When Life Gives You Lemons...
Make lemonade of course; then put the peel to work.
Did you know that the outsides of your favorite citrus fruits have just as many uses as the delicious innards? Here are three zesty examples of how you can put those skins to work:
- Trap slugs and snails: Shortly before dark, set hollowed-out lemon, orange, or grapefruit rinds among your plants. By morning, the skins will be filled with slimy slugs. Pick up the traps and dump them—and the pests—into a bucket of soapy water, then toss the whole shebang onto your compost pile.
- “Brush” your teeth: Wipe the inside of a slice of lemon or lime peel over your teeth and gums. Both fruits contain chemicals that will help you whiten your choppers and fight gum disease.
- Freshen the air: Toss a handful of your favorite citrus shavings into a pot of boiling water along with some cloves and cinnamon. Reduce the heat and let the fragrant brew simmer. Your house will smell sweet and homey.