I just finished juicing three pounds of lemons for a jelly-making project. While some of the leftover rinds went to start a small batch of limoncello, I still had quite a few that I didn’t want to consign to waste. Fortunately, lemon peels make an excellent household cleaner – and the recipe is incredibly easy!
Citrus Cleaner
Tightly pack the lemon rinds into a clean glass container. You can use a wooden spoon to firmly press them down. Pour white vinegar (5 percent acetic acid) over top of the lemon rinds to thoroughly cover. Cap the container and place in a pantry or cupboard for one month. (The storage area doesn’t have to be dark, it can be any place that is convenient to you. Just make sure the temperature doesn’t fluctuate too much in the location you choose.) There is no need to shake the container – just allow it to sit and steep.
After one month, remove the container from storage. Strain the lemon rinds from the liquid and discard the lemon pieces. Decant the liquid into a clean spray bottle, label, and you’re ready to use it on any surfaces that require a good clean! It smells good and has disinfectant properties.
