Lemon – a familiar fruit in every Vietnamese kitchen – has long been associated with making drinks, seasoning dishes, or even as an ingredient in traditional remedies. However, few people know that lemon is also a “secret weapon” to solve countless problems in daily life. Without spending a fortune or using chemicals, simply cut a few lemons in half and you can refresh your living space in a simple yet surprisingly effective way.
Here are some lemon tips and tricks that everyone should try at least once.
1. Quickly and safely deodorize the refrigerator
The refrigerator is a place to store food, but it can also become a “smelly corner” if not cleaned regularly. Strong-smelling foods such as fish, meat, durian, or leftover food can cause unpleasant odors that affect other foods.
Lemon solution:
- Cut a fresh lemon in half and place it directly into the refrigerator compartments.
- Alternatively, drip a few drops of lemon juice onto a clean cloth and place it in the corner of the fridge.
Lemons are excellent at absorbing moisture and neutralizing odors, and they are completely natural, causing no harm to the food inside.
2. Clean and deodorize wooden cutting boards
Cutting boards come into direct contact with raw food, especially meat and fish, which are breeding grounds for bacteria and unpleasant fishy odors. Rinsing with water alone may not be sufficient.
A simple method:
After use, rub half a lemon directly onto the surface of the cutting board, let it sit for about 5 minutes, then rinse with clean water. The acidic nature of lemon juice will effectively remove odors, disinfect, and leave your cutting board looking brand new.
3. Deodorize the bathroom, shoe cabinet, and trash can
The bathroom, shoe cabinet, and trash can are the easiest places in the house to develop bad odors. Musty smells or foul odors from long-term garbage can make the space feel stuffy and unhygienic.
Lemon tip:
- Cut lemon into slices, place them in small cups, and put them in the bathroom and shoe cabinet.
- For the trash can, place a few lemon slices at the bottom before inserting the trash bag.
The natural fragrance of lemons will overpower the unpleasant smells, bringing a sense of freshness and pleasantness to your living space.
4. Remove mold and musty odors from clothes
During the humid season, it is common for clothes to develop mold, black spots, and musty odors. Many people have to wash their clothes repeatedly, but the mold stains remain.
Solution:
Mix lemon juice with a little salt, scrub the moldy areas, let it dry in the sun, then wash as usual. Lemons not only remove mold but also leave your clothes smelling fresh and natural, eliminating the need for industrial fabric softeners.
5. Whiten light-colored clothes
Over time, white clothes tend to turn yellow, and even strong detergents may not restore their original brightness.
A simple trick:
Add lemon juice to the washing water or the final rinse. The acid in lemons will gently bleach the yellow stains, making the clothes look brighter and maintaining their softness.
6. Relieve mosquito bite itching
In the summer, mosquitoes are a nuisance, leaving behind red, itchy bumps. Instead of using ointments, you can take advantage of fresh lemons readily available in your kitchen.
How to use:
Squeeze a little lemon juice onto the mosquito bite, and gently rub it in. The lemon’s essence will soothe the skin, instantly relieve itching, and reduce redness and swelling.
From deodorizing the fridge, cleaning cutting boards, removing mold from clothes, to eliminating shoe cabinet odors, lemons are not just a kitchen ingredient but a powerful ally in maintaining your home naturally and economically.
Try cutting a lemon in half and applying it all around your house, and you’ll be amazed at how fresh, clean, and pleasant your living space becomes. A small tip can make a big difference – sometimes, the simplest things hold the most power!
