When life gives you lemons (or any other citrus peels), use the rinds to...
-deodorize your garbage disposal
-remove coffee or tea stains from a mug
-clean a wooden cutting board or wooden counter with an additional sprinkling of coarse salt
-polish a stainless steel sink or chrome faucet
-make a non-toxic kid and pet friendly cleaner (recipe below)
Non-Toxic Citrus Peel Cleaner:
Materials: air-tight glass container, citrus peels, distilled white vinegar, water, strainer, spray bottle
Instructions:
1. Pack a glass container or wide-mounth jar full of your choice of citrus peels (lemons, oranges, mandarins, grapefruit, etc.). Citrus peels contain a natural solvent that helps break down grease
2. Pour in enough distilled vinegar to cover the peels
3. Seal the container, label it with a name and date, and leave it to sit for about 2 weeks *you will know the solution is ready when the vinegar takes on a yellowish color and has a strong citrus odor
4. Strain the contents to separate the peel, and pour the liquid into a spray bottle
5. Depending on your desired strength, dilute the vinegar/citrus infusion with water. For an effective all-purpose cleaner, a solution of 1:1 (one part vinegar, one part water), should be sufficient
If you have an abundant source of citrus, learn more tips for storing citrus, and saving citrus juice in cubes for future use.
