Super Simple Homemade Cleaner

One of our favorites homemade cleansers to make is DIY Citrus Vinegar Cleaner.

Most gardeners are DIYers. Not only do we love growing, preserving and cooking our own food, we also like to save money by making what we can using products and ingredients we already have on hand.

Well, this homemade citrus cleaner is a winner. No only does it work well for counters, stove and sink, but it’s super easy to make and practically free.

DIY Citrus Vinegar Cleaner

Yes, you can use any kind of citrus for an equally good outcome for your DIY citrus vinegar cleaner.

Types of Citrus Vinegar Cleansers to Make at Home

• Citrus Vinegar Cleaner (include any or all combinations of citrus peels)
• Lemon Vinegar Cleaner
• Lime Vinegar Cleaner
• Orange Vinegar Cleaner

Recipe for Homemade Citrus Cleaner

INGREDIENTS:

• Citrus peels (however many you have on hand)
• Distilled white vinegar to cover (however much you need to cover the citrus in your jar

INSTRUCTIONS:

Let steep for 2-3 weeks, shake and turn jar upside down every few days or so.

We just use whatever citrus peels we have on hand that we’ve eaten over a few day’s time, so the exact quantity of peels don’t matter. However many you have, just cover them with distilled vinegar to soak.

Sometimes we have small or medium jars anywhere from half to completely full, and sometimes a full or half large jar. Either way, you’ll be making more or less liquid but the recipe is the same. Whatever quantity of peels you have on hand as refuse, cover them with distilled vinegar and in ~2 weeks you’ll have a good cleanser.

Steep Longer if Desired

You don’t have to remove all peels at exactly two weeks. For instance, if we’re on a roll of consuming a lot of citrus in season, and keep adding peels, we might steep ours 3 or more weeks. It shouldn’t go bad to leave it in the vinegar longer, but it may not add any more beneficial oils.

You can make citrus cleaner any time of year, but fall and winter are a great time to because citrus is in season and more readily available with the best prices and freshness.

Add Citrus Peels as You Go

Once we get a batch of citrus vinegar cleaner steeping, we keep adding new peels to it during the first week of the 2-3 week steeping period.

Best Uses for Citrus Vinegar Cleaner

Do Not Use Citrus Vinegar On Stainless Steel

First, let’s cover what the citrus cleaner does NOT work well for.

We’ve found that the citrus cleaner tends to streak or appear to smear on stainless steel surfaces. It’s likely the citrus oil that shows up, so spot test yours first, if you want to give that a go. Otherwise avoid it.

Homemade Citrus Vinegar Cleaner Uses

We primarily use this citrus cleaner in the kitchen for the following cleaning tasks. Where appliances are listed, such as refrigerators and microwaves, citrus vinegar cleaner is good inside and out for none stainless steel surfaces.

• Cabinets of all kinds (except stainless steel)
• Kitchen counters
• Stovetop
• Microwave
• Refrigerators –
  • inside
  • outside for non-stainless steel surfaces
• Wood surfaces –
  • cabinets
  • tables
  • floors

For more great DIY solutions, you may enjoy this article on Grapefruit Seed Extract Cleaner and Disinfectant

Please let us know what you use it for, and whether you’ve found other tasks it is — or is not — suited for.