There are lots of household and personal care uses for lemons, including making your own cleaning products, concocting time-proven health remedies and mixing up do-it-yourself skin care products. Most of these uses require lemon juice, but what can you do with leftover lemons that you have already juiced?
 
If you use lemons frequently for juicing, tea or making lemonade, you likely have lots of leftover lemon halves and might be wondering how to reuse lemons instead of sending them to the landfill.
 
In our house, we go through at least one lemon each day when I make my morning green smoothie – two if my wife also makes one. Right now, I’m only using the juice from the lemon, but I’m considering including more of the pulp – or even a little peel – to reduce waste and see how it affects the flavor.
 
In the meantime, I have at least one whole, leftover lemon to somehow reuse every day. While most of them are still going in my compost bin, I have been trying some new ways to reuse lemons after I have juiced them. So I thought I would share them with you...

1. Add them to your compost bin.

Used lemons and lemon peels can be added to your compost bin to provide you with nutrient-rich compost for use in your vegetable garden. However, you do not want to add too much citrus to your compost pile, so this option is best for folks who occasionally have some leftover lemons.
 
2. Slice the halves and use them in tea.

Although you may have already juiced your lemon halves, they likely still have a bit of juice left in them. If so, you can slice the halves and keep them in a mason jar or other glass container in your refrigerator to use in your tea throughout the day.
 
3. Deodorize your refrigerator with used lemons.

If there is still some pulp left in your lemons, you can simply set the used lemon halves in the refrigerator to remove odors.
 
4. Deodorize your litter box area.

I live with five cats, so we are always happy to find new ways to keep our cat room odor free. Aside from constantly cleaning multiple litter boxes, we also reuse lemons by placing the leftover lemon halves in a bowl near the cat boxes.
 
5. Deodorize your recycling bin or trash can.

You can also reuse leftover lemons by placing some slices in the bottom of your recycling bin or trash can to ward off odors. Just remember to change them out regularly, since they will decompose.
 
6. Deodorize and kill germs on your cutting boards.

This is one of my favorite uses for lemons – mostly because it is so easy and I always have a cutting board out right at the moment when I make my morning juice and end up with two lemon halves to somehow reuse. I don’t generally notice much of an odor coming from my cutting boards, but I do chop a lot of garlic and onions, so I’m sure the lemons are helping.

All you do is take one of your lemon halves and rub it (cut side down) all over the cutting board. Wait for a few minutes before rinsing and drying your cutting board to let the lemon’s antibacterial qualities work their magic.

7. Clean your microwave.

I usually clean my microwave by microwaving a bowl of vinegar, and then wiping it down with a rag. However, one day I had a couple of lemon halves sitting on the counter and wondered if it might work just as well. After all, lemons are used for all kinds of cleaning purposes, so it made sense that they might also work for this.
 
To clean your microwave with leftover lemons, simply place them in a microwave-safe bowl about half filled with water and microwave it for about thirty seconds. Carefully remove the bowl and use a rag to wipe down your microwave.
 
This also works to deodorize your microwave.
 
8. Remove hard water stains and soap scum with lemons.

We have hard water and we have decided not to install a water softener. So, while that means that we, our furry friends and our plants can all enjoy using water right from the tap, it also means that our fixtures get some serious hard water stains. I have not found a perfect solution for this, but my leftover lemons do help. They are also particularly good at just general cleaning of my stainless steel kitchen sink.
 
9. Clean and shine chrome fixtures.

Another of the many uses of lemons is to clean and shine chrome fixtures around the house. To do this, you just need to rub the lemon all over the kitchen or bathroom fixture – which may include a bit of scrubbing if you have hard water – then rinse and dry with a soft cloth or rag.  
 
10. Shine your stainless steel silverware.

For some reason, my stainless steel silverware gets spots on it, which I’m pretty sure are rust spots. I have used aluminum foil to scrub these spots off before, but lately I have been trying a little salt and lemon, which seems to do the trick. I just sprinkle some salt on the spot, and then scrub it with one of my juiced lemons.
 
11. Clean your coffee pot.

Long, long ago when I worked in a restaurant, we used to put salt, ice and lemon wedges in glass coffee pots, swish it around for a couple of minutes, and then rinse them out and let them air dry. This helped to sanitize them and was great for getting that pesky brown ring that always seems to form about halfway up the side of the pot.

12. Eliminate kitchen odors.

Toss your used lemons in a pot of water, bring it to a boil, and then set it to simmer for a few hours on the stove. This natural deodorizer will freshen the air while allowing you to get a second use out of your lemons. You can also do this on a stove used to heat your home by placing the lemon pieces in water in a cast iron kettle or pot.
 
