© Shutterstock

Prevent rice from sticking - Just add one tablespoon of lemon juice to rice water while it’s cooking to keep those grains from sticking.

© Shutterstock

Clear, tone, and tighten your complexion - Lemons are full of nutrients and vitamins that are well-known for their cleansing, toning, and disinfecting powers. Once a week, take a cut lemon and gently massage it over your face for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly with cold water.

© Shutterstock

Clean the microwave - Forget scrubbing! Squeeze a lemon’s juice into half a cup of water in a microwavable bowl, throw the lemon halves in there too, then zap it for three minutes and leave it in there for another five. The steam will help loosen any gunk so that it comes right off.

© Shutterstock

Lemon and mint ice cubes - Freeze slices of lemon and water in ice cube trays, add your desired herbs, and you’ll have pretty and flavorful drinks for days.

© Shutterstock

Hair lightener - Fill a spray bottle with fresh lemon juice and spray on the areas of hair where you’d like highlights. Keep your hair in the sun for 30 minutes, then give it a wash. You should see a subtle lightening of your hair, which can become more dramatic with repeated use.

© Shutterstock

Salvage your food storage containers - Plastic containers get easily discolored, oily, and smelly after a while. Give them a refresh by rubbing half a lemon in and around the box, letting them air dry, and then washing them normally. This should deodorize any bad smells and remove grease stains.

© Shutterstock

Revive wilted lettuce - Add the juice of one lemon to a bowl of water, then throw in your wilted lettuce leaves and leave the bowl in the fridge for an hour. When you take it out, the leaves should be fresh and crispy again, like magic!

© Shutterstock

Emergency deodorant - If you forgot to put deodorant on, you can cut a lemon in half (or snag a wedge from your drinking glass) and rub it under your arms! The citric acid will reportedly kill odor-causing bacteria.

© Shutterstock

DIY bathroom scrub - Forget those pricey bathroom cleaners and mix together the juice of one lemon with 1/4 cup of baking powder, then just use a sponge to apply it to your bathroom fittings. It’ll get rid of any mold or mildew.

© Shutterstock

Cook fish on a bed of lemon - Fish has a tendency to stick to surfaces, whether it’s a pan or a grill, but try cooking it on a bed of lemon slices. It will keep everything intact, offer an easy cleanup, and add a subtle lemon flavor.

© Shutterstock

Get rid of that kitchen drain stink - Squeeze about three lemons down your kitchen drain and leave it for an hour. Then, pour some boiled water carefully down the plughole, and all the built up food and odors will be gone.

© Shutterstock

Soothe itchy skin - You can apply lemon juice to itchy skin rashes like poison ivy to soothe them and stop them from spreading.

© Shutterstock

Clean your cutting board - All sorts of bacteria from meat and fresh produce can linger on chopping boards, so to disinfect them, rub a cut lemon with some salt vigorously over the board, then let sit for 20 minutes.

© Shutterstock

Lavender lemon candles - If you love the fresh citrusy scent, try making lemon and lavender candles. All you need is a container of candle wax, dried lavender, lemons, candle wicks, and food coloring. You can even make them in the peel!

© Shutterstock

Brighten your white clothes - Though bleach is the most effective way to whiten clothes, it can also be harsh on the environment. Next time, add your white clothing to a pot of water with a few lemon slices and boil for a few minutes. You’ll see results quickly!

© Shutterstock

Natural air freshener - Liven up your home with a natural fragrance in the air by combining lemon slices, rosemary, and drops of vanilla with some water on the stove top. Bring them to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer and enjoy the smell.

© Shutterstock

DIY lemon dust cloths - Just soak old rags in equal parts water and vinegar with some olive oil, then roll them up with lemon rinds inside and store in an airtight container until you need them.

© Shutterstock

Place-card holders at a wedding - A lemon can easily be transformed into a little boat (complete with a cute sail) using a toothpick and a lemon wedge, both of which are handy in a meal!

© Shutterstock

Lemon and flower centerpiece - For a creative centerpiece at a fancy event or just at home, put flowers inside a vase and fill the area in between with slices of lemon. You can take your pick of what flower to use.

