Orange Peel Vinegar is a helpful addition to your green cleaning tool belt. The power of vinegar and a fresh citrus scent. Best of all, it’s incredibly easy to make.
We first mentioned this citrus infused vinegar in this Zero Waste Juicing post. Truth be told, we didn’t give it the accolades it deserves, buried deep in juicer pulp. But this concoction takes minimal time and zero effort to whip up. You have to let it rest for a while, but the only work is remembering to rescue it from the back of your cabinet after a couple weeks.
How to Make Orange Peel Vinegar
Ingredients: Orange Peels (any kind), White Vinegar
That’s it! Fill a quart sized mason jar three-fourths of the way with orange peels, and pour in enough white distilled vinegar to cover the peels. Screw on a lid, give it a tiny shake and put the mixture in a dark place for two to four weeks. Check on the jar every couple weeks to ensure there’s not mold growing. You could give it a tiny shake to agitate the mixture while you’re at it, but really that’s it! After two to four weeks, strain the vinegar into a clean jar or spray bottle.
Here’s what it looks like with the peels of only two navel oranges:
How Do You Use Orange Peel Vinegar?
DIY cleaning recipes are where you’ll find the most use for Orange Peel Vinegar.
Not to insult your intelligence, but if you were wondering, yes, you can substitute orange peel vinegar in anything which typically calls for white vinegar. It’ll give you the same cleaning power, just without offending your senses.
And (hopefully) needless to say, if there is something in your house that you know you shouldn’t clean with vinegar, don’t clean it with this. It may smell a little better, but it’s still vinegar. For example, I don’t use vinegar excessively on my tile floor and walls because it will erode unsealed grout. Other things I won’t clean with vinegar: stone counter tops (too acidic), cupboards, wood. Test any new products you’re using on a discreet spot before spraying it all over your good stuff.
With that out of the way, here are some great uses for this zero waste orange peel cleaner:
All Purpose Cleaner
For a great all purpose spray cleaner, mix orange peel vinegar and water at a 1:1 ratio into a clean, empty spray bottle. This is great for quick cleanups of stove tops, microwaves, sinks, and anything else you typically clean with vinegar.
Hard Water Cleaner
Vinegar works really well to zap hard water spots. Try this on any vinegar-safe surface that’s plagued by those white hard water marks. This is especially effective in bathrooms and on refrigerator water dispensers.
Stainless Steel Cleaner
Did you know vinegar cleans stainless steel? Spray your stainless steel appliance with vinegar and wipe clean with a microfiber cloth. Always wipe stainless in the same direction the “grain” is going. Once you’ve done a preliminary clean, you’ll want to make sure vinegar isn’t the last thing that’s touched the appliance. Either lightly spray water over the appliance and buff with a microfiber cloth, or use a very scant amount of olive oil on a cloth and buff with the grain.
The Best Homemade Degreaser
We’re so into this one, we wrote a whole post about it. Check out our Homemade Degreaser Recipe here, complete with before and after pictures of my (previously) embarrassing cupboard tops.
Orange Peel Vinegar Summary
Whether it’s cleaning stainless steel and hard water spots, or just obliterating grease, orange peel vinegar is easy to make and cleans like a dream. And infused vinegar has endless options. I’m currently whipping up a lavender ACV concoction. I’ll be sure to tell you all about it! Do you have a favorite vinegar infusion?