13. Deodorize your garbage disposal.

This is an oldie but goodie and is worth mentioning – just in case you have not yet heard of this household use for lemons. All you need to do here is drop your leftover lemon pieces in your garbage disposal to be ground up next time you turn it on. Keep in mind that your garbage disposal may not be able to handle lemon halves, so you may need to chop them up smaller before dropping them into the disposal.
 
14. Ward off ants.

I have only seen this used for ants, but I have heard that it also works for fleas. All you need to do is slice up your used lemons and scatter them around anywhere ants might be coming inside your house, such as doorways and windowsills. You can also scatter them outside around food prep areas or entertaining areas to keep ants away.
 
15. Make lemon twists for water or cocktails.

Slice off the peel, toss the pulp in your compost bin, and slice the peel into thin strips. You can then save these strips to use as lemon twists to garnish cocktails later that night or to make your water bottle look extra fancy throughout the day.
 
Bartending helped pay for my undergrad degree, so you can trust me when I tell you that twisting the rind to release the citrus oil -- and then rubbing it around the rim of a cocktail glass before placing it inside or on the edge as a garnish – can do amazing things for a drink.
 
16. Make infused water.

While we are on the topic of enhancing drinks with lemons, it is a good time to mention that you can also make lemon-infused water with your leftover juicing lemons. Simply slice your used lemon halves thinly, place them in a mason jar or glass pitcher, fill the jar or pitcher with water and put it in the fridge for a few hours.
 
You can also make lemon-infused water in a drink dispenser by adding water, sliced lemons and ice, which you can then use as your drinking water throughout the day or for serving guests. If you are not a huge fan of water, you might want to try adding lemons to water and leaving it to infuse overnight in the fridge for a refreshing, flavored drink to enjoy the next day.
 
17. Heal rough or cracked heels.

If cracked heels are an issue for you, try reusing lemons to soften them. To use lemons to soften heels, you cut them in half, squeeze out most of the juice, and then keep the lemon half intact to cup your heel and let it work its all-natural, heel-softening magic. Since we are talking about how to reuse lemons you have already juiced, this is perfect (since you would have to juice them anyways).
 
The trick is keeping the lemon halves on your heels for an extended period of time, because you will need to have them on for at least an hour each time you do it. Of course, if it better if you can leave them on for a few hours – or even overnight.
 
The only way I have found to effectively do this is to put heel socks over them to hold them in place. The problem is, it is very difficult to find this type of sock without that annoying gel in them. I occasionally find them on Amazon, so you may want to try there.
 
18.  Make natural potpourri and sachets.

To make all-natural potpourri or sachets, you first need to remove all of the pulp from the lemons. Then cut the peel into strips and dry them. You can dry lemon peels by laying them out for several days or by using your dehydrator. Take your dried lemon peels and mix them with cloves, dried flowers, cinnamon sticks and other aromatic herbs or spices. If you want to enhance the fragrance further, you can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oils – such as orange, lemon, clove or cinnamon. Put your potpourri mixture in a mason jar or another sealed container and leave it sealed for at least a few days (but preferably longer for a stronger scent) before placing it in baskets, bowls or sachets to use around the house.

Okay, what did I miss?

What are your favorite ways to reuse lemons after juicing them?

SoCalVegFest is just 2 weeks away! Enter to WIN our OCTOBER GIVEAWAY and you could be eating for FREE at #SoCalVegFest!✨ 
 
Sign up, share and spread the news about our FREE upcoming SoCalVegFest event on 10/29 + 10/30 & WIN PRIZES! This month we will selecting 3 lucky entrants who will WIN $100 in Food Vouchers for SoCal VegFest (that’s a LOT of great veg food!) AND a signature vegan skincare swag bag from  Gaffer and Child including face scrub, shave butter, face cleanser + hydrating serum!! 🍕🌭🌮🍦👱‍♀️💄No catch - no purchases. All we ask is that you SHARE this post after you enter - it helps us to spread the word about this totally FREE, non-profit event. Thank you to Gaffen and Child for helping us create this awesome giveaway, we can’t wait to see you all in just a few short weeks! 
 
ENTER TO WIN at 👉 http://bit.ly/2e2Y9Xm [or at SoCalVegFest.org!]

If you are considering moving to a plant-based diet or just transitioned from omnivore to vegetarian or from vegetarian to vegan, these guides are a must read. They are packed with information about why to go vegan, how to go vegan, how to stock your pantry, cooking plant-based meals, health benefits of a plant-based diet and so much more.
 
