Uses for Lemon Juice

Whiten discolored chopping boards with lemon juice. It will also work on yellowed ivory handles.

Poached fish will be firmer and whiter if you add lemon juice to the cooking liquid.

After cutting smelly garlic or onions on a wood board, rub the surface with a slice of freshly cut lemon, rinse well and dry.

To get more juice from lemons, halve them, heat on high in the microwave for 30 to 45 seconds, then squeeze.

Remove fruit or berry stains from your hands by rinsing with lemon juice.

Stir a tablespoon of lemon juice into a cup of fresh, sweet milk when you need a substitute for sour cream or buttermilk.

To avoid that funny aftertaste in diet desserts, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Use lemon juice in the washer to remove rust and other mineral discoloration from cotton t-shirts and briefs.

Use lemon juice to remove ink spots on cloth.

Discolored socks will look white again if you boil them for a few minutes in a pan of water with a slice of lemon in it.

Cut a lemon in half and use it, with a little salt sprinkled on it, to dean brass and copper items, and stainless steel kitchen sinks.

To shine smooth aluminum, rub it with the cut side of a lemon.

To eliminate odors in home humidifiers, pour 3 or 4 capfuls of bottled lemon juice in the water.

Lemon juice is the natural way to whiten and brighten nails. Soak them in it for 5 to 10 minutes, then brush with a mixture of equal amounts of white vinegar and warm water. Rinse well.

Write a message on a piece of paper with a cotton swab using lemon juice as invisible ink. After the "ink" is dry, hold the paper near a hot light bulb (not too dose!). The writing will turn brown and you'll be able to read the message.

The fastest way to dry up a facial blemish is to dab it with lemon juice a few times a day.

When serving messy finger food like ribs or fried chicken, provide finger bowls. Float lemon slices in small glass dishes so that guests can rinse their fingers. (Be ready to enlighten anyone who assumes you're serving cold lemon soup.)

Use lemon juice to bleach and soften grubby elbows: place a few drops of baby oil into two lemon halves. Stick elbows in the lemon, tape in place and leave on for 30 minutes.