Don’t throw out lemon rinds or citrus scraps! Instead, turn them into a refreshing, effective, natural cleaning spray! Learn how to make an easy homemade citrus vinegar spray.
You will need:
A large glass jar or other container for steeping
A spray bottle
A fine-mesh strainer and/or cheesecloth
Ingredients
Lemon rinds, or other citrus scraps
White vinegar (you could also substitute with over-brewed acidic kombucha vinegar)
Optional: fresh aromatic, antiseptic herbs such as lavender, rosemary, thyme, sage, or mint
Instructions
Collect your spent lemon rinds (or other citrus peels) in a large glass container. You can throw in just a handful, or fill the container up to halfway. (The more lemon rinds used, the more citrusy it will be! But you still want plenty of room for the vinegar)
If you cannot collect all your citrus rinds at one time, keep collecting them in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days. Any longer, store them in the freezer until you’ve collected the desired amount.
Once you have a good amount of lemon or citrus rinds collected, pour plain white vinegar into the container over them. Fill it all the way up, or at least until the peels are all submerged. Feel free to add a handful of fresh herbs (listed above) for increased natural aromatherapy and disinfecting power.
Soak the citrus in vinegar for at least one week, and up to three weeks. The container of steeping rinds can sit out on the counter at room temperature. To help encourage the infusion, you could give the container a shake every few days to mix things up.
After it has finished steeping, it is time to strain the lemon rinds from the vinegar. We want to remove as many chunks and particles as possible, to avoid clogging the spray bottle!
Therefore, you could pour the entire concoction into a very fine-mesh strainer perched over a bowl to catch it. Another option is to pour the solution through a cheesecloth or reusable nut milk bag. It may be worthwhile to strain the mixture twice before bottling.
Finally, pour the strained solution into a spray bottle. Grab a funnel if needed!
Using Lemon/Citrus Cleaning Spray
Vinegar has one of the most effective disinfecting powers when it is used full-strength. Thus, we do not dilute it with water. Vinegar is also most effective at killing bacteria if it is allowed to sit for several minutes before wiping up.
Do clean: laminate kitchen counters, sinks, shower, toilets, bathtub, on tile, stainless steel appliances, inside the fridge, and other durable, sealed surfaces.
Great for deodorizing: cutting boards, washing machines, inside the dishwasher, and dishes – especially to remove funky raw egg smell!
DO NOT USE vinegar on granite, marble, or other sensitive stone surfaces. We use it on our laminate “wood” floors and wood cutting boards but would avoid using vinegar on natural hardwood floors or wood furniture.
