I have a thing for lemons.
It’s pretty rare that I don’t have a couple lurking in the fridge. Lately, I’ve been finding more and more ways to fuel my addiction. Lemons are not only packed with antioxidants and rich in vitamin C, but they are detoxifying for the body and are said to contain cancer fighting compounds. You can read much more about them (along with limes) over at World’s Healthiest Foods.
Today, our mission is to compile the world’s biggest list of the many ways to use lemons. Or at least a long one! I started us off at the bottom of this post, but it’s up to you to add to it if you’d like.
But first, I’m sharing with you one of my all-time favourite ways to use lemons with a couple ingredients you probably have lurking in your pantry. I’ve been making variations of this hand scrub for a couple years now and it never lets me down!
My hands (and elbows, feet, knees, etc) can get very dry and this scrub exfoliates and seals in moisture like nothing I have used. I like to keep a jar in the fridge and whip it out a few times a week to give my hands a good scrub. It also makes an amazing facial scrub and body scrub too!
You can make a basic scrub using just a few ingredients. I personally like using:
- 1 part oil
- 2 parts sugar
- lemon juice + zest
Glowing Lemon Sugar Hand Scrub
Adapted from my previous scrub.
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup olive oil (or oil of choice)
- 2/3 cup sugar (see tip)
- Juice of 1/2 a lemon (about 1.5 tbsp)
- pinch of two of lemon zest
1. In a jar or small container, stir together the oil, sugar, lemon juice, and zest. Store in the fridge with a lid for maximum freshness. Feel free to use this scrub on your hands, feet, elbows, knees, face, and total body whenever it needs a burst of moisture and shiny glow.
Tips:
The finer the sugar you use, the less rough your scrub will be. I like using a fine white sugar if I’m using it on my face and hands since those parts tend to have thinner, more delicate skin. If I’m making a body scrub, I like using a coarser sugar like brown or turbinado or even coarse sea salt.
If using this on your face, be sure to use a cleanser afterwards to remove the oil.
You have to try this.
Rub it all over your hands and give yourself a good massage!
My hands aren’t normally very soft, but this scrub makes them feel like a baby’s bottom! Or maybe even softer…
I used it yesterday morning and I can still feel the difference on my hands this morning. Truly amazing.
Looking for others fun uses for lemons? Check out this list I compiled below. Special thanks to Green Living Tips and Eco Knowledge for some of the tips.
Other ways to use lemons:
1) Homemade detox drink. Juice a lemon and mix it with water. Drink it on an empty stomach as soon as you wake up. It will aid in digestion and give you a great start to your day. Just be sure to drink it with a straw as the acidic nature of citrus can wear the enamel of the teeth.
2) Clean silver, chrome, and tarnished brass.
3) Clean your microwave: Juice 1 lemon and add to a bowl of water. Place in the microwave and heat for about 5 minutes on high. The steam will help soften any gunk on your microwave so you can easily wipe it down afterward.
4) Freshen your garbage disposal. Instead of throwing out your lemon scraps, toss them into your garbage disposal to freshen it up and deodorize.
5) Make potpourri.
6) Scrub your kitchen. Mix lemon juice and salt together for an all-natural kitchen scrub.
7) Deodorize your humidifier. Add some lemon juice to your humidifier water to deodorize.
8.) Prevent spoilage. Add some fresh lemon juice on an avocado or fruit salad to prevent browning.
9) Homemade fruit and veggie wash. Mix 1 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp vinegar, and 1 cup water together to make a natural fruit and veggie cleaner.
10) Chop, chop. Use lemons to clean your chopping boards.
11) Baking and cooking. The obvious one here, but lemon is a fun ingredient in many recipes. One of my favs are these Tropical Lemon Cranberry Chia Bars! I also have 53 recipes that contain lemons!
What are your favourite ways to use lemons? Do you ever make any homemade scrubs or other beauty products?
