In the 16^th century Christopher Columbus brought lemons in the US, and since that period they have successfully grown in Florida. Lemons are abundant in vitamin C and in that time they were used against scurvy. This tropical fruit was strongly demanded during the California Gold Rush. Historical records show that some people paid up to 1$ per lemon, which is quite pricey even today.

Lemons are an excellent source of vitamin which is why you should enjoy them as much as you can. They are also high in flavonoids, antioxidants that play an important role in the fight against cancer, heart disease and inflammation. “The anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics of Citrus flavonoids can be crucial in their activity against few degenerative diseases and especially brain diseases,” is stated in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

It is up to you to determine in which way you would add lemons to your diet. They give a fresh boost to vegetable juice, salad dressings, or you can just squeeze some lemon juice over your salad or enjoy warm lemon water in the morning. But, that is not all. Lemons have a variety of purposes outside your kitchen, and you probably have not heard anything regarding this issue.

Use lemons as cleaning agents, skin care products and many other things that you cannot even imagine. In this article we give you more than fifty uses of lemons.

Deodorizing

1. Garbage disposal

Freeze lemon slices and vinegar in ice cube trays. A few ice cubes will do the trick when it comes to cleaning and freshening.

2. Refrigerator

Soak a sponge in some lemon juice and keep it in your fridge for several hours.

Lemon juice is more efficient than baking soda when it comes to eliminating odors.

3. Room freshener

Stew water, lemon peels, cloves and cinnamon sticks to freshen your living room or any other area in your home.

4. Humidifier

Add some lemon juice in the water for your humidifier and let the machine do its job.

5. Breath

Lemon water is an excellent way to keep your breath fresh. However, make sure you rinse your oral cavity with plain water, because lemon juice may gnaw your tooth enamel.

6. Trash cans

Put a few lemon skins in your trash can to eliminate odors.

7. Fireplace

Dried citrus skins ease starting fire and also add a nice scent to your home. All you have to do is leave the citrus skins for several days.

8. Hands

Add some lemon juice while washing your hands to eliminate bad scents like garlic.

9. Cat box

Put a few lemon slices near your cat’s box to enjoy a fresher air.

Cleaning

10. Furniture polish

Combine lemon oil, lemon juice and olive oil to make a nice furniture polish. Use a cloth or towel every time you polish your furniture.

11. Microwave

If you have a microwave in your kitchen, then you know that cleaning it is super easy. Microwave a bowl filled with water. Lemon juice and lemon slices for 3 minutes. This will eliminate any unpleasant scent.

12. Windows

Lemon juice removes grease and grime from windows. Combine it with cornstarch, vinegar and water for easier cleaning.

13. Hard water stains

Cut a lemon in half and rub it onto your faucets and shower fixtures. This will help you remove hard water stains and give a nice shine to your fixtures.

14. Cutting boards

Sprinkle some coarse salt onto your cutting board and scrub it with a lemon half to eliminate any grease and refresh its surface. The same applies to wooden salad bowls and rolling pins.

15. Coffee maker

Just run a cycle with plain water, and later add a composite of some lemon juice and water to its tank. Let the coffee maker work and then run the cycle through. Repeat the same process again. Then, do the same water cycle. To remove the lemon taste and scent rinse the filter and coffee pot after you finish cleaning.

16. Rust stains on marble

Rub and iterate some baking soda and lemon juice on the tarnish, and wipe off with a wet towel.

17. Brass and copper polish

Combine equal parts of lemon juice and vinegar and apply the mixture on the brass or copper using a paper towel. Then, using a soft cloth, polish the surface until it is completely dry. Combine lemon juice and baking soda into a thick paste and use it to eliminate tarnish.

18. Silverware polish

Combine a tablespoon of lemon juice, one and a half cups of water and half a cup of instant dry milk. Macerate your silverware in through the night, wash it off and pat it dry. In cases of blemished silverware, apply some lemon juice to the surface and polish it using a clean towel.

19. Dish soap booster

Add some lemon juice in your dish soap for a more powerful effect.

20. Plastic containers

If you prefer keeping your food in plastic containers, lemon juice makes their cleaning a lot easier. Simply rub any container you are using with some lemon juice. Leave the containers on the sun to dry completely. This step will help you eliminate any tarnish.

21. Toilet

Pour half a cup of lemon juice into your toilet and let it do its job for a while. In cases of harder tarnishes, add in half a cup of borax.

22. Drains

Lemon juice can help you a lot when it comes to clearing obstructed drains. First, pour some boiling water down the drain, then add half a box of baking soda and about 8-12 ounces of lemon juice. Lemon juice and baking soda will create a foaming reaction. Finish by pouring down some boiling water. In this way you will drive off any obstruct.

23. Shower doors

Cut a lemon in half and soak one of the halves in some baking soda. Use it to scrub the glass and clean water tarnish. Finish by washing it off.

24. All-purpose cleaner

Combine water, baking soda, vinegar, lemon and lemon essential oil into a mixture that will soon become your favorite kitchen or bathroom cleaner.

25. Cheese grater

Cut a lemon in half and scrub it over your cheese grater to remove any grease.

26. Hardwood floors

Combine some lemon juice and vinegar into a grime-fighting floor cleaner that contains no toxic chemicals.

Laundry

27. Gentle bleach

Add some lemon juice in hot water and macerate your white linens, then wash as usual. You can add half a cup of lemon juice to your washing cycle to avoid heavy bleachers.

28. Spot treatment

Apply some lemon juice on any fabric tarnish, and add salt. Scrub and wash off. This works especially great for underarm tarnishes. You can leave them dry on the sun to provide a more power powerful stain-fighting power.

29. Mildew stains

Combine lemon juice and salt into a paste. Apply it onto the tarnish and leave it on the sun to dry completely. You can also iterate if needed.

30. Grease stains

Mix lemon juice and vinegar and apply the mixture on the tarnish. Let it work for a while and wash off.

31. Whiten tennis shoes

Apply some lemon juice on your white sneakers. Let them dry on the sun. This will whiten your sneakers and provide a freshening effect.

Cooking

32. Prevent fruits and vegetables from browning

Fill a bowl with lemon water and macerate cut apples, cauliflower, bananas, pears, potatoes or avocados to prevent them from turning brown.

33. Revive limp lettuce

Add the juice of half a lemon into a bowl of cold water. Macerate your lettuce leaves and put them in the fridge. Later you can dry them and make your super-delicious green salad.

34. Clumpy rice

If your rice sticks on the bowl, add a spoonful of lemon juice in the water you are cooking it in. Use a fork to plump it when it is done.

35. Ice cubes

Add lemon slices in your ice cube tray. In this way your drinks will have a lot better flavor.

36. Marinade

Add some lemon juice to your favorite oils and herb to marinate your meat. The acid in lemon juice breaks down meat and helps it absorb the marinade more easily.

37. Buttermilk substitute

This is a nice substitute for the buttermilk you are using in your recipes. Add two tablespoons of lemon juice to a cup of milk. Let it rest for 15 minutes.

38. Sour cream substitute

Instead of using sour cream, add some lemon juice to your whipped cream, then leave it for half an hour.

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