Green Cleaning—General Uses for Lemons

Frugal Friday

So many cleaning products on the market are full of dangerous chemicals that can harm both the environment and your health.  They are also expensive.  So why not look to the past for both inexpensive and healthier alternatives?  Over the next few weeks, we're going to look at ways to use common household products to clean your home.  This week, we'll look at general uses for lemons.

·         Wash your hands in lemon juice to remove odors from bleach, garlic or onions.  Rinse well.

·         Mix one part lemon juice to two parts honey for a cough syrup.

·         Cure dandruff by rinsing your hair with one to two tablespoons of lemon juice every day until gone.  Shampoo in between rinses.

·         Drink lemon juice in water to aid in digestion.

·         Soak your fingernails in lemon juice for ten minutes to whiten and brighten.

·         Add one tablespoon sugar and two tablespoons lemon juice to water for fresh cut flowers to lengthen their life.

·         Add a spoonful of lemon juice to your rice while cooking to prevent it from sticking.

·         Pour lemon juice on a cloth, add cream of tartar, then rub into shoe stains.  When stain is gone, rinse well and buff.

·         Add pieces of lemon to your ice cube trays for lemon-flavored beverages.

·         Apply lemon juice to skin affected by poison ivy to alleviate the itching and rash.

·         Rub lemon juice into rough skin, rinse, then massage with olive oil.

·         Drink tea with lemon and honey to relieve a sore throat and cough.

·          Store lemons in a jar of water in your fridge to produce the most juice.

·         Add to vinegar when cleaning to lessen the odor of the vinegar.

·         Use on weeds between your paving stones.