Lemons aren’t just for Lemonade here are 5 Surprising Uses for Lemon Peels that are going to make life easier.
For most people, lemon peels are only good for getting lemon zest. But in fact, lemon peels can be used for so much more! If you’re throwing your old peels out, you’re wasting a wonderful possible material! For ideas of what to do with old peels, check out these 5 Surprising Uses for Lemon Peels!
5 Surprising Uses for Lemon Peels
1. Repel Bugs
Did you know that bugs don’t like citrus? One of the great uses for lemon peels is as a bug deterrent! Cut your lemon peels up and put them in corners near doors, windows, anywhere that bugs are likely to find their way in. This works to repel ants, fleas, and cockroaches! Rub the peels on furniture and you can repel spiders, too!
2. Deodorizer
Lemon peels are great for deodorizing pretty much anything! Throw them down the garbage disposal, in your fridge, in the dishwasher, or in the bottom of your trash can to help cut down on bad odors. You can even deodorize and clean your microwave by microwaving lemon peels in a microwave-safe bowl that’s half filled with water. After 5 minutes, the water should have boiled and released lemon peel steam all over the microwave. You can then take out the hot bowl and wipe the condensation away for a naturally deodorized and cleaned microwave!
3. Quickly Whiten Teeth
One of the most surprising uses for lemon peels is as a natural teeth whitener! Lemon peels have whitening properties due to the citric acid in the peels. To whiten your teeth, just rub the white part of a lemon peel on your teeth for a couple of minutes. Then rinse your teeth well with water. You’ll have a shining smile! Just be careful to only do this occasionally, as the same citric acid that whitens your teeth can damage your enamel if applied too often.
4. Polish
If you have any fancy metal items, you probably like to keep them nice and shining. Even your everyday utensils can use a shine now and again. Try doing this naturally with lemon peels! Put sea salt on your metal objects, then scrub them with a lemon peel. Depending on what you’re cleaning, you may have an easier time with bigger or smaller pieces of peel. When you’re done, just rinse the object off and buff it until it shines!
5. Deep Clean Your Hands
Sometimes you get a stain on your hands that seems like it’ll never come off, no matter how much soap you use. Luckily, you can use lemon peels to fix this! One of the many uses for lemon peels is as a great hand stain remover. Try scrubbing at the stained area with a leftover lemon peel and watch the citric acid scrub the stain away! On top of that, your hands will smell fresh! If the citric acid leaves your hand tingling, just wash your hands with normal soap and water.
What do you do with old lemon peels?
Comments & Reviews
Love the hands remedy! Thanks for this!
With the teeth whitening, be careful of the acid eroding the enamel of the teeth. A great way to combat this is to swish with a baking soda water mixture right afterwards. I do this after I take apple cider vinegar, or when anything acidic touches my teeth.
Sometimes when I may a dinner with a strong odor I just smell the scent for awhile but never knew that lemon peels could help my hands.
Amazing what lemon can do (orange, too).
Thanks for sharing such helpful hints. I like being finding ways to use natural products around my home. I have used lemon peels in the past to rub out the smell of garlic or onions on my hands.
I never knew about any of this. Thanks for posting it.
I love this! I’m gonna use them to deodorize. And I’m gonna try the teeth whitening too =]]
Wow! I never knew they had so many uses! Will start saving some lemon peels to try some of these! Thanks!
I love lemons! ? Not only do they smell and make things taste amazing, but there are so many uses for their peels! I have uses them for all of these except teeth whitening, I had no idea! Thank you for sharing! 🙂
I didn’t know it would repel ants. I’m going to try this in the spring! Thanks for the info!
Oh wow!! did not know that lemon repels ants, fleas, and cockroaches! I need to tell my mom about this!
Wow, I had no idea that bugs are repelled by lemon peels! I always thought they were attracted to food of almost every type. I have to start using this, spring is on the way, and with it, the bugs. Thanks for the head’s-up, it’s sure a lot healthier than spraying Raid all around, and smells better, too!
Oh my goodness..I had no idea of all the uses for lemon peels. I feel so foolish because I am always throwing lemon peels away. Thanks for the information
I didn’t think about the deep cleaning your hands! That’s a great tip! I’ll have to give it try after working in the yard!
i have used lemon peel and orange peel for these reasons. thank you for spreading the word
I like to use lemons when I clean my garbage disposal. It cleans while getting rid of the smell. I’ve never tried my dish washer though and I will definitely have to try it on my teeth. ?
Omgosh yes!! I found out #3 totally by accident!! I am overdue for a cleaning and I drink lots of tea and coffee… so my teeth are fairly stained. I can’t use bleach because of sensitivity issues so Im usually sol till cleaning time! But recently Ive been drinking hot lemon water and voila!! Whiter teeth and fewer stains lol!! Craziness!
Thanks so much for sharing! I especially love putting lemon and/or orange peels in the garbage disposal 😉