10 brilliant life hacks using lemons

Cut a lemon in half and leave it in the fridge to cancel out any lingering odours. Leave for 2 to 3 days.

Mix lemon juice with water and baking soda in a spray bottle and use instead of chemical household cleaners. Spray on surfaces, leave for 5-10 minutes and wipe away with a cloth.

Use a drop of lemon juice directly on a spot to treat acne, or rub a slice of lemon on your face, carefully avoiding the eye area, to treat acne and blackheads over time. Lemon has antibacterial properties that help to fight skin problems. Wait a few minutes then rinse of the lemon with water. But remember, never apply to broken skin… ouch!

For really stubborn stains in the toilet bowl that just won’t budge, cut a lemon in half and sprinkle with a coarse sea salt. Wearing rubber gloves, scrub the bowl directly with the lemon until stains start to lift.

Rub half a lemon on your wooden cutting boards to clean, freshen and get rid of odours that are ingrained into your cutting board and simply rinse away with water.

Squeeze lemon onto avocado, apples, bananas, etc, to stop them from turning brown once they are cut. You can also bring limp lettuce or celery back to life by soaking in cold water with some lemon juice and then pop it in the fridge.

If you have a sore throat, beware that you may be on the brink of a cold or flu. Don’t go out and buy sugar-filled lozenges, gargle with old fashioned salt and water and drink soothing lemon, honey and ginger tea.

Instead of harsh chemicals found in bleach and laundry whiteners that can damage fabrics over time, add a quarter to half a cup of lemon juice to your laundry when washing whites to make them brighter.

Cockroaches and other crawling insects don’t like the acidity of citrus, so it’s a good idea to mop the kitchen floor with hot water and lemon juice to help keep them away. Or mix some lemon with olive oil in a small spray bottle and use as a personal insect repellent.

Mix equal parts baking soda and lemon juice and rub on to teeth with a cotton bud or toothbrush, leave for around 30-45 seconds and then rinse and brush teeth normally. Don’t leave it for too long as you don’t want to damage your tooth enamel. Do this a few times a week and you’ll notice your teeth will whiten over time.