rinse and polish dry.
- Chrome Faucets – to remove mineral deposits and polish, rub lemon peel on the faucet and rinse.
- Furniture Polish – to make your own, mix 1 part lemon juice and 2 parts olive oil.
- Marble – to remove stains, dip half a lemon in salt and rub it on the stain. Rinse.
- Paint – to remove from glass, apply hot lemon juice on the area with a cloth. Leave the cloth on the area until dry and wipe away.
- Soap Scum – to remove, add lemon juice to water and wipe down the area with a cloth dipped in the solution.
- Stainless Steel Sink – to clean and polish, make a paste using lemon juice and salt. Scrub the sink with the paste and rinse.
Bugs
- Ants – to keep ants away, spray doorways, windowsills and holes or cracks with lemon juice. Then place lemon peels around the outdoor entrance.
- Fleas – to keep them away, mix the juice and peels of 4 lemons with 8 cups water. Use the mixture to wash your floors.
- Fleas – to get rid of, mix equal parts lemon juice and water in a spray bottle. Spray the affected area.
- Moths – to keep them at bay, put a lemon covered in cloves in the closet.
Miscellaneous
- Cats – to keep them from digging in your garden, bury lemon peels in your garden and periodically add more.
- Fireplace – to give fires a pleasant aroma, throw some lemon peels on the flames.
- Litter Box – to control odors, place a couple of lemons cut in half, in a dish, cut side up. Place the dish in the room with the litter box.
- Paintbrushes – to soften, dip paintbrush into boiling lemon juice. Reduce heat to a simmer and leave the paintbrush in the pan for 15-20 minutes. Wash with soapy water.
- Rust – to remove, scrub the area with a mixture of 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of salt.
- Scratches – to remove from wood, mix equal parts lemon juice and olive oil. Rub the mixture on the scratches with a soft cloth.
- Weeds – to kill, spray the weeds with undiluted lemon juice.
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This is a good one, Robin! And always available 🙂
So many cool uses!! Pinned and shared on face book. Arthritis and ants! Pow:) I posted fabric floor refashion to the Sew can Do party. Stop by:)
I knew of a few but I didn't know of a lot of these Robin! I remember "bleaching" my hair with lemon when I was younger 🙂
SOme nifty tips…thanks for sharing!
So interesting! And boy do I need that advice for underarm stains, unfortunately! I have been avoiding wearing a white top for most this Summer bc I don't want to ruin it already. Will definitely give this a go on others to see!
Had no idea lemons could be used for so many different things!
I love these posts, Robin! As a redhead with lots of freckles, I may need to give that a try – I have always hated them! Thanks for linking up to All My Bloggy Friends – I can't wait to see what you share this week!
Lemons are so great for so many things. My fav is in my Diet Coke. lol! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Interesting! There are a few of these ideas that I am going to try! So delighted you shared with Home and Garden Thursday,
Kathy