Lemons- Not Just For Lemonade!!

Hello, hello!! Today I have something different than what I normally post. It’s also the beginning of what I hope to be is more consistent with my blog and posts. From the beginning, I’ve felt like  a chicken running around with my head cut off! So many ideas in my brain, so little time,  I couldn’t get organized. Even with all the awesome organizational tips, tricks, printable’s available,  I just couldn’t get it together. The past couple weeks have gotten a bit better. I’ve been able to step back when I feel overwhelmed and say to myself, “If things happen and you don’t finish the post tonight, the world is not going to fall to pieces and no ones getting hurt!!”

So, I’m confident that I’ll be able to follow through with being more consistent with my blog. Plus, I have to, I put it out there!!  Now, on to the lemons and their juice.  There are many uses other than for lemonade and cooking. I love when I find stuff like this out. Being able to clean with something natural, right from your own kitchen and sooo economical!! Unless you are using it for lemonade, then it’s a bit pricey. Much more expensive than Kool-Aid, which is what we were drinking (Yuck!), however, sooo worth it!

My first experience cleaning with lemon juice was back when I first started to waitress. We used lemons to clean the coffee pots.  Take a handful of ice, couple tablespoons of salt and 2-3 lemons wedges, squeezed then drop rinds in, too. Swirl around for a minute. We let them sit overnight but it’s not necessary. And rinse.  I remembered the coffee pots one day I needed to clean my mine and was out of bleach but had lemon juice. So then I went on line to see what else can be cleaned with this stuff. And it smells good too! Better than any scented cleaner, that’s for sure. With that said, here’s a list of the items lemon juice can clean, that I have found. Positive there’s more:

• Microwave- One cup water + 1/8 c. lemon juice, heat 2 minutes, let sit 2 minutes without opening door. Wipes clean very easily!! (Bonus odor killer as well!)
• Counter stains- Forget the bleach! Make a paste from lemon juice & cream of tar tar, apply to stain, let it chill out there for 10 minutes or so, wipe clean.
• Wood/Bamboo cutting boards; for stains and odors. – Dampen sponge with lemon juice, rub in and rinse; Extend the life of your cutting board, condition it with mineral oil.
• Wooden spoons- See above.    
• Go blueberry or raspberry picking today? Get the stains off your hands with lemon juice. Hopefully you have no teeny-tiny cuts that could make you scream out in pain like you were in labor! Seriously, both my girls were born natural (not by choice!!), so I know pain, but those little cuts hurt the worst, don’t they?
• Stainless steel flatware; remove stains- Make a paste from lemon juice & salt, rub on stains, rinse & dry.
• Stainless steel or porcelain sink- Same as above, using a sponge, scrub sink, rinse.
• Odors on non-stick pans- Fill pan with water + 1 tbsp lemon juice, let it hang out for about 30 minutes, wash & dry. (So psyched I found this tip…Just purchased a new set of non-stick bake-ware!)
• Tarnished copper- Again, lemon & salt are paired again! Two parts lemon juice/one part salt, make a paste and rub into tarnished spots. Rinse and dry.
• Garbage disposal- Handful of ice with 2 tablespoons lemon juice, grind for a minute or two.
• Dishwasher- 1/4 cup lemon juice in receptacle dish, run a rinse cycle.
• Mineral deposits on cookware- Rub those ugly white spots with a lemon juice dampened sponge. Wash & dry.
• To give your hair a jump start on those natural summer, highlights. Mix 1 cup lemon juice with 1/4 cup water in spray bottle and apply 1-2 times a week while sitting in the sun (with sunscreen on!!!). Lemon is very drying, don’t use it more than 2 times a week and remember to condition well!!

So, there’s my list of what else you can do with lemon juice! Do you have any other suggestions? Or something from your kitchen that you like to use? Let me know, I’d love to hear about it!! Thanks so much for stopping buy! Come back and visit again real soon.

Kristine

Photos courtesy of: pixabay.com

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