by Ed Marroni

When life gives you lemons…REUSE them!

You probably do not often include LEMONS on your grocery list. Perhaps you will now, after learning what tasks can be done with the peels to avoid the use of commercial products that have chemicals. LEMON PEELS can:

• CLEAN GREASY MESSES- use lemon halves sprinkling some salt on the juiced half and rub on the greasy area, wiping with a towel afterwards; do not use on surfaces that may be sensitive to acid;
• CLEAN TEA KETTLE AND COFFEE POT- for the kettle, fill it with water adding a handful of thinly sliced lemon peels, boil it and then turn off the burner, letting it sit for an hour; for coffee pots, add ice, salt and lemon rinds to the empty pot, swishing and swirling for a couple minutes and then dump contents and rinse;
• CLEAN MICROWAVE- (if you are still using one) by adding lemon rinds to a microwave-safe bowl filled with water halfway; then cook on high for about 5 minutes allowing water to boil and the steam to condense on walls and top and wipe with a towel;
• DEODORIZE GARBAGE DISPOSAL- cut a lemon in half and drop the lemon and a handful of baking soda, turn on the cold water and then the disposal and it will clean as it chops the lemon;
• REFRESH CUTTING BOARDS- by rubbing surface with a halved lemon, letting it sit for few minutes and rinse;
• KEEP INSECTS OUT- by chopping the peels and placing them along thresholds, windowsills near the cracks and holes used for entry.