White vinegar is one of my favorite all-natural cleaning ingredients. It can be used for everything from deodorizing laundry to washing floors. But… let’s face it, white vinegar isn’t the most pleasant smelling or exciting cleaner. Luckily it's easy to make infused orange vinegar for cleaning to liven up your green cleaning routine.
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Scented Vinegar for Cleaning
An easy and inexpensive way to freshen the smell of vinegar is by infusing it with citrus peels. I love using oranges but you can use any citrus fruit from lemon and grapefruit to tangerines and limes.
Orange Vinegar for Cleaning Instructions
To make orange vinegar for cleaning you’ll need a glass container, orange peels and white vinegar. (I use a Mason jar but any glass container with a lid will do.)
- Fill your glass container with orange peels (Any citrus peels will work).
- Pour white vinegar to cover the peels. (Make the infusion process faster by heating the vinegar, get the instructions.)
- Close container tightly and place in dark place for several week. (I put mine under the kitchen sink for 2-4 weeks.) The orange peels will infuse the vinegar with natural scent and color.
- Remove from cupboard, strain out the peels, and use for cleaning.
Cleaning with Orange Vinegar
- Sink Disposal Cleaning – Grind the vinegar soaked peels in the garbage disposal to clean and freshen it. Use a boiling water rinse for a clean, deodorized disposal.
- Multi-Purpose Cleaner – Mix 1/4 – 1/2 cup vinegar with 4 cups water and use to clean counter tops, floors or windows. (Learn how to make my upcycled spray bottle.) I also use this mixture to fill my “quick mop” for weekly floor cleaning. I use it on tile and linoleum floors (get my favorite hardwood floor cleaner recipe here) .
- Bathroom Cleaner – Use full strength to help remove hard water stains when cleaning the bathroom. Dilute to scrub sinks and showers.
- Fabric Softener – Add to the rinse cycle to natural soften and freshen laundry.
Citrus Infused Vinegar
Try infusing several jars of vinegar with different citrus peels. You can also combine peels for a new scent combination.
Tip: Several years ago I ditched my mop with disposable pads and commercial cleaner for a refillable mop with a washable pad. I love that it produces less waste, uses non-toxic cleaners, and it is made in the United States!
More Scented Vinegar for Cleaning
Like cleaning with orange vinegar? Check out my other favorite DIY vinegar scents.
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Luigina Hopper
I like natual way for cleaning anything not chemical .
Bren
Me too!
Brenda
Will the orange vinegar work if it has been stored on the counter?
Bren
Yes, you can store it on the counter. Hope it works well for you.
Karen Easterling
I don’t have a mop with a refillable bottle. To use the vinegars with a regular mop, how much to add for a gallon of water?
Bren
I would use about 2 cups in a gallon of water for tile or linoleum floors. I like this cleaner for hardwood floors.
Greg
Chemically speaking what does the peel add to the cleaning efficiency? Or is it just for the smell?
Bren
Orange peels (or lemon peels) adds to the cleaning power because they naturally contain:
Citric Acid – a mild acid that fights water spots and hard water film
Limonene – a powerful degreaser and solvent
Orange Oil – an uplifting natural fragrance and antibacterial disinfectant
Loved Joy
Hey Bren how long is the solution meant to last?
Bren
It last for a LONG time! After straining out the solids I’ve stored it under my kitchen sink for 6+ months with no problems.
Sonya
Are you able to store vinegar in the glass dispenser containers – like the ones used for Ice Tea? I would like to store that way as it easier to use.
Thank you,
Sonya
Bren
I store mine in mason jars so I think an old glass ice tea bottle would work.
Wilma
I tried the wonder polish and was amazed at what it did for my wood furniture!!!! I’ spreading the word to friends and family.. I was diagnosed with emphysema/COPD about 2 years ago and can no longer most of the commercial products and the natural stuff I can’t afford..So thank you very much!!!!
Bren
Thanks, Wilma! I am glad the polish worked well for you!
Frances
Fantastic ideas. I usually spray white vinegar on my carpets prior to using the vacuum cleaner. This helps to keep the dust down and freshen the carpet especially with 4 cats. Now I will add the orange/lemon peels. I also have a lemon tree in my garden so that is great. Oranges are in season so that is cheap as well.
Regards Frances from a Sunny South Africa
Bren
Great ideas, Frances! I’m jealous of your lemon tree! 😉
Hope
Could I make lavendar vinegar since I grow plenty of lavender. Would I use flower and leaves/stems?
Bren
Yes, you could make lavender vinegar. You can find instruction here on Food.com.
Cheri
Hi…I have made this before, and love it. Recently though, I’ve been wondering if maybe we should clean the orange peels good before doing this, due to chemicals being sprayed on the oranges?
Bren
You can certainly give them a good scrub if you are not using organic oranges! It won’t hurt anything to wash them.
Lynne
The orange peel in the disposal is wonderful, but manufacturer’s suggest that you not pour boiling water into the disposal. The upside of the orange peel is that it contains d-limonene which is a great antimicrobial, so the boiling water is really not necessary. D-limonene is also in other citrus fruit peels, but not in the concentrations found in oranges, but sufficient for the disposal cleaning.
Bren
Great info, Lynne. Thanks for sharing!