Lemons are amazing. They smell divine, are refreshing and have that bright happy look about them.

Do you know that apart from every day uses such as treating sore throats there are many more reason to make sure you always have lemons in your home.

Here are 42 ways you can use lemons:

1) Freshen up your cutting boards

With everything we use them for from chopping onions to preparing fish it’s no wonder our kitchen cutting boards smell. Use the cut side of half a lemon to rub it over the board or just wash it in lemon juice straight from the bottle.

2) Helps to prevent kidney stones

Regular drinks of straight lemon or even lemon mixed with water may help to increase a chemical in the urine that helps prevent the formation of crystals that can build up into kidney stones.

3) Sore throats

If the regular salt and water doesn’t work for your sore throat try gargling lemon water. Its antibacterial property can help to fight the infection.

4) Look younger

As well as being free from calories lemon water is an antioxidant. Lemon water can reduce the production of free radicals which contribute to skin damage and aging of your skin.

5) Give yourself a manicure

To 1 cup of warm water add juice from ½ lemon and soak your fingers for 5 minutes. Once the skin has softened up push back the cuticles and rub some lemon peel back and forth against the nails.

6) Breath freshener

The citric acid in lemon juice helps to alter the pH levels in your mouth and helps kill off the bacteria that cause bad breath. Rinse your mouth with lemon juice straight from the bottle for a quick mouthwash. If you need longer lasting fresh breath just swallow the lemon juice. Just remember that long term exposure to the acid in lemons can be harmful to tooth enamel so make sure you rinse after a few minutes.

7) Remove nasty fridge odours

Firstly throw out any old food that could be causing the odour. To add a nice citrus scent to your fridge place some lemon peel inside the fridge to help absorb the smell.

8) Lower blood pressure

Lemons contain potassium and potassium helps to control blood pressure.

9) Stop that yucky garbage smell

To keep your garbage smelling fresh add some lemon peel to the bottom of the bin before you add the bag. Change the peel over every 2 to 3 weeks.

10) Freshen up your lettuce

Has your lettuce got a little soggy? Rather than throwing it in the bin put the lettuce in a bowl of cold water and add some lemon juice. Put in the fridge for about an hour. Just make sure to dry the leaves before adding them to a salad.

11) No more brown guacamole

Have a party planned and you want to keep the guacamole green and fresh? It’s simple just splash some lemon juice over it. Don’t worry about the lemon being too strong because lemon is a natural complement to the avocado.

12) Help with asthma

To help reduce asthma symptoms try 2 tablespoons of lemon juice prior to each meal and just before retiring for the day.

13) Lift your mood

Lemon and water has been known to lift your mood and relieve stress and depression.

14) Help keep cauliflower white

Sometimes cauliflower turns brown when cooking. To keep it white squeeze a teaspoon of lemon on the cauliflower before cooking.

15) No more fireplace odour

We all love an open fire on a cold winter night. If your fire sends a horrid smell into the room throw some lemon peel into the fire.

16) Helps with respiratory problems

If you suffer from asthma take some lemon water as this can reduce the phlegm and help you breath easier.

17) Helps to remove stains from berries

Kids love to pick berries but no matter how hard you scrub with soap and water those stains are still there. Wash their hands in undiluted lemon juice. After a few minutes rinse with warm soapy water.

18) Keep those ants out of the kitchen

Find where the ants are getting in and squeeze some lemon juice onto the area and also scatter some lemon slices around the outdoor entrance. Cockroaches and fleas hate the smell of lemon so wash your floors with the mix of 4 lemons including the rind and 2 litres of water.

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• Natural cleaning: baking soda, lemon and vinegar
• Homemade natural household cleaners

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19) Help to treat rheumatism and arthritis

As lemon is a diuretic it assists in the production of urine. Inflammation is reduced by flushing the toxins and bacteria which helps relive the arthritis and rheumatism.

20) Wash your fruit and vegetables

Lemon is a natural disinfectant so to rid your fruit and veg from any pesticides or dirt fill a spray bottle with water and a tablespoon of lemon and give them a spray.

21) Keep fruit salad fresh

Don’t want that fruit platter to go brown squeeze some lemon juice over the fruit to keep it fresh and stop fruit such as apples going brown.