Those are some pretty cool ideas :) I usually do honey and oat face masks but I’m thinking if I’d help if I’d add some lemon to it :P
I make my own hand scrub, but I’ve never thought to add lemon! Great idea … and one that would probably wake my senses up :)
thanks for the tip on drinking lemon water with a straw. my daughter and I consume a ton of lemon water and i never even thought it might be harmful to our teeth.
What a great idea – I have been battling dry skin again recently, so this is perfect timing!
I can’t wait to try the fruit/veggie wash…I always get nervous eating raw produce when I just rinse it off. Great tips!
I love adding lemon juice to curries/lentil soup/anything with Indian spices to it. It just adds a nice brightness and freshens up your pallet nicely. :-)
I love these types of posts too! I like adding a small handful of this stuff to a bathtub for total body softness, and when my mother-in-law uses a lemon in cooking she rubs the sink down with it after it’s been juiced, which I thought was neat. Maybe another neat post would be what your “beauty” routine is like and what products you use, especially if you’ve found a natural solution for certain things. I really love natural home recipes like this!
Quick question – to get it out of the jar, do you just use your fingers to scoop a bit out? That’s what I do but I’m wondering if you do it differently.
I just use a spoon :)
Oh – thanks! Now I feel sheepish because that seems like such an obviously simple solution. Lol
We love making homemade beauty products! One of my favorites is chocolate powder, avocado, honey and orange zest mixed together in the food processor and it makes a great face mask…. and raw chocolate pudding :) YUM
I’ve done the water and lemon thing in the morning before. I just always forget to buy lemons when I’m at the store! But I do think it helps with digestion! :)
when I was in high school, I used it to try to lighten my hair with the sun. I looked like some kinda hot mess.
I used to do that too! lol
I love using lemons in a face mask! This is what I do –
2-3 tbsp gram flour/besan
2 tbsp lemon juice
squirt of honey
splash of water
Mix it up, slather it over your face and wash off when it is dry! So good for my skin! :)
Lemons are so awesome and right now they are in season and literally falling off the trees here in San Diego. When I am running, I have to dodge lemons that are on the ground on some sidewalks. Some of those old 100+ year old lemon trees have hundreds at any one time.
Love the scrub and your other ideas!
aha that’s hilarious :) Don’t get knocked out!
This scrub sounds amazing! Can’t wait to try it.
You can also boil up lemon rinds to use as a non-toxic air freshener.
doesn’t the sugar dissolve?
Great post, Angela! I love using every-day kitchen items for skin care, cleaning, etc.. I’ve made very similar hand scrubs, but haven’t in a long time… my skin sure could use it!
I’ve also heard that you can use lemons (something like 1/4 cup lemon juice to 1 cup warm water) to rinse your hair and remove any residues or build-ups. Haven’t tried it myself, though.
(While I’m thinking of it, another great hair tip: if you have a slightly over-ripe avocado, instead of tossing it mash it up and work it into your hair and scalp. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes before showering and it’s a great moisturizing hair mask!)
Great ideas!
I use lemon in water with stevia for lemonade.
Q: How exactly does the lemon clean the chopping board? Rub on it?
I have used lemons to clean porcelain tubs and sinks, whatever, just the rinds. Works great on white. Fights mildew.
I use the lemon after it’s been cut and juiced… There’s always a little bit left and I just rub the halves/wedges on the board and scrub it in a little. Lemon is a natural antibacterial agent. Even gets rid of the onion/garlic smell that sometimes lingers!!!
I love using it in quick salad dressings!
I leave the used up lemon rinds in the kitchen sink crusher to keep it smelling fresh and clean.
When the crusher is turned on it only makes it smell better!
When I have a cold I will mix lemon juice with a heaping spoon of jam and a mug full of hot water to make a delicious beverage that is super soothing for a sore throat. It was what my host family gave to me in Ukraine when I was sick. My host family in Brazil gave me honey and limes when I got sick, but I like the jam a lot better. I love it so much that I’ll make it just for kicks on occasion on a cold wintery day. Hope you have the chance to try it!
This is SO simple and great. I have to try this. I too am a huge lemon person. always stocked with Meyers Lemons. Great tip Ang!
Love lemon on everything!