Most of these vegan and vegetarian starter guides can be downloaded from the links below. You can order a hard copy of a couple of them, and a couple of them just have the guides in an online format with no download option.
 
These guides would be super helpful for parents, family members, partners and friends of vegetarians and vegans as well. They can help the people in your life better understand why you have made the choice to move towards a plant-based diet...and they might even convince them to join you on the journey!

1. Vegetarian Starter Kit (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine)
 
2. Vegan Starter Kit (VeganKit)

3. Plant-Based Nutrition: Healthy Vegan Living for Everyone (The Vegan Society)

4. African American Vegan Starter Guide (Tracye McQuirter, MPH & Farm Sanctuary)
 
5. Vegan Starter Guide (Friends of Animals)
 
6. The Vegetarian Starter Guide (Mercy for Animals)
 
7. Vegetarian Starter Guide (Compassion Over Killing)
 
8. Vegetarian 101 (Happy Cow)

9. Your Guide to Going Veggie or Vegan (Animal Aid)
 
10. Guide to Cruelty-Free Eating (Vegan Outreach)

11. Eating Vegan: A Complete Guide to Vegan Cooking for Beginners (Eat Drink Better)
 
Are there other vegetarian starter guides or vegan starter guides that I'm missing?

Please share them in the comments below!

LET'S MAKE SOCAL VEGFEST THE BIGGEST VEGFEST EVER! 

Spread the Good News - Win Prizes! We can become the biggest veg fest in the US - but we need your help! 
 
Sign up and share news about the FREE SoCal VegFest with your friends & family and win prizes!
 
This month we will select 5 lucky winners - to win prize packs worth $200 each!

That's it :) 
 
No catch. No purchases. 
 
This month we are featuring items from some of our sponsors, including: 

·      Smart Pressed Juice: Have you ever really tried a deep cleanse? Smart Pressed Juice’ delightfully refreshing Pineapple Cleanse is the crown jewel of any juice cleanse. Featuring organic superfoods, this juice is rich in chia, flax, activated sprouts, vegetarian omega-3 fatty acids and planted-based vitamins/minerals. This is your daily dose of deep cleanse to flush out the toxins from the day.

·      Whole Earth Wellness: offers Signature 7-day Fall Detox Cleanses: Jumpstart your journey to a healthier, happier, holiday season this year!

·      The Field Roast Grain Meat Co. offers a sampler of Field Roast Grain Meat Co.’s most popular items: Free coupons (1 of each) for Artisan Vegan Sausages, Field Burgers and Chao Slices along with a Field Roast Grilling Apron!

 
Contest Rules:
1.   Contest runs through 11:59 PM PDT on Friday, September 30, 2016.
2.   Anyone with a delivery address in the U.S. may enter.
3.   5 winners will be chosen at random from the entries.
4.   You must reply to our winning announcement from the same email address you registered with to claim your prize.
5.    Remember, the contest closes 11:59 PM PDT on Friday, September 30th, 2016. 

On our latest road trip, my wife and I drove to Ukiah, California to visit two of our dearest friends who were here from the Netherlands. On our way back to SoCal, we took a couple of days to make some stops at fun spots, including Mendocino, Guerneville, the Rosie the Riveter Museum in Richmond (of course), and the Winchester Mystery House.

As my long-time fellow vegans will know, there was a time when dining out while on road trips often meant settling for a salad or, if you were feeling particularly indulgent, a salad and french fries. We have always had grocery stores as an option for grabbing some fresh produce and making our own meals, but sometimes it is nice to sit down in a restaurant and eat a hot meal when you are on the road.

Fortunately, this has changed quite a bit and vegan travel is much easier these days. Plus, this latest road trip was mostly in Northern California, so I knew we would not have too much trouble finding vegan menu options for me.

The first of my favorite vegan road trip meals was at Veggie Grill in San Jose. My wife has eaten at this vegan chain restaurant in Thousand Oaks, but this was my first time. We were so excited about all of the options that we ordered a bit much -- the cashier even asked if our order was just for the two of us. I'm thinking maybe she has never been on a road trip where salads and french fries are your main sustenance!

My omnivore wife got the Santa Fe Crispy Chickin' (the top photo) and reported that if we were at a non-vegan restaurant and someone told her this was chicken, she would not question it. So that might be a good thing to keep in mind if you have an omnivore partner or are looking for a restaurant that will satisfy a mixed group of vegans and omnivores.

We both love corn more than we should, so got a little too excited about the Chargrilled Street Corn on the seasonal menu. The cashier suggested that we could order just one and break it in half to split it. My wife and I exchanged a look that both of us totally understood -- "I love you, but I'm not sharing my street corn with you."

