Lemons, besides adding extra flavor to some of our favorite dishes, also comprises an excellent cleaning and health aid, too! Here are just some of the amazing properties of lemon and various uses that you could benefit from.

Use Lemon and Lemon Peels as a/an:

1. Disinfectant

Take a bunch of lemon peels and place them in a glass jar (any size will do- Mason jars are perfect). Pour over white vinegar, close the lid, and let it sit for about 15 days. By the end of week 2, you will have a powerful all purpose cleaner that is ideal for disinfecting and cutting grease in no time. You just strain the liquid, add water (50/50 ratio) and you are done!

2. Ant and Pest Repellent

It is so amazing to know you can get rid of pests and ants (as well as fleas and roaches, too) by placing lemon slices along door entrances, windowsills, near holes or cracks, or thresholds, where these unwanted guests lurk about. It seems that ants, for some unknown reason, stay as far away from lemon as possible, so placing lemon peels in strategic areas around the house is a really effective way to keep them off your property!

Did you know that you could also keep insects away while you are painting the exterior of your house, with the help of lemon? Add a few drops of lemon juice in your paint and have a worry-free experience until the paint dries!

And, one more thing. Save lemon rinds (also orange peels) to deter cats and squirrels from digging in your garden. How? By burying some rinds in the soil periodically, throughout spring and summer months. A good idea is to store lemon rinds in the freezer during the winter!

3. Freshener & Deodorizer

Forget all about the nasty smells inside your fridge. Just place a couple of lemon peels inside it and see how they absorb smells, refreshing your fridge with a lovely citrus scent.
You can do the exact same thing with you trash can and garbage disposal. Throw in a few peels and all odors will magically vanish from your trash can! Similarly, putting a couple of lemon peels down the disposal (or used lemons) and then switching it on (always with the water running) will give you the same fantastic result!

Now, if you want something to make your house smell heavenly, add a couple of lemon peels to simmering water! Continue by throwing in orange peels, cinnamon sticks, and some cloves and you got yourself a wonderful scent. Plus, you just found a natural way to humidify the air!

That aside, you can also deodorize and freshen your dishwasher, too. Add lemon peels every once in a while and run a full washing cycle.

4. Coffee Pot & Tea Kettle Cleaner

It is super easy to clean your coffee pot now. Simply throw some lemon peels in, and add some salt and ice. Whirl them all around for a couple of minutes and voila! Once you rinse, magic will reveal itself!

As for your tea kettle, get rid of those persistent mineral deposits by filling the kettle with water and then adding lemon peels (thinly sliced). I believe that the peels of a lemon or two about more than enough but you are free to use more if you want. Bring it to the boil and turn off the heat. Don’t drain right away. Just let it sit for about an hour and then rinse well.

5. Sanitizer

Lemons have that natural acidity that comes loaded with superb antibacterial properties; mostly valuable to home cleaning. Take your cutting board, for example. After you finish cleaning them, you can also rub the surface with half a lemon. Again, don’t rinse straight away. Let its properties work their way for a couple of minutes.

6. Microwave Cleaner

Fill a microwave-safe bowl with water (halfway) and add lemon rinds. Put in the microwave and bring it to the boil. This should allow the water to evaporate and the steam to condense on the tops and walls of the microwave. Cooking for about 5 mins is more than enough (just cook on high). Then, carefully remove the bowl and wipe away the oven with a towel.

7. Fire-lighter

Amazing as it may sound, lemon peels make excellent firelighters. Bake them until they darken, and you just found a cheap way to always have natural (and fragrant) fire-lighters just in time for grilling get-togethers in the midst of summer!

8. Drawer Freshener

Freshen your drawers the most natural way. Dry lemon peel (either leave in the sun for a while or put in a dehydrator). Take fabric sachets and place them inside, adding the spices you are most fond of, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamon, and clove. Put the sachets in your drawers.

9. Stainless Steel, Chrome & Copper Cleaner & Polisher

We all admire the shine of brand new copper, chrome, and stainless steel products, and it is always so frustrating to see that shine fade away and nasty residue taking over. Now, thanks to lemon peels, we can restore our favorite chinaware and metal items in an instance. Simply sprinkle them with some sea salt and then scrub away any grime, stain or dirt with a lemon peel. Rinse well and then polish! Alternatively, you could use one part of lemon juice and two parts of salt. Do you believe what you see?

Oh, did I tell you that you can also remove rust fro practically everything by mixing 2 tablespoons of salt with one tablespoon of lemon juice? You make a nice paste and just scrub rust away!

Tips: Other Fantastic Uses of Lemon

• Gargle with some lemon juice if you have a bad breath or sore throat.
• Dip a cloth in lemon juice and then clean your discolored utensils with it. Make sure you rinse with warm water. Same goes for bathroom and kitchen faucets.
• Make a paste from lemon juice and salt or just rub half a lemon on ivory or white marble (i.e. piano keys) and wipe with a wet (clean) cloth to clean their surface.
• Remove dried paint from glass soak a soft cloth in hot lemon juice and leave on the glass until almost dry. Then wipe off.
• Rub your hands with lemons to remove the onion or fish odor.
• Make your hair shine by rinsing with lemon juice (one lemon will do). Mix the juice in a glass of warm water and rinse after shampooing.
• Add a few drops of lemon juice in the vacuum cleaner’s dust bag to make your house smell fresh.

Want some more ingenious uses of stuff you can easily find at home? Sure! Here is how you can use soda besides cooking!

Have you ever thought of other ways to use toothpaste, other than brushing your teeth?

For more cleaning hacks, cleaning tips, and guides. stay put!