Disclosure: I received product complimentary for review purposes only. All opinions are my own.
We know how important it is to drink water and for me, nothing compares to adding a slice of lemon or its juice to it, (either hot or cold, especially in the morning,) it is a great way to stay hydrated and to nourish our body. For the summer, I like to slice or wedge a lemon, then freeze them for extra help keeping my water cool!
There are many ways we can use this beneficial fruit, from flavoring vegetables and salads, to refreshing our wooden cutting board. I would like to share a few tips to green-ify with lemons, courtesy of Limoneira. Limoneira is a company growing in Ventura County California since 1893. Their produce started with lemons, Valencia oranges and walnuts, and has quadrupled in size over the years adding avocados, specialty citrus, pistachios, and cherries.
Check out their fantastic green tips below using lemons:
10 EASY TRICKS TO GREEN-IFY YOUR LIFE WITH LEMONS
No Pesticides: Keep ants out of your kitchen without putting harmful pesticides or chemicals near your food and appliances! Apply lemon juice to thresholds, windowsills, and any cracks where ants might get in – and then follow up with small bits of lemon peels scattered outside any outdoor entrances. Got roaches? Wash your floors with lemon water and watch them run in disgust.
Cleaner Produce: You can use your lemons, which are a natural disinfectant, to clean any lurking pesticides from the skins of your other fruits and veggies. Plus, your produce will smell lovely.
Garbage Freshener: If your garbage can is getting smelly before it’s full enough to justify changing the bag, there’s a way to fight back! Save leftover lemon peels and toss them in the base of every fresh bag. Repeat every couple of weeks for best results.
DIY Humidifier Cleaner: You can easily clean your home humidifier! Simply pour 3 to 4 capfuls of fresh lemon juice to the water inside your humidifier – plus, the air will smell like lemons!
No More Dry Cleaning: Leave your pricy dry-cleaners and harsh chemicals in the past! Scrub the stained areas on your shirts with equal parts lemon juice and water for a fresh and easy fix. (Hint: You can also soak your delicates in lemon juice & baking soda for 30 minutes before washing as a natural alternative to chlorine bleach.)
Revitalize Wilting Produce: Don’t toss that soggy lettuce! Add lemon juice to a bowl of cold water. Add the soggy lettuce and refrigerate for one hour. Dry the leaves completely and use as desired! Lemon juice can also be used to keep cauliflower white during cooking, and to keep guacamole from going brown.
Freshen Fridge Air: If your fridge is retaining too many smells, lemons can help. Simply dab lemon juice on a re-usable sponge and leave it in the fridge overnight. (Note: You may also want to ditch the food that’s causing the unpleasant odors to maximize effectiveness.)
Weeds Be Gone: Banish weeds from your garden (sans pesticides) with simple lemon juice. Fill a spray bottle with 5 parts lemon, 2 parts water and douse the offending plants until they’re well-coated. The weeds should shrivel within days.
Litter Box Woes: Don’t invest in pricey deodorizers for your cat’s litter box. Just put lemon halves in a bowl (flesh side up) and leave the bowl in the same room as your litter box! Your guests will thank you and you’ll save a bundle on store bought air fresheners.
Household Cleaner: Don’t use harmful chemicals to clean your home. Create a useful all-purpose cleaner for your kitchen and bathroom by combining equal parts lemon juice and water in a spray bottle. Lemons are a natural disinfectant and your house will smell fresh! (Note: do not use on wood. For wood polish, mix 1 cup olive oil and ½ a cup of lemon juice. Test spot first.)
About Limoneira:
Limoneira Company, a 124-year-old international agribusiness headquartered in Santa Paula, California, has grown to become one of the premier integrated agribusinesses in the world. Limoneira (pronounced lē mon΄âra) is a dedicated sustainability company with approximately 10,700 acres of rich agricultural lands, real estate properties and water rights in California, Arizona and Chile.
For more information, including additional tips and recipes; please visit: Limoneira.com.
