Citrus Vinegar - homemade cleaner

I'll admit I'm not the greenest crayon in the crunchy granola box, but I do find great satisfaction in making my own detergents and home cleaners. Not only does it eliminate harmful chemicals and fumes in my home but it saves me piles of money and anyone that knows me knows that I'm a huge fan of saving money whenever possible.
My latest successful pinterest inspired experiment has been this homemade cleaner. I use this as an all-purpose cleaner in my kitchen, bathrooms, and to clean windows and mirrors. I first tried this with orange peels and it turned out beautifully. As you can see in the picture, I'm trying lemon peels this time. I am not a fan of the smell of vinegar. At all! But soaking the peels in the vinegar takes away the strong vinegar smell and makes it so citrusy and fresh!

To make this cleaner you'll need:

• a clean jar with lid
• the peels of several oranges, lemons, or grapefruits
• vinegar

Place the peels in the jar. Pour in enough vinegar to cover them and screw lid on tightly. Now set the jar on a shelf or in a cupboard out of your way and allow to soak for at least two weeks. After two weeks (or more if you choose) have elapsed, your cleaner is ready! Discard the peels and transfer the cleaner into a spray bottle. You can add a little water if you'd like.
Other scents/combinations I anticipate trying include:

• lime or lemon/lime
• ginger
• whole cloves and orange
• cinnamon stick and orange
• grapefruit and lemongrass

So next time you eat an orange or grapefruit or squeeze lemons or limes, save the peels! If you don't have enough to fill a jar, go ahead and put them in the jar, top it with a lid and place it in the refrigerator until you can accumulate enough to proceed with the recipe. 

 

 Happy cleaning!

Have you tried this before? Do you have any homemade cleaner tips for me? I'd love to hear from you!