Each time you juice a lemon and throw away the peel, you are discarding one of the most versatile, underused resources you have in the kitchen! Lemon peels have strong natural oils, have antimicrobial properties, and contain scent compounds that offer great benefits in cooking, cleaning, self-care, and so on. Instead of throwing the peel away, there are eight intelligent and good ways to use lemon peels, that can save money, waste, boost your home, and your health!
Make Natural All-Purpose Cleaner
Lemon peels contain limonene, a natural solvent that attacks grease and built-up debris. It’s really easy to make your own citrus-infused cleaner using three simple steps:
Fill a mason jar with lemon peels!
Cover the lemon peels with white vinegar completely.
Let the jar sit for 2–3 weeks.
Strain the peels from the liquid and pour the infused vinegar into a spray bottle.
This homemade cleaner is good for countertops, stovetops, sinks, and even stainless steel! The mixture is antibacterial, removes grease, and smells fresh with a clean citrus scent.
Deodorize the Garbage Disposal
Garbage disposals are notorious for getting smelly! Thankfully, lemon peels provide a quick and easy natural deodorizing method. Just drop a few small pieces of lemon peel down the disposal with cold water running, and run the disposal for 10–15 seconds. This crushes the peels, releasing the lemon oils, deodorizing and freshening your garbage disposal. For additional scrubbing power, use the lemon peels with a few ice cubes.
Refresh the Fridge or Garbage Can
Lemon peels are a powerful natural deodorizer with a clean, fresh aroma and antimicrobial properties. To freshen your fridge, put a few lemon peels in an open bowl or a cheesecloth bag and leave it in the fridge for a few days. Replace as needed.
For garbage cans, you can throw a few lemon peels in the bottom of the can before lining it with a new garbage bag. This will absorb odor and help keep your kitchen smelling cleaner longer.
Make a Lemon Zesty Sugar or Salt
Citrus zest is the flavor explosion you need for sweet and savory dishes. Forget about purchasing lemon-flavored seasonings, you can utilize any leftover lemon peels in the flavor department and make your own flavored salt or sugar at home!
Lemon sugar – Dry the lemon peels (in a low oven or dehydrator), then grind into a fine powder and mix with granulated sugar! You can use this to flavor cookies, teas, or even rim cocktail glasses.
Lemon salt – You can follow the same process as above and mix your dried lemon powder with coarse sea salt to flavor fish, poultry, or roasted vegetables.
This DIY tip will ensure that you have extracted as much flavor as you can get out of your lemons and best of all, you didn’t spend any extra money!
Use as a Natural Cleaner for the Microwave
Lemon peels plus steam is a powerful, natural microwave cleaner.
Put a bunch of lemon peels in a microwave-safe bowl. Fill the bowl halfway with water, and microwave on high for 3–5 minutes. Leave the bowl inside for a couple more minutes to let the steam do its thing. The steam will loosen the grime and the lemon oils will deodorize.
Wipe the inside of the microwave with a clean cloth and it will gleam, no nasty disinfectants necessary.
Naturally Repel Bugs
Most bugs do not like the strong citrus aroma of citrus oils, especially lemon. You can use lemon peels to help repel bugs like ants, spiders, and cockroaches.
Rub lemon peels around the baseboards, window sills, door thresholds, or wherever bugs may come into your house. Replace the lemon peels every few days to keep the old varnish smell.
You can also boil the lemon peels in water and use it as a spray solution and mist the area. It is also an inexpensive, child- and pet-safe method of repelling bugs for those who do not want to rely on chemical bug sprays.
Brighten Your Skin with a Homemade Lemon Scrub
Lemon peels are naturally full of alpha hydroxy acids as well as vitamin C, all of which are great for brightening and exfoliating the skin—when used appropriately.
For a very gentle exfoliant:
Grind dried lemon peels to a fine powder.
Combine with sugar and your favorite carrier oil (like coconut or olive oil).
Use it as a body scrub in the shower to exfoliate dead skin and add a natural brightness.
Important: Lemon can make your skin sensitive to the sun, so always rinse and avoid sun exposure immediately after use. Avoid using lemon directly on sensitive skin or irritated skin.
Infuse Olive Oil or Vinegar for Cooking
Infused olive oils and vinegars can take your everyday meals to the next level, but they can be extremely overpriced. Instead of paying a premium, you can create your own lemon-infused versions.
For olive oil: Simply add dried lemon peels to a bottle of good olive oil. Let it sit for a minimum of two weeks in a cool, dark area. You can strain it if you want.
For vinegar: Using fresh or dried peels, add them to white or apple cider vinegar. Great for dressings or marinades.
These staple pantry items will be taken to the next level and will help stretch the value of each lemon you use.
Lemon Peels Have Too Much Value to Toss
There is potential in every lemon peel—whether you are trying to scrub your sink, season tonight’s dinner, or repel those horrible pests! It is so easy to use these eight methods to transform your food scraps into an everyday necessity. Not only do you get to reduce waste and use fewer lemons, you also help reduce the need for buying products that usually come with harsh chemicals or unnecessary packaging from the store.
The next time you use a lemon, think about tossing the lemon peel for a second. With some creativity, that simple scrap can have lots of value!
