How to Make Citrus Cleaner From Fruit

Cleaners made from citrus fruits are ideal for cleaning and deodorizing your home.

If you are looking for an inexpensive alternative to commercial citrus cleaners, try making your own at home. This inexpensive cleaning alternative will deodorize and freshen many surfaces of your home. Lemons, limes, grapefruits and oranges are common fruits used for making homemade citrus cleaners.

Things You'll Need

• Several citrus fruits
• Large jar with lid
• White vinegar
• Strainer
• Water
• Empty spray bottle
• Bowl
• ½ cup baking soda
• 2 tsp. liquid dish soap
• Spoon
• Knife
• Empty 2-liter soda bottle w/ lid
• 3 ½ oz. brown sugar
• Permanent marker

Instructions

All-Purpose Citrus Cleaner

1. Remove the peels from several pieces of citrus fruit. Lemon, lime, orange and grapefruit peels can all be used in combination with one another. If you only have the peels of one of the fruits, that is fine, too. Use the peels from about 5-7 pieces of citrus fruit.

2. Fill the jar with distilled white vinegar. Pour enough vinegar in the jar so that the peels are completely submerged.

3. Secure the lid tightly on the jar. Allow the peels and vinegar to stew in the jar for about four weeks. Shake up the jar periodically.

4. Pour the contents of the jar through a strainer once the four weeks has elapsed. Do this two times to make sure that you are left with only liquid.

5. Mix the solution with about ½ gallon of water. Transfer the liquid to an empty spray bottle. Use the solution to clean countertops, sinks, toilets, bathtubs, windows, appliances and most other household surfaces.

Citrus Soft Scrubbing Cleaner

1. Fill a bowl with ½ cup baking soda. Slowly stir in about 2 tsp. liquid dish soap until a paste forms.

2. Cut a slice of citrus fruit. Squeeze the juice of the fruit into the bowl. Stir again to mix the ingredients.

3. Use this mixture to scrub countertops, vanities and other hard surfaces.

Citrus Enzyme Cleaner

1. Fill an empty 2-liter soda bottle with 3 ½ oz. brown sugar.

2. Cut the peels off of several citrus fruits. Chop 10 ½ oz. of peels into small pieces to fit through the mouth of the soda bottle. Place the pieces of the peels into the soda bottle with the brown sugar. Add 1 liter of tap water to the bottle.

3. Screw the lid onto the bottle tightly. Shake the bottle for about 30 seconds. Use a permanent marker to write the date on the outside of the bottle.

4. Allow the mixture to remain in the bottle for three months. This is the required amount of time to release the enzymes from the fruit peels.

5. Use ½ cup of the citrus enzyme cleaner with 1 liter of water when ready to use. Spray the mixture on to countertops, floors, toilet bowls and most other surfaces inside of the home.

Tips & Warnings

• Scrub the citrus fruit peels with baking soda and water prior to placing then in the jar for stewing. This will remove any pesticides or chemicals.

• The citrus enzyme cleaner is also good for spraying outdoor plants to control pests and as an insect repellent. The mixture can also be used for cleaning fruits and vegetables.

• Always test the cleaner you are using on a small, inconspicuous area of the surface you are cleaning prior to applying it throughout.

References

• Tip Nut: Homemade Non-Toxic Citrus Creamy Cleaner
• Best Green Home Tips: Homemade Non-Toxic Citrus Creamy Cleaner