Cleaning with vinegar isn’t really a new idea – nor is this DIY orange cleaner recipe. But, I’ve been intrigued by it for a while and thought I’d give it a try. It works really well, is super easy to make and you really can’t get much cheaper than plain vinegar along with some orange peels (which would normally go in the trash around here.)
Start by filling a jar with orange peels. You can also use lemon or lime or even grapefruit – any citrus peels work. Fill a jar with them (a quart jar works best, but a pint works just fine.)
Next, fill it with vinegar to the top.
Set it aside for at least two weeks, I put the date on mine to show when it was ready (because I’m a highly forgetful person.) Make sure to put it in a cool, dark place. You can shake it every few days if you’d like to feel like you’re being active in the process – but it’s really not necessary.
After two weeks, drain the peels and pour the now orange infused vinegar into a spray bottle. It works great for cleaning the kitchen in particular, because it’s absolutely food safe.
But, I’ve gotta admit: It works really well for surfaces, etc – but the vinegar smell will still be rather strong when you’re using it. The vinegar smell will dissipate as it dries, and you’ll be left with an orange scent. For pennies a bottle, you really can’t beat this natural DIY orange cleaner recipe, though!
Want more cleaning & organizing ideas? My friends Angie + Carolina are both sharing some great tips, too!
Leslie @ House on the Way says
January 2, 2014 at 6:59 amThanks so much for this! I’m pinning! Have a great day.
Leslie
Sette Design says
January 2, 2014 at 7:07 amI love this idea and I’m going to try it. I’m living in Italy with stucco walls, and have recently clued in to the fact that vinegar since it is a fermentation promotes mold so watch where you spray it.
Happy New Year!
Mary says
January 6, 2014 at 9:42 pmHow to Kill Mold With Vinegar
Use white vinegar to kill and remove mold in your home.
If you are worried about vinegar irritating your skin, you can wear rubber gloves. Vinegar is totally safe though.
1.Pour the vinegar into a spray bottle. Do not dilute the vinegar.
2.If you prefer, you can use a cloth to apply the vinegar, instead of using a spray bottle.
3.Apply the vinegar to the moldy surface. You might need to scrub the mold away to remove it totally.
4.Leave the vinegar to sit for about half an hour. Then rinse and wipe the surface with water.
5.Alternatively, you can leave the surface without rinsing it. This is the best way, if the vinegar smell does not bother you. Leaving the vinegar without rinsing will help prevent the mold coming back.
6.The vinegar smell should go after a few hours.
7.If you still have any mold problems, you might have to try more powerful mold killing products in the future.
Sharyl says
June 17, 2014 at 3:29 pmI always use white vinegar to kill mold and it does a wonderful job. It kills the living roots of the mold, unlike chlorine bleach which doesn’t kill it and is toxic. I find it hard to imagine that vinegar could cause mold even in Italy.
Dawn says
January 2, 2014 at 7:57 amI have been making and using this for years, it works great. We eat enough oranges in the winter that I can make enough cleaner to last for the year until orange season rolls around again.
Katie says
January 2, 2014 at 7:14 pmWe do the same thing with lemons!! Love the orange variety!
Michelle says
January 2, 2014 at 10:47 pmI have been cleaning with vinegar for years. I never thought to mix it with citrus. Great idea. I’ll have to give it a try. Thanks
lady says
January 8, 2014 at 9:55 amThis is wonderful, I can’t believe I didn’t think of this sooner. I’ve made other versions but this simplicity is priceless. I had some lemons and lime and made it with that and it smells divine already….should be ready in another week. I thank you for your all your DIY’s, I love them, and the ladies who do these! blessings, lady
Lynn says
January 20, 2014 at 6:53 pmDo you think you can use other citrus. I love the grapefruit scent.
Thanks for this recipe
Rachel says
June 6, 2014 at 9:19 amI have been doing this for over a year now. I take it a step further and add essential oils to my cleaner. This eliminates the vinegar smell (which my husband despises!) and makes it wood friendly by adding a moisturizing element. Clove Oil, Cinnamon, Rosemary, Lemon and Eucalyptus are just a few that I use! Works all over the house, keeps harsh, caustic chemicals out of my house, and saves big money over commercial cleaning products!
Randi says
June 23, 2014 at 10:43 pmIt works even better if you add fresh thyme to it. I just finished making another one with lemon peels this time.
Margaret says
December 15, 2014 at 9:13 amHow long will the cleaner keep?
Gina Luker says
December 18, 2014 at 8:41 amMine usually lasts about 4-6 weeks before I use it all, but I’m not quite sure about longer than that. I’d say maybe three months? Vinegar is a great preservative so it should last a while.
Cinny says
January 26, 2015 at 4:44 pmI was thinking alcohol would work, too though I prefer vinegar. My daughter uses cheap (relatively) vodka. I remember that hospitals stopped using rubbing alcohol for sterilizing instruments years ago because of problems with it but I forget what problems in particular. Anyone have information on this?
Heather @ 15minutecheapskate says
February 24, 2015 at 10:09 amThis worked so well for me! I mentioned your post in 7 ways to use old citrus
Lauren @ Mom Home Guide says
March 31, 2015 at 6:09 amLooks great, Gina! I have some oranges in my fridge now, so I will try this. This cleaner is a good excuse to eat a lot of oranges! 🙂
Robin says
April 6, 2015 at 6:34 pmThanks Gina! Looks like a great cleaner.
Do you live in an area where you could compost? It’s so easy and when you recycle and compost, you realize you hardly have any trash to throw out. It’s fantastic and Earth Friendly!
Be well!
Barbm1712 says
March 22, 2016 at 9:15 amMy grandmother used to make a variation of this with lemons and limes. She kept the fruit intact (after squeezing on the fish they caught that summer) and put it in the fridge in the back. Before she poured into a bottle, she strained the liquid to catch any pulp or seeds. Her home always smelled lemon fresh. We don’t eat many oranges, but I’m going to try this with the peel from tangerines since we eat a lot of these all year round.
S. Hester says
May 19, 2017 at 1:02 pmThanks for all the great tips! I’m trying to use natural vs chemical with anything i can. Look forward to reading more of your blogging, recipes, and tips. I appreciate your sharing. 🙂
Gina Luker says
May 20, 2017 at 3:32 pmThank you 🙂 Natural is always better!!
Millie Uzarek says
February 3, 2019 at 8:54 amI clean houses as a side job and i use this all the time as i am very chemical sensitive and some of my clients are as well so this makes a great cleaning product without the chemicals
Gina Luker says
February 4, 2019 at 10:05 amThat is awesome Millie, thanks for sharing!