The benefits of lemons are wide-ranging.
Lemons were first grown in Assam (Northeast India), and made their way to Europe near Southern Italy around the 1st century AD, during the time of Ancient Rome. The juice of the lemon is 5-6 percent citric acid, which means it’s good for a host of culinary, cleaning, and cosmetic purposes.
10 Benefits of Lemons
1. Freshen your fridge.
Soak a sponge in lemon juice and wipe down the shelves and drawers of your refrigerator. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the way it freshens up any stale odors.
2. Refresh cutting boards.
If you chop foods with strong odors like onions and garlic, refresh and sanitize your cutting board with lemon juice. Simply rub the juicy side of a halved lemon all over your cutting board.
3. Lighten age spots.
The benefits of lemons are cosmetic as well; the citric acid in lemon can do wonders for your skin. It can lighten age spots or dark spots on your face caused by sun damage. Rub the juicy part of a halved lemon all over your face, taking care to avoid your eyes. Let sit on your face for 5 minutes, unless your skin stings, then rinse before that.
4. Treat sore throats.
Lemon juice can treat infections because of its antibacterial properties. Instead of salt water, gargle with lemon water when your throat begins to feel a bit raw.
5. Create natural highlights.
Create natural highlights to your hair by adding 1/4 cup lemon juice to 3/4 cup water and rinsing your hair with the mixture. Sit in the sun until the mixture dries. Repeat for a few days until your hair is the desired shade.
6. Remove stale odors from the garbage disposal.
Toss lemons in the garbage disposal and run for a few seconds to remove stale odors. It will keep your kitchen smelling fresh. Run with a handful of ice cubes for even better results.
7. Remove scratches from furniture.
Combine equal parts vegetable oil with lemon juice to treat furniture scratches. Rub the scratches with a soft cloth.
8. Create an air freshener.
Slice a lemon and cover with water in a small saucepan. Let simmer over low heat for an hour to fill the room with a vibrant aroma.
9. Brighten brown socks.
Get grimy socks white again by boiling in water with a slice of lemon.
10. Remove grime from pots and pans.
You don’t need harsh, toxic cleaners to remove tough grime from your pots and pans. Lemon juice will do the trick. Add a touch of salt to lemon juice and scrub pots and pans clean. Do not use on marble.
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Image: Andrew Comings
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