When life gives you lemons…

“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”, is a saying that is often thrown around when things get tough. If the saying ever becomes a literal situation and some how you are faced with a lot of lemons, lemonade is not the only solution. This highly acidic super fruit is packed with anti-oxidants, Vitamin C and potassium making it the perfect ingredient for homemade cleaning solutions, recipes, beauty remedies and much more. Since summer is right around the corner, where lemons become a seasonal kitchen staple, here are a few uses for lemon that may come in handy.

Removing Tough Stains

Wine, oil, pen and ketchup stains can all be taken care of with a little lemon juice. The acidity in the lemon juice will break up the stain making it more soluble and easier to remove. To treat stains on delicate fabrics, simply squeeze enough lemon juice to cover the stain and rub the fabric together. After treating, continue with your regular washing routine. For stains on more durable fabrics, add a pinch of salt with the lemon juice and rub the fabric together. The salt will act as a scrubbing agent and release the stain completely.

Quick Deodorant Fix

It sounds a little disturbing, but when deodorant is out of reach and you’re in a pinch a lemon wedge could be the solution. All you have to do is take a lemon wedge and apply it under your arms as you would with deodorant. This remedy can be used as a daily alternative to avoid the toxins in regular deodorant. There are many studies out there that say the aluminum ingredients traditional deodorants and anti-per spirants can create health issues because they prevent the body’s ability to sweat properly.

Two-in-One: Hair Lightener and Shiner

Skip the beauty aisle and hit the produce section for your hair care treatments. If your looking for beautiful summer highlights spray a little lemon juice in your hair and lay out in the sun. After a few hours your natural highlights will shine through! Once you’re finished highlighting or when ever you feel you need a little extra shine rinse your hair with ¼ cup of lemon juice and water.

Easy Rice Clean Up

When rice is on the menu in your kitchen, add a few drops of lemon juice to the water before bringing it to a rolling boil. The few drops of lemon juice will not affect the taste of the rice but will make clean up a whole lot easier–as the rice won’t stick to the pan as much.

And there you have it a few uses for lemon juice that may make things a little easier this summer! We know there are many more uses out there so, feel free to share one of your favorites with us.