The longest quarantine in the world has made me try so many new homemaking-related things. I’ve sadly not turned into a baker yet, but I’ve become more diligent and focused about cleaning and fixing the house. I’ve taken up plant parenthood too, but that’s a story for another day. For now, let me share this quick and easy DIY surface cleaner recipe. It needs just two ingredients.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- orange or calamansi peels
- vinegar
- an empty bottle or jar
I was curious about what can be done with orange peels after preparing my Orangey French Toast, so I took a quick search and found that you can actually use them in a DIY surface cleaner. You just need to put them in an empty jar or bottle and pour enough vinegar to cover the peels — it really doesn’t get easier than that.
Perhaps the hard part will be in waiting. The next step is sealing the jar or bottle tightly and wait for 2 weeks. Once ready, dilute it with water and put it in a spray bottle or a bucket and splash — and scrub — away.
Vinegar is great to use in a DIY surface cleaner because it contains acetic acid. It’s strong enough to dissolve dirt, grease and grime. It can also kill bacteria, making it an effective disinfectant. You can definitely use vinegar by itself but the orange or calamansi peels lend a refreshing scent to it. While the smell of the vinegar doesn’t really linger long, especially when diluted with water, the zesty scent of the peels does give it a different feel; it energizes me and makes me see cleaning as less chore-like.
Once you’re done with the peels, you can put them in your compost bin if you have one.
Try it and let me know how it works for you!