We ordered two.

We also got the buffalo wings. Okay, I have to say -- I have never had buffalo wings, vegan or otherwise. So I could not tell you how these rate compared to non-vegan buffalo wings you may have eaten before adopting a plant-based diet. However, I can say that my wife eats non-vegan buffalo wings fairly regularly when she goes out to eat with the other Marines, and she reported that the sauce was very similar and that these were a great non-meat option. As a first time partaker, I would definitely order these again.

The Tempura Green Bean Stack wasn't bad, but it definitely wasn't our favorite dish, so we saved some calories there and took most of that dish home as leftovers.

I went for the Koreatown Tacos for my entree and was not disappointed. Totally de-lish. 

I can't believe I had to drive all the way to San Jose to try Veggie Grill when there is one so much closer to home in Thousand Oaks. But now that I've tried several things off the menu, I am hooked. I can't wait to start going to the Thousand Oaks Veggie Grill to try other dishes.

For one thing, it is just so nice to be able to walk in a restaurant and order anything I see on the menu. That is something that I took for granted while living in the Pacific Northwest and that I miss very much now that we are back in SoCal.

Next up is Jyunkang Vegetarian Restaurant at City of 10,000 Buddhas in Ukiah. As you can see in the picture below, I ordered vegetables with cashews, which is kind of my go-to meal at Asian restaurants. I also wanted to try something new, so I got the satay sticks, which came with a delish sipping sauce. V got the spring rolls and loved them.

The restaurant is open for lunch most days and offers an all-vegan menu. Visitors are welcome to come to this Buddhist community just for the restaurant, but if you are in the area and decide to stop by, I recommend also checking out the murals, the temple with walls lined with Buddha statues and the bookstore.

They also make their own vegan, non-alcoholic wine (like the zinfandel pictured below). You can pick up one bottle for $8.00 or a box of four bottles for $25.00. You know I love a good deal, so we opted for the four bottles. We haven't tried it yet, but some new friends we made on the trip have had it before and gave it a good review.

Okay, here is my big tip for vegan road trip food...

If you like to have junk food to munch on while you are driving, it is -- of course -- best to stock up before you head out on your journey.

For example, I stocked up on Jerquee from Vitacost to make sure I had some back-up snack options to help me fit in more protein and avoid fast food restaurants.

However, if you find yourself on a vegan road trip in an area that is not so vegan friendly and you run out of snacks, you may have a hard time finding a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's to replenish your stockpile.

While you can find plenty of healthy, plant-based options at a conventional grocery store, they are not likely to have vegan varieties of the good, old-fashioned junk food you want for a road trip. So when you want something a bit more sinful than a banana, head to the nearest HomeGoods, T.J. Maxx, Ross Dress for Less or Marshall's.

I know that it sounds strange to go to one of these stores better known for discount clothing and great bargains on kitchenware, but I have found gluten-free and vegan snacks at these stores that I have never before heard of or seen. Of course, they also often have well-known brands (I've even found Vega there), but I say go for the stuff you have never seen or heard of before to stick with the spirit of adventure on your road trip.

Some examples of vegan junk food I have found at these discount retailers include lentil chips, quinoa chips, macaroons, gluten-free cookies, hard candies, chocolate-coconut bars, and Mrs. May's awesome, nut-based snacks.

What are your favorite tips for vegan road trips? I will be on the road again soon and would love to hear them!

Lately, my morning smoothies have included things like rice milk and bananas, but after our latest road trip, we both felt the need to detox a bit. We actually ate some great vegan food on the road, but we also ate some junk food, so I'm amping up my juicing this week.

I tend to add a lot to my juices and smoothies, such as chia seeds, protein powder, pumpkin seeds, maca powder and such, but I'm going basic for my morning smoothies this week and enjoying some nutrient-packed juices without the extras.

Here is this week's morning juice recipe...

What you need:

1.5 to 2 cups of coconut water (or just water, if you don't have coconut water)
1 big handful of spinach
1 cucumber
3 stalks of celery
1 apple
1 lemon
A few sprigs of parsley

What you do:

You can use an extraction juicer or a blender to make this juice. I have an extraction juicer, and I do use it, but I generally prefer the blender method to get all of that plant-based goodness.

1. Wash and cut your produce into pieces that work for your blender. (For example, you don't have to chop celery when using a Vitamix, but I like to chop it to avoid sucking random celery strings through the straw.)

2. Add the coconut water or water to the blender with the spinach, cucumber, apple, celery and parsley.

3. Squeeze the juice of the lemon into the blender.

4. Blend, pour and enjoy!

This makes enough to have one juice in the morning and save some left over for a mid-afternoon energy boost.

