Lemon Juice - Other Uses, Page 1

• Honey-n-Oats Face Scrub
  1 tablespoon Honey
  1 tablespoon finely-ground Almonds
  2 tablespoon dry Oatmeal
  Small amount of lemon juice or yogart
  
  Combine honey, ground almonds, dry oatmeal and some lemon juice or yogurt to a luxurious and exfoliating facial scrub. Massage mixture gently onto face, then rinse with warm water. This blend gives a deeply emollient cleansing to the pores of your face. Almonds and oats are superb softening exfoliates. 

• Lemon-fresh shoe polisher
  2 tablespoons (30ml) olive oil
  1 tablespoon (15ml) lemon juice
  
  Here's a fresh-smelling polish that's also an eco-friendly way to maintain great looking shoes. Place the olive oil and lemon juice in a small lidded jar and shake vigorously until combined well (double the formula if you're doing several pairs of shoes). Dip a clean cloth into the mixture and apply evenly to dry, dark leather shoes that are in need of a bit of polish. Let the polish soak in for a few minutes, then buff with a fresh, clean cloth. Repeat monthly, or as necessary. 

• Pots / Pans with baked-on deposit (Note: not nonstick) No. 4
  Stuck on messes can be cleaned up by using a mix of one spoonful of salt with two of baking soda and mix with a little lemon juice. Spread this over the offending area and let dry. Rub off with a scouring pad.    

• pine tar remover
  1 teaspoon (6g) salt
  1 squirt liquid hand soap
  1 teaspoon (5ml) lemon juice
  Whether pruning hedges or hauling around a Christmas tree, it's impossible to not get your hands sticky with the distinctive scent of pine tar. Instead of using turpentine to clean up your hands, try this natural alternative first. Place 1 teaspoon (6g) salt into your hand, followed by a squirt of liquid hand soap and 1 teaspoon (5ml) lemon juice. Add enough water to form a lather, and gently scrub clean. Make sure to follow with hand lotion because the salt and lemon juice can be a bit abrasive. 

• Shine pennies
  1 small bowl lemon juice
  pennies or copper coins
  
  The acidic property of lemon juice is great way for transforming dingy pennies into shiny coins. Just soak your pennies in a bowl of lemon juice for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove and let dry on a paper towel, and your pennies will look brand new! 

• Remove mold and mildew
  Remove mold and mildew growth with lemon juice or vinegar combined with salt. 

• Underarm Stain Remover
  1 tablespoon (15ml) lemon juice
  1 tablespoon (15ml) vinegar
  1 cup (250ml) water
  
  Perspiration stains often go unnoticed until they render clothing an unsightly yellow. Treat such stains with a soak in water with equal parts lemon juice and vinegar. Let soak for an hour or up to overnight, then launder as usual. Note: Never use a oresiaj product or formula on clothes made of silk, linen, or wool, as these types of fabrics can develop water circles, bleed colors, or shrink. Also, if the stain remains after presoaking, never place the clothing in a dryer or iron it. This will cause the stain to become set by the heat, and, perhaps, make it impossible to get out.   

• Rust remover
  1 teaspoon (6g) salt
  1/2 lemon
  
  Here's a quick and easy way to remove rust spots from small chrome appliances, utensils, or bicycle handles. Simple sprinkle salt on the cut side of the lemon half and rub over the rust spots. Repeat is necessary. Rinse thoroughly with water and dry with a soft cloth.

• sore throat soother
  1 teaspoon (5ml) honey
  2 teaspoons (10ml) lemon juice
  
  Sore throats are often aggravated by a nasty buildup of phlegm, but a combination of lemon juice and honey is a great, natural way to gain some soothing relief. Place the honey in a small bowl and stir in the lemon juice. When completely combined, swallow the mixture slowly allowing ti to rest at the back of your throat as long as possible. The citric acid in the lemon juice will help to loose congestion and the honey will provide a gentle coating. Both ingredients are credited with having antibacterial properties, too.   

• nonstick cookware cleaner
  2 tablespoons (30ml) lemon juice
  1 teaspoon (5g) baking soda
  
  Sometimes a simple wash in hot, sudsy water doesn't remove all the foul that's left on a nonstick pan, especially if it's been used for frying. Eventually, thin layers of leftover oil will build up and become a gummy residue, causing food to stick when cooking. To ensure that your nonstick cookware stays truly clean, make a habit of regularly cleaning it with a bit of lemon and baking soda. Pour the lemon juice into the bottom of a just-cleaned pan and add the baking soda. Use a nylon-coated sponge to gently scrub. Rinse thoroughly with hot water. 