22) Face cleanser

For a natural cleanse and exfoliation wash your face with some lemon juice. If you have a breakout dab some lemon juice on pimples or blackheads as this will help draw them out.

23) Rid clothes of mildew

Don’t you hate it when you pull out your winter clothes that have been stored away to find them covered in mildew. Get some lemon juice and salt and make a paste and rub onto the mildew area. Let the clothes dry in the sun. You may need to do this more than once.

24)  Helps purify the blood

Having lemon water daily can help purify the blood and rid it from the toxins that can build from food with preservatives and artificial flavours.

25) Dandruff treatment

Take 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and water and massage into your scalp then rinse off with water. Then rinse your hair with 1 teaspoons of lemon juice and 1 cup of water. You may need to repeat until the dandruff disappears.

26) Blonde highlights

Can’t get to the hairdresser but would like some blonde highlights that look like you just stepped out of the salon. Add 1/4 cup lemon juice to 3/4 cup water and rinse your hair with the mixture, then sit outside in the sun until your hair is dry.

27) Oral health

Lemon juice has also been known to reduce toothaches and stop bleeding gums.

28) Remove stains on marble

As marble is porous it is easily stained and the stains can be hard to remove. If nothing seems to be working try half a lemon with the flesh dipped into some table salt and rub on to the stain then rinse well. As acid can damage marble keep this one as a last resort.

29) Help to lighten freckles

Apply lemon juice onto age spots or freckles and let it sit for 15 minutes and then rinse your skin.

30) Freshen and moisturise your home

Make your own room scent to freshen the air in your home on dry winter days. Fill a large cast iron pot with water, add lemon peel, cinnamon sticks, cloves, apple skins and orange peel to the pot and simmer. Make sure to keep an eye on the water level. This can also act as a humidifier.

31) Headaches

If you have a headache try adding a few teaspoons of hot tea to lemon juice.

31) Soften up those elbows

Dry itchy elbows are not only annoying they look terrible too. Try making an abrasive paste with baking soda and lemon juice. Rub it into your elbows then rinse with equal parts lemon juice and water.

32) Vaginal hygiene

Even though is it a powerful antiseptic lemon is free from drugs that are found in douches and suppositories making it a safe method of vaginal hygiene.

33) No more mothballs

Use a ripe lemon and stick cloves into it’s skin and hang in your wardrobe. As the lemon dries it will leave a beautiful smell throughout your closet and room.

34) Help to relieve rash from poison ivy

No need for calamine lotion just apply some lemon juice to the area to help soothe the itching and relieve the rash.

35) Freshen up your humidifier

By pouring 2 or 4 teaspoons lemon juice into the water it will help remove the odour and will replace it with a lemon fresh fragrance. You may need to repeat every couple weeks to prevent the odour from returning.

36) No more warts

As acids in lemon juice help dissolve warts dab some lemon juice directly onto the wart with a cotton ball and repeat for several days.

37) Remove pet smells and kitty box odour

Place some cut lemons with the cut side up in a dish in a room and before you know it the room smells lemon fresh.

38) Helps with digestive problems

Lemon juice helps to purify the blood. Take warm water and lemon juice to help reduce the chances of constipation and indigestion. It helps to eliminate toxins from the body as well as aiding digestion and reducing phlegm.

39) A natural disinfectant for cuts

Pour lemon juice directly on to the cut or scrape or if you prefer apply lemon to a cotton ball and hold the area for a minute.

40) No more dry cleaning

Make a paste of equal parts lemon juice and water and scrub the stained area.

41) Make your own bleach mixture

Don’t like using bleach then how about making a mixture of lemon juice and baking soda. Soak your items in here for at least half an hour before your normal wash.

42) No more tarnished brass or stainless steel

Make up a mixture of lemon juice and salt or even substitute the salt with cream of tartar or baking soda. Apply the mixture to the tarnished area and leave it on for 5 minutes. Wash in warm water and polish dry. You can even use this mixture to clean a metal sink and other tarnished areas around the home.

Have you got any other uses for lemons? Please SHARE them below with us.

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