© Shutterstock

Lemon dessert bowls - Put a fun twist on simple desserts like ice cream by serving them in lemon halves. You can even bake cupcakes in them!

© Shutterstock

Keep cauliflower white - Cauliflower turns brown very quickly when exposed to heat, but to prevent them from darkening, drizzle some lemon juice over the florets before cooking.

© Shutterstock

Clean a cheese grater - Washing the cheese grater is a tricky, and sometimes dangerous, task. Make your life easier by using a lemon half and grating the pulp to help loosen any sticky or greasy bits of food. Then rinse, and you’re done.

© Shutterstock

Prevent guacamole from turning brown - No one wants brown guacamole, so keep yours looking fresh with a quick squeeze of lemon. The flavors will blend beautifully and the green will look more appetizing.

© Shutterstock

Stainless steel sink cleaner - If your sink has gone from sparkly to stained, sprinkle some salt over it and rub it down with half a lemon.

© Shutterstock

Lemon and green tea face mask - Mix lemon, yogurt, and matcha green tea powder to create a paste that will help soothe blemishes and redness, smooth out an uneven skin tone, and save you lots of money.

© Shutterstock

Homemade lemon and peppermint foot scrub - Combine exfoliating sea salt, lemon peel, cooling peppermint, and sweet almond oil to give your feet the treatment they deserve.

© Shutterstock

DIY lemon sugar body scrub - Mix together olive oil, honey, sugar, and lemon for a moisturizing, soothing, exfoliating, and skin-tightening body scrub that can double as a hair treatment if you leave out the sugar.

© Shutterstock

Remove cooking smells from hands - If you've been chopping onions or garlic, the smell may linger on your hands for hours afterwards. Get rid of it by rubbing a slice of lemon over your hands and washing with soapy water. Just watch out for cuts!

© Shutterstock

Lemon water - Every morning, before breakfast, mix together warm water and two slices of lemon to help cleanse your body, flush out toxins, boost your immune system, and balance your pH levels—which is especially good for a hangover too.

© Shutterstock

Revitalize stiff paint brushes - Nearly every home with children knows the plight of rock-hard paint brushes. Simply soak the bristles in a bath of hot lemon juice to bring them back to life.

© Shutterstock

Bug repellent - Citrus oil, which lives in the peel, has long been used to ward off insects, so put those peels to work outside your house along window sills and cracks to keep out spiders, ants, and other creepy crawlies.

© Shutterstock

Shoe polish - Mix two teaspoons of lemon juice with three tablespoons of olive oil to make a cheap, all-natural polish for leather shoes and wooden furniture. Simply apply with a dry cloth, let it sit for a few minutes, and then it wipe off with a different cloth.

© Shutterstock

Pot cleaner - Remove that pesky burned food on stainless steel pots by filling them with enough water to cover the charred areas, adding half a lemon (including the peel), and boiling. The burned bits should come off easily.

© Shutterstock

Fruit and veggie wash - For a natural and inexpensive way to remove pesticides from your produce, add one tablespoon of lemon juice and two tablespoons of white vinegar to one cup of water in a reusable spray bottle.

© Shutterstock

Fingernail brightener - If your nails are looking dull and yellowed, try soaking them in freshly squeezed lemon juice. Some say adding a tablespoon of olive oil also helps strengthen them.

© Shutterstock

Remove stains from clothes - Whether it’s from sweat, berries, wine, oil, or anything else that spilled on your favorite shirt, you can remove it with lemon juice—and add salt if it’s a more durable fabric.

© Shutterstock

Sore throat soother - You can gargle a teaspoon of lemon juice in 1/8 cup of warm water to kill bacteria, or you can make a hot tea with honey, ginger, and lemon juice.

© Shutterstock

Dandruff treatment - Lemon juice can’t cure dandruff or properly hydrate your skull, but it can remove flakes that are already present. Massage some into your scalp, leave it on for ten minutes, then shampoo as usual.

© Shutterstock

Lemon juicing hack -

To maximize the amount of juice you can squeeze for all of these fantastic uses: roll the lemon on a flat surface while applying firm pressure. This should help burst some of the tiny juice-filled beads and make juicing much easier.

See also: Everyday cooking hacks to make your life easier

© Shutterstock