Lemon juice, baking soda, salt, and vinegar are kitchen staples. Did you know that there are other uses for these common ingredients? Keep these items stocked to help with housekeeping and to reduce your need for multiple costly cleaners.
Lemon
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Freshen the air in your house by simmering a pot of sliced lemons and water on the stovetop.
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Dry out a poison ivy rash by applying lemon juice for about 15 minutes before rinsing off with cool water. Repeat as necessary.
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Lighten hair color by rinsing with a mixture of 1 part lemon juice and 2 parts water.
Baking Soda
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To soothe an insect bite/sting, apply a paste of baking soda and water.
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Remove gas and oil odors from clothing by allowing it to sit in a trash bag with baking soda for at least 24 hours prior to washing.
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Remove coffee stains from mugs and tomato sauce stains from plastic containers by wiping them with a damp sponge dipped in baking soda paste.
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Kill weeds in driveway cracks and between bricks and stones by pouring boiling salted water over them.
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To relieve a sore throat, gargle with warm saltwater (1/4 teaspoon salt to 1 cup water).
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Rub a paste of salt and olive oil over watermarks on wood with a sponge until removed.
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To loosen a bumper sticker, cover it for up to 5 minutes with a paper towel saturated in white vinegar. Slowly peel the sticker off and remove any bumper residue with a clean cloth wet with white vinegar.
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Apply white vinegar to disinfect wooden cutting boards.
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To deter ants, spray a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water on kitchen surfaces.
The 2025 Old Farmer’s Almanac is available wherever books and magazines are sold. Support local booksellers whenever possible! A full list of stores that carry The Old Farmer’s Almanac is available at Almanac.com/WheretoBuy. Print and digital copies of The 2025 Old Farmer’s Almanac are also available online at Almanac.com/Shop and on Amazon.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac—with its iconic yellow cover and classic corner hole—originates from Yankee Publishing Inc., a 100% employee-owned company in Dublin, New Hampshire. The Almanac’s editors also produce their annual Garden Guide, The Old Farmer’s Almanac for Kids (Vol. 10 now available), and a collection of wall and desk calendars including The Old Farmer’s Almanac Planner.
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