When life gives you lemons, keep them! Because hey, free lemons!

Anyone who knows me knows that my favourite ingredient to add to food is lemon. I love cooking with tons of garlic and Italian spices yes, but at least 7 times out of 10, when I am actually eating a meal, I will add lemon to my helping. You may not notice it from the recipes on the website because as I said, I add it when eating. Some of my friends tease me and ask if I add lemon to pizza or ice cream too! For the record, no I do not! I love lemon in/on my food but today I wanted to share some tips and uses for lemons asides from enhancing flavours in food. This is inspired by my friend Justine mixing baking soda and lemon juice over the weekend to remove food coloring stains from the countertop. Here are some great uses for lemons. Some of these I have tried and tested myself, but not all. Let me know which you have found to be great for you. I really need to grow a lemon tree…W.P

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Removing odours
Dab some lemon juice unto a sponge or cotton and leave it in the fridge for a couple of hours. Also clean your chopping/cutting board with some lemon juice to refresh it. You can also use keep some left over lemon peels at the bottom of your trash can to prevent smells. Replace every so often of course. I don’t know about you guys but I despise the smell of moth balls. So replace them with lemons studded with cloves and over time they will dry naturally and leave behind a much nicer scent. Have a cat? Use lemons cut in halves to neutralize the smell in their litter box rather than strong aerosol sprays

Medicinal purposes
We all know to drink lemon with honey to sooth a sore throat thanks to its antibacterial properties. You can also use it for gargling however! Lemon is a diuretic and helps in the production of urine which helps reduce inflammation by flushing out toxins from your body. It is also said that regular intake can help prevent kidney stones due to an increase of urinary citrate. It helps control high bp and dizziness. Have a glass of water with some lemon juice in it to help. It also helps with a slight energy boost when you’re tired or with respiratory problems. Lemon juice also helps with bleeding gums and toothaches. Also use as a natural mouthwash to kill bacteria, rinsing well afterwards. Lemon juice in hot tea is a great remedy for headaches as well. Lemon in hot water helps with stomach aches as well- I know it definitely helps me when I have an inexplicable stomach cramp. Lemon juice also helps disinfect cuts and scrapes naturally. Here’s one I wish I knew when I was a kid- lemon juice can help dissolve warts by repeatedly applying lemon juice to the area (I had to get mine burnt!)

Insecticide 
Apparently, insects do not like lemons. Come to think of it, I have never seen fruit flies around lemons personally. Squirt some lemon juice in the area where bugs/ants are getting in and scatter lemon peel around the cracks. You can also use a lemon, water and vinegar mix to clean your floors to keep them away

Cleaning Agent
You can use lemon juice to clean/wash your other fruit and vegetables to remove pesticides and dirt. It is a natural disinfectant. You can also remove tough stains on your countertops with lemon juice (you may need to add baking soda to the lemon for tougher stains). Berry and food stains also come off easily with lemon juice. You can also use a mixture of salt and lemon to clean and polish brass, chrome and steel. Also, throw in a cup of lemon juice with your next load of laundry along with your detergent for a better wash

Bleaching purposes
We all know lemons are natural bleach. Use it to keep veggies white before cooking or in your guacamole to prevent it from oxidizing. You can also use a lemon and water soak for your delicates instead of regular bleach (I cannot bear the smell).

Skin care & beauty
Lemon water is an antioxidant and reduces the production of free radicals which are responsible for skin damage. You can also lighten liver spots or freckles by applying lemon juice directly to the affected area for 15 minutes before rinsing. It makes for a great face wash especially for people prone to pimples and zits. Another tip I have heard of and I am going to try this one, is to create natural highlights by using a mixture of lemon juice and water (ratio of ¼ cup lemon juice to ¾ cup water), rinse your hair with the mixture then sit in the sun until your hair dries. Do this once a day for about a week. You can also use a lemon and water soak to clean and whiten your nails 

Additional uses for food 
Lemon juice can help make lettuce/salad leaves crisp. Place the leaves in a bowl with water and lemon juice for a bit, then dry off completely and useWe all know lemons are natural bleach. Use it to keep veggies white before cooking or in your guacamole to prevent it from oxidizing. Lemon slices or wedges as we all know are also a great garnish for drinks or food