Lemon Juice - Other Uses, Page 2

• blemish and blackhead treatment
  1 teaspoon (5ml) lemon juice
  1 teaspoon (5ml) rose water
  
  While there are a number of tried-and-true methods for treating blackheads and whiteheads, this all-natural formula will also combat oily skin, a condition that can contribute to blemishes. To use, mix equal parts rose water and lemon juice. Apply directly to skin with a cotton ball, concentrating on affected areas, and leave in place for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse off completely and pat dry. Repeat 2 or 3 times until the blemishes have disappeared. 

• fruit and vegetable wash
  1 cup (250ml) water
  2 tablespoons (28g) baking soda
  1 tablespoon (15ml) lemon juice
  
  All produce needs a thorough washing before use, especially cucumbers and tomatoes, which typically have a waxy coating that can trap pesticides and other potentially harmful residues. Though there are plenty of produce washes on the market, you can skip the expense and whip up a homemade batch of your own. Fill a small spray bottle with the water, baking soda, and lemon juice (make sure to strain the juice if you're squeezing it fresh). Give the mixture a shake to ensure it's combined well, and then you're good to go. Spray on fruits and vegetables just before prepping or eating. To remove the bitter taste of baking soda, make sure to rinse the produce thoroughly with fresh water once you're done. Your homemade produce wash should last about 1 week. 

• ants, roaches, and fleas be gone
  Juice of 4 lemons, or more for ants
  2 quarts(2 liters) water
  
  Just as vampires allegedly loathe garlic, many insects appear to despise the power of lemon juice, especially roaches, fleas, and ants. To get rid of roaches and fleas, make an effective floor-washing solution by adding the lemon juice (along with the rinds) to the water. Scrub the floor thoroughly and watch the critters scatter. Alternately, if ants are your problem, squirt fresh lemon juice around all their points of entry (doorways, windowsills, small holes, and cracks along the floorboards). For extra measure, chop the lemon peels into small pieces and leave them just outside your door.

• Mildew Stain Remover
  2 tablespoons (30ml) lemon juice
  1 tablespoon (18g) salt
  
  If you happen to notice dark spots forming on your bathroom shower curtain, regular laundering tactics are unlikely to remove them, unless they're first treated with a lemon and salt scrub. Mix the lemon juice and salt and rub over the affected areas. Place in direct sunlight for the afternoon and then wash as usual. The stains should be gone without having to resort to harsh bleaches. 

• leather spot cleaner
  1 tablespoon (15ml) lemon juice
  1 tablespoon (9g) cream of tartar
  
  Try spot-cleaning stains on light-colored leather with a paste made from equal parts lemon juice and cream of tartar. Apply in an even layer and let sit for an hour or two before wiping off with a damp, clean cloth. Note: Make sure to test on an inconspicuous area first, as the lemon could lighten some types of dye. 

• nail brightener
  1 small bowl lemon juice
  1/4 cup (60ml) vinegar
  1/4 cup (60ml) water
  
  Tired of yellowing fingernails? Put the natural bleaching power of lemon juice to good use with this manicurists' trick! Soak your fingertips in a small bowl of lemon juice for 10 minutes (don't try this if you have any cuts or ragged cuticles). Next, pour out the lemon juice, rinse the bowl, and fill it with equal parts vinegar and water. Dip a soft nail brush in the vinegar solution and lightly buff your nails for a minute or two. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and follow up with your favorite hand moisturizer.    

• make invisible ink
  1 piece of paper
  1 cotton swab
  1 small bowl lemon juice
  
  Write a message on a piece of paper with a cotton swab dipped in lemon juice as invisible ink. After the "ink" is dry, hold the paper near a hot light bulb (not too close!). The writing will turn brown and you'll be able to read the secret message. 

• dandruff and oily hair fighter
  1/2 cup (125 ml) lemon juice
  1 cup (250ml) warm water
  
  When a flaky scalp is caused by a buildup of dry skin, the gentle effects of lemon can be just the right antidote. To use, mix together the lemon juice and warm water. Shampoo and rinse as usual, then pour the lemon water over your freshly washed hair, rubbing gently into the scalp. Leave on for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Repeat weekly as needed. If oily hair is the only problem, dilute the mixture with an extra cup of water.

• Remove Scratches on Furniture
  To remove scratches use 1 part lemon juice and 1 part oil, rub with soft cloth. 

• cleaning fluid for copper and brass
  Make a brass and copper cleaner by combining equal parts of lemon juice and vinegar. Wipe it on a paper towel and then polish with a soft, dry cloth.  

• berry and beet stain remover
  1 tablespoon (15ml) lemon juice
  1 tablespoon (18g) salt
  
  Berries and beets contain natural pigments that enhance their health-promoting virtues, but the downside is that these same pigments can leave stains on your cutting board that are hard to get out. Fortunately, the duo of lemon juice and salt have a strong reputation for being the perfect cleaning team. The salt provides an abrasion while the lemon is a natural bleach and deodorizer. To use, combine equal parts of each, apply the mixture to the board, and scrub with a clean cloth. If you think the stain will be particularly stubborn, let the mixture sit for a few minutes before scrubbing. Rinse thoroughly once the stain has lifted.   

