Vinegar Orange Cleaner

Homemade Vinegar Orange Cleaner     

I love the idea of using fewer chemicals and you KNOW I love not buying things I can make at home cheaper.  Vinegar has always been a go to natural cleaner but if you'd like to add some great degreasing to your cleaner and a fresh citrus scent then citrus fruit peelings are a great addition.  Not to mention finding a use for those citrus peelings other than just throwing them away!

Homemade Orange Cleaner

• White Vinegar
• citrus peels (orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, or a combination)

Place peels in vinegar. I cut mine small and put them right in the original vinegar bottle. Let this sit around for 6 weeks or so. When you remember to shake it, shake it. This releases oil from the peels and makes it more a more potent grease cutter.  I always have one to use, one to soak.  So as soon as I open a new vinegar I start another.  It doesn't hurt anything if you start using it early or let it sit long, the more soaking time it has the better though.

Strain out the citrus when you think it’s “done”.  I use cheesecloth or if you don't have that onhand just a thin kitchen towel.  This will help filter out the little white bits and keep the from clogging your spray bottle. 

Refill an old spray bottle half and half with water.  I've picked up a couple cool spray bottles on estate sales but I used to just use an old cleaner bottle that I had from before I made my own and wrote on it in sharpie!   It's really the only spray that I use now other than glass cleaner. It really works for everything (sometimes in combination with a bit of baking soda sprinkled on heavily soiled surfaces or for brightening up).

It use the full strength for dusting and it leaves a fabulous shine without the residue.

1/3 cup per gallon is great for mopping or to a sink of baked on pans for soaking.

 The only thing it won’t work for is windows or glass.

Do you have any great home made cleaner recipes to share?