Don't throw your citrus peels away! Save them up to make your own multi-purpose citrus cleaner. Cheap, great smelling, waste-saving and effective, this natural citrus peel cleaner recipe will become your go-to for almost everything!
How to make your own citrus peel cleaner
Step 1:
Once you're done with the fruit, pop the used citrus peels in a large glass jar. Any and all citrus is ok - orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit - add it all to the jar.
It may take some time to accumulate enough citrus peel, so keep your jar in the fridge until you are ready to move on to Step 2.
Step 2:
Once you have at least half a jar of citrus peels, add enough white vinegar to cover them. Seal the glass jar tightly with a non-metal lid (vinegar corrodes metal).
Step 3:
Keep the jar out of direct sunlight and allow it to infuse for 2 to 3 weeks.
Step 4:
Once it has had time to infuse, open the jar, and strain the contents, then decant into a spray bottle. If there are still citrus particles in the liquid, you may need to strain again through a muslin cloth, as any little bits of citrus in your liquid will clog the spray mechanism.
You may be able to re-purpose a plastic spray bottle from a previous cleaning product. If not, you can purchase them new to use again and again.
Step 5:
Add a squirt of pure liquid castile soap and shake gently.
Why is this DIY citrus cleaner so effective?
Besides it's beautiful fresh scent, citrus peel contains a compound called di-limonene, which has great degreasing properties.
While the acidic nature of vinegar is powerful enough to dissolve hard water deposits, dirt, grease and grime, and is also strong enough to kill bacteria.
What surfaces you should not use this cleaner on
As this is a vinegar based natural cleaner, it is not suitable for some surfaces and materials including:
- Granite and marble surfaces
- Waxed furniture and flooring
- Electronic screens
- Knives
- The rubber and metallic parts of household appliances
