Planet Strong

You might already know how to make the perfect lemonade, but were you also aware of what else lemons can do for you?  When you are trying to find a good use for lemons, which will save you some money and help the environment by avoiding nasty chemicals, keep some of the following tips in mind.

1. Keep apples crisp

You may love apples, but you probably don’t love the way that they brown up when they are peeled and exposed to the air.  You can keep your apples looking fresh and crisp by squeezing a little bit of lemon juice onto the bare flesh.

2. Only use a little bit of juice

When your recipe only calls for a small amount of lemon juice, you’ll find that you don’t have to waste the whole lemon.  Just pierce the lemon with the tines of a fork and squeeze enough out for your recipe.  This allows you to keep the rest in the fridge.

3. Getting all of the juice out

To get all of the juice out of your lemon, wait until it hits room temperature, and then roll it around on a hard surface until it has been softened a little bit.  You’ll find that you can get a lot more juice in this manner.

4. Clean your microwave

When you want to make sure that the stains on your microwave come out easily, make up a cup of water with four tablespoons of lemon juice added.  Bring the mixture up to a boil using the microwave, and you’ll find that the stains are quite easy to remove.

5. Clean your fingernails

When you want to make sure that your nails are clean and tidy, dig them into some raw lemon rind.  This will let you keep your nails clean and smelling fresh.

6. Cleaning fixtures

If you are dealing with chrome, copper or brass, rub some lemon juice onto the fixtures and then rinse it off.  Buff the surface with a soft cloth to get the best shine out of this treatment.

7. Lighten hair

This works the best if your hair is brown or blond to start with.  Apply lemon juice to your hair, either solidly or in streaks, and then sit in the sun for an hour or so.  You can get a gentle bleaching effect this way that is quite mild.

8. For your laundry

When you want to whiten your clothing, put half a cup of lemon juice into the rinse cycle and then hang your clothes up to dry.

9. Cleaner dishes

When you want to make sure that your dishwashing detergent is really going the distance, add a teaspoon of lemon juice to it and you’ll find it helps remove grease.

10. Cleaning glass

When you are tired of using corrosive cleaners on your glass, mix four tablespoons of lemon juice with warm water and apply it with a sponge to your windows or mirrors before rinsing it off.