Whole Lemon - Other Uses

• mosquito repellent
  peel of 1 lemon
  Few things can disrupt the pleasantries of summer like a slew of itchy and unwelcome mosquito bites. If you prefer to try a natural way to keep the mosquitoes at bay, cut the peel off a lemon and then rub the essential oil from the outside (yellow side) on your skin. Tip: If you fold a piece of peel between your thumb and forefingers (yellow side out) and give a gentle squeeze, the oils will be released. You'll actually see a squirt and smell a strong lemon scent when that happens. 

• corn remover
  warm water
  1 lemon wedge
  
  Corns are essentially small, some times painful, patches of thickened skin that can crop up when you wear shoes that are too tight. To restore your feet, try this overnight strategy: Begin by soaking your feet in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes, then place a very small wedge of lemon over the corn. Secure the lemon with a bandage and leave it in place until morning. The mild acids from the lemon will gently soften the corn. This same strategy will work wonders for warts, too. 

• all-natural fabric softener
  Juice of 4 lemons
  2 cups (500ml) cold water
  1 teaspoon (5g) baking soda
  
  For the freshest, cleanest linens and towels, turn to the remarkable power of lemons-not chemicals-to get the job done right. In a large plastic jar, combine the lemon juice with the cold water. Add the baking soda, cover, and shake well. Add the lemon mixture to the final rinse cycle and your sheets and towels will emerge feeling soft and smelling great.    

• all-purpose lemon cleaner
  2 to 3 cups (200 to 300g) leftover lemon peel
  2 cups (500ml) vinegar
  What do you get when you combine the grease-fighting power of vinegar with the fresh scent of lemons? A prefect solution for all sorts of cleaning challenges! To make a batch, start by filling a large wide-mouth jar with leftover lemon peels (other citrus fruits, such as oranges, limes, and grapefruits, work well, too). Cover the peels with the vinegar, place the lid back on the jar, and let sit in a dark, cool place for about 4 weeks (give the jar a good shake every week or so). Strain the mixture through a cheesecloth and discard the lemon peels. Use in place of regular vinegar for any of the cleaning formulas in this book. 

• Brass cleaner
  1/2 lemon
  1 tablespoon (14g) baking soda
  
  It's easy to fashion half of a lemon into an amazingly effective yet gentle all-natural scrubber for tarnished brass. To use, sprinkle the cut side of the lemon half with the baking soda and rub over tarnished brass objects. Rinse thoroughly with water and dry with a clean soft cloth. 

• Copper pot scrub
  1/2 lemon
  1 tablespoon (18g) salt
  
  To remove tarnish and restore the lustrous shine to copper cookware, use the cut side of a lemon as a handy scrubber. Simply sprinkle the cut side of the lemon half with the salt and rub over tarnished spots. The gentle acid from the lemon and abrasive power of salt will erase years of tarnish quickly and easily. Rinse thoroughly with water and dry with a soft cloth. 

• coffee and tea stain remover
  1 lemon wedge
  boiling water
  
  After years of use it's only natural that your favorite coffee mugs and teacups might start showing a few stains as a sign of their age. Put the lemon in the bottom, and fill with boiling water (leave the lemon in the cup if you like). Soak overnight. In the morning, the stains should be visibly lightened.  

• garbage disposal deodorizer
  Rinds of 1 to 2 lemons To rid your sink of bad smells and replace it with lemon freshness, juice 1 to 2 lemons and save the rinds to run through the garbage disposal with plenty of cold water. It's also a food way to dispose of older lemons that are past their prime and too soft to use in cooking; however, it's best to avoid lemons that have grown dark or moldy for these are not likely to smell fresh once cut open.

• lemon sachet
  1 cotton handkerchief
  1 cup (220g) baking soda
  zest of 1 lemon
  6-inch (15cm) piece of ribbon
  
  Sachets are a nice easy to keep spaces that are often dark and closed up, like drawers, storage containers, and closets, smelling fresh and sweet. If you don't care for sewing, you can easily and quickly fashion a sachet out of a plain cotton handkerchief and some ribbon. Lay the handkerchief on a flat work surface. Combine the baking soda and zest in a small bowl. Put the mixture in the middle of the handkerchief and gather the four corners of the handkerchief together so that the mixture assumes the shape of a ball. Twist the gathered corners and tie with the ribbon just above the ball.  

• blond highlights for hair
  juice of 2 or 3 lemons
  
  For hundreds of years people have turned to the natural bleaching power of lemons to lighten their hair. Nowadays, it's a cheap and natural alternative to commercial products that contain ammonia. Comb the juice of 2 or 3 lemons through all your locks for an overall effect, or apply to select areas fr a more sparing look. Sit outside in the sun or under a hair dryer until your hair is completely dry. Rinse out and style as usual. This simple approach will lighten all hair types, though darker hair may take on a brassy, versus blond, shade. 

