(ARA) - There is much more to squeeze out of a lemon than just its juice. For years, this versatile fruit has been used in households for beauty treatments, delicious recipes, decorations and even a cleaning agent.

Here are a few ideas of things you can do with lemons to benefit from their natural qualities.

Incorporating lemons as part of your household decorations can offer fresh scents and bright colors to liven up any room. Engulf your home with a soothing citrus scent by making lemon potpourri. Bake lemon slices on a cookie-drying rack in a 175-degree oven for four to six hours and then add to your potpourri mix. Even a bowl of fresh lemons will add fragrance to a room for days!

Create a sunny centerpiece with a lemon posey. Sliced lemons can be incorporated into a centerpiece by placing a slightly smaller glass container into a larger vase and sliding sliced lemons between the two containers. Fill the smaller one with water and add your favorite spring buds.

In addition to its aromatic fragrance, lemons also have a more tangible quality. Lemon juice can soothe the skin, enhance meals, and add zing to cleaning.

A touch of lemon can do wonders in the kitchen while cooking.

Add lemon juice to rice to prevent it from sticking and intensify its white color. Try a squeeze of lemon on salads, steamed vegetables, soups and stews in place of salt or butter for a low-sodium, low-fat treat. Fresh-squeezed lemon juice can also be useful when cooking fish. Its acidic juice will neutralize the fishy smell and prevent the fish from sticking to the grill. Lemon juice is also a natural tenderizer.

Lemon juice has long been recognized for its magical cleaning properties and will make clean up healthy, inexpensive, and fresh-smelling.

Mix lemon juice with white vinegar for quick clean-ups around the house. Cut a lemon in half and dip it in baking soda to scour sinks, bathtubs and cutting boards. Or use it on its own to polish metals such as copper and brass. The lemon juice will soften hands and toughen nails while you clean.

Nothing can rejuvenate your senses like lemons. Lemon and its extracts often show up in perfumes and cosmetics. In many cultures, lemon oil is a cure-all for a host of ailments and illnesses.

Float sliced lemons in a tub of warm water for a refreshing and stress-reducing soak. The lemon-infused water will soften skin, fight dandruff and strip away soap film and excess oils.

You can even highlight your hair by using a fresh lemon rinse. Strain lemon juice into warm water and then pour onto wet (or dry) hair. Massage mixture into hair and scalp and then rinse thoroughly with warm water for beautiful, brighter hair.

And before you throw out a lemon, rub it on your nails to whiten and strengthen them.

For more fun and functional Lemon-Aid tips, visit Sunkist's website at www.sunkist.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content