10 Unexpected Household Uses for Lemons

Use this miracle fruit for cleaning and so much more with our tips and tricks.

Lemons are not only good for keeping fruit from browning and for flavoring your water or tea. They are also incredibly useful for cleaning your home and making everyday chores much easier. Use our ten ideas to help you keep your home lemony fresh in ways you may not have thought of!

1. Clean Your Garbage Disposal
The often-used garbage disposal can get a little stinky over time, and every now and then needs a good scrub down! You can easily accomplish this task freezing slices of lemon or lemon rinds in an ice cube tray and dropping in a few before turning on the disposal.

2. Spruce up Your Flatware
Lemon juice is great for getting rid of those pesky watermarks or rust on your flatware. Rub lemon juice on your flatware with a paper towel and you’ll be amazed at how shiny and new they’ll look.

3. Clean Copper, Brass and Silver
Create an exfoliating scrub for your brass, copper and silver by cutting a lemon in half and dipping it in salt. Rub the lemon on your metals to get them sparkling once again

(plus they will smell delicious). Rinse with warm water and polish dry.

4. Avoid a Smelly Vacuum
By placing a few drops of lemon oil in your vacuum cleaner bag, your home will smell fresh by the time you’re done cleaning the floors and rugs.

5. Remove Icky Odors from Rolling Pins or Cutting Boards
Over time, your rolling pins and cutting boards can develop a smell after coming in regular contact with foods like garlic and onions. You can easily remove these lingering odors by rubbing them with fresh lemon and then washing.

6. Freshen up Your Hands
After cooking with certain foods, the odor can linger on your hands. Remove the smell by squeezing the juice of half a lemon onto your hand. Then wash your hands with soap and rub your hands together, making sure to wash in between your fingers and under your nails.

7. Revive Hardened Paintbrushes
Place hardened paintbrushes in boiling lemon juice and lower the heat. Let the brushes soak for fifteen minutes and then wash with warm, soapy water. Your brushes will be soft and as good as new!

8. Keep Pests Away While Painting Outdoors
Adding a few drops of lemon juice into your paint while you’re painting outdoors will keep flies and gnats from flocking to it.

9. Get Rid of Outdoor Pests with Lemon Rinds
Place lemon rinds in your garden or yard to discourage squirrels and other pesky critters from digging and destroying your garden.

Tip: Freeze lemon rinds in the winter and save them for next year’s planting season!

Tip: Find more of our tips for preventing outdoor pests here.

10. Freshen the Fridge
After a thorough refrigerator cleanout, you can remove leftover odors by dabbing a cotton ball with lemon juice and leaving it in the fridge for several hours.