• lemon-fresh tub scrub
  1/4 cup (55g) baking soda
  1/2 lemon
  
  Looking for an easier way to clean the tub? Sprinkle the baking soda on the bottom of the bathtub (use a little more if it's particularly dirty) and use the cut side of the lemon half as your scrubbing tool. Squeeze gently to release the juice as you scrub, and the combination of lemon and baking soda will cut through even the most stubborn bathrub rings. Rinse completely with water when you're done. 

• yard worker's hand wash
  1 teaspoon (6g) salt
  1/2 lemon
  An afternoon of gardening or yard work may leave you with sticky plant residues on your hands that can be difficult to scrub off with the usual soap and water routine. Fortunately, you don't have resort to harsh cleaners. Just put the salt in the palm of one hand, squeeze the lemon half over it, and gently rub your hands together (don't try this if you have any cuts or ragged cuticles). The salt is a natural abrasive, and the lemon juice is effective at cutting through the tar-like properties of many plant compounds. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry. Follow up with your favorite hand moisturizer if they feel slightly tender.   

• chewing gum remover
  1/2 lemon
  
  Nothing can be more frustrating than a cumbersome wad of gum in your hair and on your clothes. While a dab of peanut butter remains a popular and effective remedy, it can also cause some stains in its own right due to its high fat content. Instead, try rubbing the cut side of a lemon on the gum to help it loosen its grip (squeeze gently as you go to release the juice). Just be sure to rinse thoroughly to avoid the bleaching effects lemons can have. 

• microwave oven steam cleaner
  1/2 bowl water
  1/2 lemon
  
  Even though microwave ovens aren't technically self-cleaning appliances, you can use the power of lemons to get a head start. Simply fill a microwave-safe bowl halfway with water. Add the lemon and heat on high 2 minutes, until the water is boiling and giving off steam (power varies with microwave ovens, so adjust the timing accordingly). Keep the door closed for 5 minutes; when you open it, the microwave will be much easier to clean thanks to its citrus steam bath. Wipe down thoroughly with a nylon sponge. 

• bad breath fighter
  juice of 1 lemon
  1/4 cup (60ml) water
  
  Bad breath is a common problem that everyone worries about from time to time, especially after a meal laden with garlic and onions. If you don't have a toothbrush handy, a quick gargle with a lemon mouth rinse can help. Squeeze the juice of the lemon into the water (make sure to strain any seeds). Gargle this mixture for 15 to 20 seconds, taking care to swish it between your teeth and into the back of your throat. This solution is not harmful to swallow, but might be distasteful to some people.

• cat deterrent
  1 handful lemon peel
  1 handful coffee grounds
  
  If the neighborhood cat has mistaken your garden for a litter box, lemon peels will make the area a lot less inviting. Use a food processor to chop up a handful of peels and then mix them with your leftover coffee grounds. Scatter the mixture along the border of your garden and work it into the soil with a hand trowel. Cats simply hate the smell of citrus and should steer clear. If your indoor plants are falling victim to your cats, this method should work for them as well.

• attractive lemon centerpiece
  6 to 12 fresh lemons
  1 bunch flowering herb, such as lavender or rosemary (optional)
  
  Why focus on expensive, fresh floral arrangements when you can create centerpiece magic with a bag of lemons? Fill a decorative vase or large bowl with lemons and fill in the spaces along the bottom with sprigs of fresh herbs. You'll have a colorful, fresh-smelling arrangement your guests are sure to admire and remember-and you'll have a lot of uses for those lemons later. 

• lemon-cinnamon simmering potpourri
  1 small pan water
  1 cinnamon stick
  1 lemon, sliced
  
  Here's an easy way to get that wonderful just-baked-something-delicious smell wafting through your home without turning on the oven! Make an aromatic simmering potpourri by filling a small pan with water and adding the cinnamon stick and lemon slices. Simmer on the stovetop, adding more water as necessary, and everyone will start hoping dessert is just around the corner.    

• cheese grater cleaner
  1/2 lemon
  
  Cheese graters are wonderful contraptions to have on hand if you love the taste of freshly grated cheese, but cleaning them afterwards is another matter. All of those small sharp edges tend to chew up your sponge or knuckles, or both! However, if you cut a lemon in half and rub the cut side on either side of the cheese grater after each use, the natural citric acid will cut right through the cheese that's left clinging to the metal. Rinse thoroughly with hot water and you're done!

• natural flea spray
  1 lemon
  2 cups (500ml) water
  
  To prepare a homemade flea spray, cut the lemon into 4 to 6 pieces and place in a large glass bowl. Bring the water to a boil and pour over the lemon pieces, then let the mixture sit overnight. In the morning, strain the liquid and transfer to a spray bottle. Use to spray your dog or cat generously from head to tail, especially behind the ears (be careful to avoid the eyes).  

• anthill antidote
  1 handful lemon peel
  1 cup (250ml) warm water
  
  If you have a serious problem with ants, the power of lemon will persuade them to move to another location. Throw a handful of chopped lemon peel into the food processor and while the machine is running, slowly add the water to make a lemony liquid. Carefully pour the solution over and into any problem anthills.