• hair-clarifying rinse
  1 gallon (4 liters) water
  1 cup (250ml) lemon juice
  1 cup (300g) Epsom salt
  
  If you use a lot of hairspray and gel products, it's a good idea to use this clarifying rinse from time to time to get rid of the buildup that can weigh down your tresses. Fill an empty gallon-size milk jug with water, leaving some room at the top. Add the lemon juice and Epsom salt. Cover and let sit for 24 hours. Pour entire mixture slowly onto dry hair and let sit for 20 minutes. Shampoo as normal.   

• age spot antidote
  1/2 teaspoon (2g) sugar
  1/2 lemon
  
  Age spots are honestly nothing to worry about, but they can be unsightly for those afflicted. The good news is that they respond to the gentle bleaching abilities for which lemons are legendary. To use, sprinkle the sugar on the cut side of the lemon half and then gently rub over the affected area for a few minutes. Repeat weekly, as necessary, until the dark spots fade.

• constipation combatant
  1 teaspoon (5ml) lemon juice
  1 cup (250ml) warm water
  1 teaspoon (5ml) honey
  
  It's a condition people rarely talk about, yet one that affects many on a frequent basis. Before resorting to over-the-counter remedies for constipation, try this gentle cleansing formula: Add the lemon juice to a glass of warm water and then stir in the honey. Drink one glass of this lemon juice mixture to help move things along. Repeat every few hours, if necessary.  

• old-fashioned furniture polish
  1/2 cup (125ml) lemon juice
  1 cup (250ml) olive oil
  
  For wooden furniture with an oil-fashioned finish (i.e., an oiled instead of a shiny varnish), make your own furniture polish. Mix the lemon juice and olive oil in a glass jar with a lid. Cover and shake vigorously to combine, then apply to your furniture with a soft cotton cloth. Add a little shine by rubbing briskly, then allow to air dry. Refrigerate any unused portion for up to 3 weeks. Tip: The oil may appear cloudy when cold, but just let the polish sit at room temperature for a few minutes and it will return to normal. 

• Lemon air freshener
  2 tablespoons (28g) baking soda
  2 cups (500ml) hot water
  1/2 cup (125ml) lemon juice
  
  Looking for an alternative to expensive room deodorizing sprays? Make your own! Dissolve the baking soda in the hot water, then add the lemon juice and transfer to a clean spray bottle. Use a few squirts now and then to fill your house with a just-cleaned scent (it's especially effective at clearing the air of dust after cleaning).   

• plastic food storage cleaner
  1 tablespoon (15ml) lemon juice
  1 tablespoon (14g) baking soda
  
  Tomato-based leftovers can stain plastic storage containers, especially if there's a bit of oil involved (think lasagna or chili). What's worse, these stains have a tendency to impart lingering food odors into other foods, interfering with their flavor. To give your plastic-ware a good, non-toxic scrub down, start by mixing equal parts baking soda and lemon juice in the stained container. Scrub gently with a nylon-coated sponge to release the stains, but do not immediately rinse our the container; instead, fill with water and let sit overnight for maximum freshness. 

• doorknob sanitizer
  1/2 cup (125ml) vodka
  peel of 1 lemon
  
  During cold and flu season, germs thrive on frequently touched surfaces, like doorknobs and toilet bowl handles. When someone in the house is under the weather, minimize the risk for everyone else by keeping this easy sanitizing spritzer on hand. Pour the vodka into a spray bottle and add the lemon peel. Store in a cool, dark place and the lemon will gently infuse the vodka with its clean, refreshing scent. Better yet, the alcohol content of the vodka will effectively kill germs when you spray a little bit in their direction.
  
  Editor: Seems like a waste of vodka. :D

• swimmer's hair prevention
  1 12-ounce (355ml) bottle spring water
  2 tablespoons (30ml) lemon juice
  2 tablespoons (28g) baking soda
  
  Long summer days spent cooling off in a chlorinated pool can impart a slight green tint to blond hair, a condition aptly known as "swimmer's hair." To rid your hair of chlorine after a dip in the pool, add the lemon juice to a bottle of spring water (take a few sips of water to leave room for the juice). Then stash in your swim bag along with a small plastic bag with the baking soda. After swimming, add the baking soda to the lemon water and shake well. Apply to your freshly shampooed hair, then rinse thoroughly and towel dry.

• aphids be gone
  1 tablespoon (15ml) lemon juice
  2 cups (500ml) water
  1 tablespoon (15ml) baby shampoo
  
  Your garden could be in big trouble if your plants are showing signs an aphid infestation. To keep things under control, mix up a batch of aphid spray by combining equal parts lemon juice and baby shampoo in 2 cups (500ml) water. Spray the mixture on the affected leaves and your plants will be much less inviting to the aphids. 

• dishwashing boost
  2 tablespoons (30ml) lemon juice
  
  Plenty of dish soaps claim to cut the grease, but if you've happened to pick up a brand that doesn't seem to be living up to its promise, take matters into your hands. Add about 2 tablespoons (30ml) lemon juice to your dishwater for an extra boost of grease-fighting power.