• Baby formula stain remover
  1/4 cup (60ml) lemon juice
  1/4 cup (60ml) water
  
  Baby formula is full of protein, so it can leave some nasty stains on your little one's clothing and blankets. For light-colored fabric, you can fight stains head-on without resorting to harsh bleachers by keeping a small spray bottle filled with lemon water in the fridge. Combine the lemon juice and water and apply to stained areas as soon as possible. Let air-dry in the sun and then wash as usual. 

• vinegar as a weed suppressant
  Mix 3 parts water with 1 part concentrated acetic acid, or vinegar, to get a final concentration of 6 percent. You should be able to achieve a 6 percent acetic acid concentration by mixing household table vinegar with concentrated lemon or lime juice in equal parts. This will not act on the young tender new growth of plants. It is not taken into the roots but basically burns the top growth. If repeated consistently every week to 10 days during the vigorous growing season, it will eventually kill off the plants by starving the roots. Please note that this is a suppressant for hardier perennial weeds, not a weed killer. It may be effective on young annual plants and should help control perennials with multiple applications.

• Mothball Odor Remover
  1 Cup of Lemon Juice
  
  Mothballs are made from naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene, chemicals that give off a noxious gas but that also prevents moths from chewing on woolen clothes. To rid your clothes of this strong, lingering scent, add 1 cup (250ml) lemon juice to the wash cycle when you launder them. Dry them outside, if possible, for best results. 

• aluminum pot and pan brightener
  3 tablespoons (45ml) lemon juice
  1 quart (1 liter) boiling water
  
  Though it's a great material for conducting heat, aluminum is a relatively soft metal that's easily damaged by hard scrubbing. Plus, exposure to mineral deposits in food and water can leave the inside noticeably darkened or stained. One way to prevent this is to boil water with lemon juice inside the cookware. Follow this with a light rubbing using a soapy nylon-coated sponge. Rinse thoroughly. 

• super simple sink cleaner
  1 tablespoon (14g) baking soda
  1 teaspoon (5ml) lemon juice
  2 tablespoons (30ml) vinegar (optional)
  
  It's easy to keep porcelain sinks sparkling clean with this all-natural, germ-fighting combination: To begin, place the baking soda in a small pile in the sink. Pour the lemon juice on top and watch it start to bubble. Stir with your finger to form a paste, then lightly rub the paste over the entire sink with a damp sponge. Rinse thoroughly with fresh water. For an extra sanitizing measure, pour the vinegar on the sponge and use it to give everything one last wipe down. (the vinegar scent will fade as it dries). 

• t-shirt whitener
  1/4 cup (60ml) lemon juice
  1 cup (250ml) water
  
  Whether your once-white t-shirts have suffered a few accidental stains or are now just a tired shade of gray, a dose of lemon juice can dramatically restore their brightness. If you're dealing with specifically stained areas, apply straight lemon juice to the stains (no diluting required); however, if you're looking for an overall brightening, mix the lemon juice and water in a small basin and soak the entire t-shirt in the mixture for up to an hour. Either way, allow the shirts to dry in the sun until desired whitening effects are achieved. Launder as usual to remove the juice. 

• window and mirror cleaner
  1 tablespoon (15ml) lemon juice
  2 cups (500ml) water
  Newspaper
  
  Here's a lemon-fresh way to clean your windows to a streak-free shine. Mix the lemon juice with the water in a large spray bottle (double the formula if the bottle is larger). Spray directly onto windows and mirrors and wipe clean with a crumpled wad of newspaper (use those old papers you've been meaning to recycle). Just remember to avoid cleaning windows while they are in direct sunlight, as the cleaning solution will dry to fast and lead to streaking. 

• Pre-treatment for grass stains
  1 tablespoon (14g) baking soda
  1 teaspoon (5ml) lemon juice
  
  How do moms know that spring has arrived? Their laundry baskets are suddenly overflowing with kids' jeans that are all sporting ground-in grass stains at the knees. Fortunately, there's a perfectly natural way to get rid of those stains. Sprinkle baking soda on the area, followed up with the lemon juice on top. As the mixture stars to fizz, rub the fabric to make sure it works its way through the stain. Launder as usual. 

• humidifier deodorizer
  2 tablespoons (28g) baking soda
  3 tablespoons (45ml) lemon juice, divided
  
  A home humidifier can be a great tool for coping with the dryness associated with winter weather, but over time it can develop odors. If your humidifier is putting out more than just moisture, give all the washable parts a good scrub down with a mixture of the baking soda and 2 tablespoons (30ml) lemon juice. Rinse thoroughly and fill with the recommended amount of water, plus the remaining 1 tablespoon (15ml) lemon juice. The lemon juice will help transform the vapors into a pleasant lemony scent. Repeat every few weeks as necessary.