I am always looking for ways to reduce the chemicals I use in my home. When the windows get closed for the long winter season, I become even more conscious of what I put into the air we breathe.
I have tried using just vinegar and water as a non-toxic cleaner, but honestly, my kids say it makes our house smell like a jar of pickles. I have a hard time purchasing some of the natural cleaning products as they can be costly and the ingredients are so simple it is more cost effective to make them yourself.
Lemons, mandarine oranges, and grapefruits are frequently consumed in my house. I end up with a lot of peels, so I love finding ways to reduce waste and repurpose too. These citrus peels add a wonderful scent to this homemade all-purpose cleaner making my house smell great. The natural oils in the citrus peel help to break down grease and add extra cleaning power.
This cleaner is simple to make, cheap to make, and is very effective. Next time you peel that mandarine orange, don’t toss that peel! Keep it in a container in the fridge and give this method a try.
How to Make a Natural Citrus All-Purpose Cleaner
Ingredients
- 2 cups citrus peels lemon, orange, grapefruit, lime
- 2 cups cleaning vinegar
Instructions
- Collect your citrus rinds in a sealed glass container in the fridge until you have about 2 cups worth. I like to use a 500 ml mason jar.
- Fill the jar with vinegar until the rinds are completely submersed. Let the jar sit in the fridge for a week.
- Strain jar, discarding the rinds and reserving the citrus infused vinegar.
- I use about 1/4 cup- 1/2 cup of this vinegar to 2 cups on water. This may vary based on the size of your spray bottle. Give it a good shake and start cleaning.
- The remaining vinegar I keep in a jar under the sink until the I need to refill the spray bottle.