23 Things To Do When Life Hands You Lemons

Is there anyone who doesn't love the fresh, tart smell of real lemon? We've long appreciated it as a flavour-enhancer or thirst-quenching drink ingredient, but why not celebrate the lovely lemon for all it can do? Here's to more lemons in life!

23 Things to Do with Lemons that can brighten (and tasty up) your day! | YMCFood | Life Hacks | YummyMummyClub.ca

Clean Your Sink

Cut a fresh lemon in half (remove seeds) and use to rub stains and dirt from sink surface. Pour a kettle of boiling water over the spent halves and let hot fresh lemon water deodorize your smelly drain and trap.

Deodorize Cutting Boards

Cut lemon in half and add a few tablespoons of coarse salt to your cutting board surfaces. Use the lemon to scrub the salt into your board, scouring all edges. Let sit for 5 minutes and rinse well and dry. No more smell!

Clean Your Microwave

Instead of using harsh chemicals to clean a disgusting microwave, squeeze a cut lemon into a large 4-cup bowl or glass measuring cup. Drop the lemon halves in and heat in the microwave for 2-minutes. Remove the bowl (hot - careful!) and wipe down the inside of the microwave. The hot lemon steam will soften food and make removal easy. Then, pour the hot lemon water down the drain to freshen (it's a mess down there, too).

Keep Foods Bright

Drizzle cut fruit or surface of guacamole and hummus with lemon juice to preserve it's fresh colour when entertaining. No one wants to be known as "the gross grey guacamole family" at the annual block party.

Elbow Cleaner

If winter was not-so-kind to your elbows, or maybe early season gardening has you looking a bit dull in your arm benders, rub affected elbows on a cut lemon for some natural bleach action, or add juice to a spoon full of coconut oil for extra moisturizing action. Watch out if you've been tending the rose bushes: that lemon juice will have you invented swear words no one's even heard of if you use it on broken of scraped skin.

Nail Treatment

Manicured nails look great but when a constant polishes leave you looking a bit dull and yellow, soak your nails in some lemon juice as a natural bleach. Rinse well and maybe keep hangnails out - that shizz can sting.

Skin Toner

Out of toner? Add a generous squeeze of fresh lemon juice to warm water and apply with a cotton ball, avoiding eye area. You'll look perky and smell fresh enough to smooch, so proceed with caution, tiger.

Homemade "Neo-WHO?" Cold-Buster Drink

Homemade NeoCitran can be cobbled together even when the brain isn't firing as it should be, it's that easy. Most of us generally have lemons and honey on hand. Just add ginger to the regular shopping list; ginger can be stored safely for weeks in the fridge and keeps well for several months in the freezer.

Poop Power

Warm water, juice from a fresh lemon, and a spoon of honey or maple syrup has long been a constipation remedy for those looking for natural movers. Without getting too personal, just know this: I drink it almost every day and I never stop smiling.

Pretty Up Your Decor

Put a pretty crock, bowl, or glass vessel on your kitchen counter and fill with lemons. Make a making set and use them to flank a long dining table or fireplace mantle. Weave in season ribbon or cloves and spices for added effect and boom! You just prettied up your house for less than $5.

Make Candy

Candied lemon peel is a treat not to be missed.

Freshen Your Closets

Stud a lemon with cloves and keep on tray to dry for a few weeks, or until juice dries. Throw a few into the laundry basket at bottom of your closet to keep that "worn clothes" smell at bay. Also helps in pest seaon!

Morning After Night Before Kickstarter

So you overindulged last night. It happens. Rehydrate your way to a headache-less day by downing a large glass of room temperature water to which you've added a few tablespoons of fresh squeezed lemon juice, a shaving of grated giner, and some honey. CHUG IT, CHUG IT, CHUG....

Brown Sugar Clump Preventer

It's a given: you get the urge to bake, but when you go to the pantry, you find your brown sugar in more "rock in a canister" than moist sandy granules. Add a thin slive of lemon or peice of fresh lemon peel to the canister or bag to prevent future clumping because it adds just the right amount of moisture without imparting flavour.

Lemon Squares

Lemon squares are perfect for potluck - and because people think they take more effort that they actually do, looks who's the new hero? Try this no-fail lemon squares recipe.

Lemonade

Combine the appropriate amount of lemon juice cubes with the simple syrup, water, and berry blend in a vessel with a tight lid and let the lemon cubes thaw en route. Be sure to give the mixture a good stir before serving. Full recipe here.

Get Rid of Smelly Onion Hands

Onion oil can linger on your hands and nails long after you've washed up, even with dish soap. Before you even rinse, rub a cut lemon on your hands and use it to "scrub" under nails. Careful of cuts, because YOWZA! Rinse lemon juice and wash with soap as usual for fresh and clean hands.

Natural Pesticide

Are ants just not the worst? I mean, I'm sure they serve some function in the circle of life but arghhhhhhh! Here are some quick ways to repel ants using lemon as a barrier to their entry.

Air Freshener

When the air in your home feels — or worse, smells — stale, its lemons to the rescue. Fill a medium size stock pot 1/3 full of water and add 2 cut and squeezed lemons, 2 tbsp vanilla, and some fragrant spices like rosemary, cinnamon, or cloves. Bring to a boil and then simmer slowly to deodorize cooking smells. Turn off burner and when the mixture cools, strain and add to spray bottle as room freshener.

Stubborn Tea/Coffee Stains

Stuff your favourite coffee cups or teapot with squeezed lemon and their rinds. Fill to top with boiling water and leave to cool. Stains should rub right out, and all nasty odours will be gone!

Stop Cat Damage in Garden

No shade intended at cats, but when their not your and they're all over the garden, it's hard not to get frustrated. A safe way to repel cats is buy appealing to their sense of smell - in reverse. Combine 1/4 cup lemon juice, black pepper, a crushed clove of garden and fill spray bottle to top with water. Spray on garden soil and kitties will stay clear. Watch over spray as lemon juice can harm delicate plants.

Fancier Ice Cubes

Instead of diluting delicious icy summer drinks with plain cubes, dress them up and add flavour at the same time. Freeze a 2:1 mixture of water and lemon, and add small pieces of a lemon wedge for colour. Or, freeze lemon slices solid and use on their own.