We probably know this popular citrus goes wonderfully in food and drink recipes, but did you know it can also be used in many non-culinary ways? From cleaning to polishing and DIY beauty treatments, we’ve listed 10 useful ways to use lemons.

For your cleaning cupboard

1. Polish shoes and furniture
   
   Make an inexpensive polish for leather shoes and wooden furniture by mixing 2 teaspoons of lemon juice with 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Apply this all-natural solution with a dry cloth and let sit for a few minutes before wiping off with a clean cloth.
   

2. Buff tarnished metals
   
   Restore the shine in your copper, brass, and stainless steel trinkets by scrubbing them with half a lemon to allow the citric acid to lift the dirt and grime before rinsing and polishing with a soft cloth. For stubborn stains, dip the lemon in salt for a stronger abrasive. You can do the same to get rid of mineral deposits on chrome taps.

3. Brighten whites
   
   Perk up your white linens and clothing by giving it a good soak in a mixture of half lemon juice and half baking soda. Leave it for about half an hour before throwing in with the rest of your laundry. For serious blemishes, scrub the area with a lemon wedge before washing.

For your garden

4. Repel bugs
   
   Citrus oil is one of the natural solutions to deterring insects. Save your lemon peels and place them in strategic areas around the house, such as along window sills, to keep out creepy crawlers. It’d also add a refreshing aroma to your abode. 

5. Kill weeds
   
   Get rid of pesky plants without tainting your garden with harsh chemicals by spraying lemon juice on the intruding plants. You should find them shrivelled in a few days as citric acid has a burning effect on weeds. For severe infestations, douse the lemon juice on a hot and dry day.

For your kitchen

6. Clean pots
   
   To remove burnt food from stainless steel pots, add enough water to cover the charred area, throw in a lemon half, and bring to boil. You should now be able to scrape off the blackened bits easily with a non-abrasive utensil.
   

7. Wash fruits and veggies
   
   You can never be too careful with what you’re feeding your family, especially when you have young children. Make sure you rid your fruits and greens of any chemicals by washing them with a natural solution made with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of white vinegar, and one cup of water.

8. Refresh lettuce
   
   In addition to preventing cut fruits from turning brown, lemons can inject new life into wilted lettuces. Simply place the leaves in a bowl of ice water mixed with the juice of half a lemon and pop it in the fridge for an hour. When you’re ready to serve, dry in a spinner for a crisp salad.

For your beauty treatments

9. Lighten hair colour
   
   Fill a small spray bottle with fresh lemon juice and apply a generous coating to your locks. Head outside to expose your hair to the sun, which will open up hair cuticles while the lemon juice lifts colour upon heat activation. You should stay out for at least 30 minutes for the bleaching to work, so remember to wear sunblock and stay hydrated with your Thermos® One-Push Tumbler. Repeat 2-3 times for a lighter shade.

For the little ones

10. Write secret messages
    
    A fun project for the little ones, have them write secret notes to each other in invisible ink by dapping a brush or cotton swab in lemon juice. Allow the writing to dry and help them to reveal the message by ironing the paper on high temperature.