 It's time for the...

SoCal VegFest AUGUST GIVEAWAY!

LET'S MAKE SOCAL VEGFEST THE BIGGEST VEGFEST EVER! 

Spread the Good News - Win Prizes! We can become the biggest vegfest in the US - but we need your help! 

Sign up and share news about the FREE SoCal VegFest with your friends & family. 

Every month we will select 5 lucky winners to win prize packs worth $100 each!

That's it :) 

No catch. No purchases. 

This month they are featuring items from some of the sponsors, including: 

• (3) boxes of Zellee Organic Fun Fruit Gels 
• Macaccino Products - the world's first and only roasted maca beverage 
• "What the Fork: The Secret Cause of Disease" - by plant-based nutrition expert Gina Bonanno-Lemos 
• SoCal VegFest Organic T-Shirt & Tote Bag...among other fantastic items!
  

Contest Rules:

1. Contest runs through 11:59 PM PDT on Wednesday, August 31, 2016.
2. Anyone with a delivery address in the U.S. may enter.
3. 5 winners will be chosen at random from the entries.
4. You must reply to our winning announcement from the same email address you registered with to claim your prize.
5. Remember, the contest closes 11:59 PM PDT on Wednesday, August 31, 2016.

One of the things that makes SoCal VegFest awesome is that admission and parking are free. Everyone loves to save money, but this is particularly cool because it makes the festival accessible to a wider audience of people who can learn about a healthier, greener, more compassionate diet and lifestyle.

However, while the organizers might be letting us in for free, that does not mean there aren't a ton of costs that go along with putting on a two-day festival of this size.

If you are in the Los Angeles area and can make it to Au Lac on August 22, this is your opportunity to help support the festival. In particular, the proceeds from this fundraiser will help cover the costs of the main stage where attendees will enjoy speakers, celebrity guests and music.

The fundraiser is a free event where you can enjoy speakers and live music. If you purchase dinner while you are there, part of your purchase will go towards covering the costs of the festival's main stage -- so enjoy a night out, learn something new and support SoCal VegFest!

Dinner & Discussions with Health Experts...and Live Music! at Au Lac DTLA  - Aug 22

CARLY REEDER
5:00-6:00pm (discussion + Q&A)
Stress Free for Life: Alleviating the 4 Factors of Stress
Environmental, Food, Emotional, Spiritual

GINA BONANNO-LEMOS
6:15-7:15pm (discussion + Q&A)
Avoiding The Unknown Pitfalls Of A Plant-Based Diet: Deficiencies and Hidden Animal Products

LAURA ROBINSON OATMAN
7:30-8:30pm (discussion+ Q&A)
Top 10 Tips to Longevity Through Ayurveda

ELIJAH BUSTOS
8:45-9:30pm
Live Music

Join us for an enlightening, inspiring, and entertaining evening! Presentations and music are FREE - dinner is not included.
Enjoy world-renowned vegan and raw food. 
Call Au Lac DTLA to RSVP: (213) 617-2533 

* A portion of your purchase will help fund SoCal VegFest, a non-profit event, taking place on Oct 29 & 30, 2016. Proceeds will help cover some of the costs in creating a main stage for speakers, celebrities & live music.

Hi there!

If you found your way over here from the How to Go Vegan When You're Young and Broke article on VICE by Jay Stephens, I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome you to Cheap Vegan Chick!

Whether you are a long-time vegan, an aspiring vegetarian or just a fan of Meatless Mondays, I hope you will find lots of useful information here to help you save money on your journey towards a healthier, eco-friendlier, more compassionate, plant-based lifestyle.

As Jay's article shows, it really is possible to eat well on a budget (and to save lots of money on vegan personal care products and cruelty-free cleaning supplies).

To help you navigate this site and find resources to help you, too, become a cheap vegan, here are links to some of the pages and posts I thought you might find most helpful:

Where to Find Vegan Coupons

Where to Find Vegan, Eco-Friendly Deals on Almost Anything

How to Save Money with Coupons

Easy, Vegan Lentil Soup Recipe (Cheap and Great for Slow Cookers!)

Best Cheap, Vegan Dollar Store Finds Ever!

Four All-Natural, Easy, Cheap, DIY Bath or Baby Powder Recipes

Egg Substitutes: 11 Vegan Egg Replacers

Eliminate Carpet Odors with this Cheap, DIY Baking Soda Deodorizer

I would love to also connect with you on Twitter and Facebook, and feel free to email me if you have any questions or suggestions for things you would like to see on the site.

Welcome!!