How can I reuse or recycle … out of date lemon juice?

Lemon juice in a bottle in the fridgeI have a (not terribly developed or serious) conspiracy theory that brand-name lemon juice manufacturers always put a January/February “best before” date on their lemon juice bottles to make everyone buy new lemon juice in time for pancake day each year.

Consequently, I tend to ignore such dates but by this point in the year, when it’s pushing a year after the date on the bottle, I start to get a bit dubious, despite there being half a bottle left over.

I know that lemon juice can be used for a ton of cleaning jobs around the home but have only ever used it for descaling the kettle. Any other cleaning suggestions?

And is there anything else we can do with it in addition to making our home sparkling and lemony?

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16 Responses to “How can I reuse or recycle … out of date lemon juice?”


  1. Hi Louisa – if you put a cut lemon in a dish in the microwave and heat on high for a minute it takes away any nasty pongs that might be lurking there, so maybe it would work with just the lemon juice.

  2. Vanessa says:

    Yes, microwaving a little lemon juice will loosen up all the stuff that is stuck on the inside…
    Also, poor a little down your garbage disposal while it’s running (and the water is running of course). Helps get rid of nasty old food smell and your kitchen will smell lemony fresh!

  3. Cheryl says:

    Lemon juice is great when partnered with bicarbonate of soda ((baking soda)) for cleaning any surfaces around the kichen or bathroom ^_^, just add a few drops to a teaspoon of bicarb and scrub away for lemony fresh freshness.

  4. Lactose says:

    Run it on your hands, rub it through your hair, then go for a walk in the sun. Oula! Cheap natural looking highlights :-)

  5. korpsaw says:

    Lemons are great. I saw Martha soak bathroom tissue, to get that lemon lemony fresh freshness! ^:^

  6. Ruth says:

    Add to water and use to clean glass

  7. treehugger says:

    Hi there
    You could make lemon sorbet or sherbet or there are oodles of cocktails that require Lemon juice.

  8. dancing girl says:

    I have used lemon juice to dissolve the scale that builds up around the taps in the bathroom.

  9. Pat says:

    put peeled apples or potatoes in water with lemon juice to help keep from turning dark before you use them

  10. Gulia says:

    Add a cup of lemon juice to the load of white laundry to make it whiter.

  11. Ruti says:

    Kiddies can use to write ‘secret’ messages

    http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howtos/ht/invisibleink3.htm

  12. Olia says:

    Do facial masks with lemon juice, it whitens the skin ( also on hands).
    You can still use it in cooking, where you heat, boil the food.
    Add to different dishes: compots, puddings, pies, cake fillings, etc.
    Make lemon syrup by boiling it down with sugar.
    Add it to your laundry so it smells fresh.
    Wipe with it your furniture.
    Add it to the water when washing floors.

  13. Lisa says:

    Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle salt (any kind — even sea salt) onto the lemon. Massage the lemon wedge onto the brass, squeezing the juice out until the tarnish is buffed off. As it stops working, add more salt to the lemon. Rinse well with water and let dry. It is important to keep copper bottom pans clean because they redistribute the heat according to how clean they are on the bottom.



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