I have been making my own homemade all-natural citrus cleanser for a while now. I thought it might be helpful to share a tutorial on how I make it, in case you’re working to “clean up your act” in the same way I am. In this post, you will learn how to make your own organic citrus-infused liquid cleanser for kitchen, windows and more. It’s economical, natural and effective. Ditch your chemical cleaning products for good!
As I mentioned in a previous post, lately I’ve been bitten by the cleaning bug. I’ve been emptying closets, re-organizing and eliminating clutter, shedding the old to make way for the new. I was also recently diagnosed with a thyroid disorder, which is really not a big deal but it has changed the way I look at my environment. My doctor described the thyroid like a sponge that takes in everything you’re exposed to, for better or for worse. I’ve decided that getting rid of unnecessary chemicals in our home is a priority.
Making a homemade, all natural, all purpose cleanser is really quite simple. All it takes is some good old fashioned white vinegar, some citrus peels, and a little time. You can make it organic by using organic ingredients. This concept goes back to our great grandparents, who were using simple vinegar to clean and disinfect their kitchens and homes. More and more, I find myself returning to those old fashioned simple techniques… they’re often a vast improvement over the “modern” methods!.
What I really love is how adaptable this “recipe” is. You can use any citrus peels you like – lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruit, or a combination of all of them! You can also make as much or as little as you like. They all work well, cut through grease, clean glass windows with very little streaking, and they leave your home disinfected while smelling crisp and clean.
I like using these glass spray bottles to store them in. Of course you can use simple plastic spray bottles, which are less prone to breakage. The glass just feels more old fashioned to me, and I like the weight of it.
Once you begin using this homemade cleanser instead of chemical cleansers you’ll start to realize just how unnecessarily potent the other stuff is. I can’t even handle the smell of chemical cleansers anymore. This one smells fresh, clean and is every bit as effective. Our great grandparents knew what they were doing. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
Helpful Hint: If you’re wondering what to do with all of that extra citrus that has been peeled, try my Sweet Citrus Rosemary Medley, Citrus Avocado Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing or Pineapple Lime Grilled Chicken.
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Natural Homemade Citrus All Purpose Cleanser
Ingredients
- Peels from lemons, limes, grapefruits and/or oranges (use organic for an organic cleanser)
- White vinegar use organic for an organic cleanser
- Mason jars with lids tapered opening recommended, or any airtight container
- Spray bottle
- Mesh strainer
- Distilled water
Notes
Instructions
- Before peeling your citrus, be sure you have cleaned it with warm soapy water and have removed any stickers. You can use any variety or combination of citrus that you like. I prefer to do the peeling by hand to eliminate the possibility of any fruit getting into your cleanser base-- sugar = mold.
- Fill a clean mason jar, or airtight container, with the peels and pack as tightly as possible. Jars with a tapered opening work best, so that you can place a larger peel at the top to block the smaller pieces from floating above the vinegar, which in my experience can lead to mold.
- Once you jar is packed, fill with vinegar until all of the peels are completely submerged.
- Screw the lid on tightly and store the jar in a cool, dark place for two weeks. I like to check it every few days to be sure that the peels are still submerged and no mold has grown on any exposed pieces.
- After two weeks your cleanser base is ready. Pour the mixture through a mesh strainer into a bowl or another jar. Discard the peels
- The base can be stored in a tightly sealed jar or airtight container until ready to use. When you are ready to make the cleanser, combine it with distilled water in a 1:1 ratio and, using a funnel, pour into a spray bottle.
Homemade are the best, no chemicals and side effects plus you get to make them anytime you want with a few dollars only
I’ve been making my homemade citir vinegars the same way BUT I use 1/4 of raw sugar to break it down. If you stir your jar once everyday for a couple weeks… You will have your own vinegar! No need for store bought anymore. Distilled water, citrus peels and sugar! No need for any weighing down, you want the air to evaperate through the first couple weeks, I use a torn ouece of cloth and rubber band! Then after the 2 weeks, strain it and put your kid on. Good for a year or more if stored in fridge! Sarah G from TN
This looks awesome!! I am going to try this. I have been cleaning with vinager and water for a while now because I get horrible headaches from any chemicals expecally fragrances. It will be wonderful to have a cleaner that smells good and doesn’t give me headaches!!! Thank you!
I’m going to post a homemade rug cleaner soon too… trying to ditch as many chemicals as I can!
what should i do if i notice mold forming?
Hi Joe, Tori’s assistant Ashley here. Unfortunately if molds starts to form you will need to throw away the cleanser and make a new batch. Making sure that all of the fruit is removed from the peels can help stop this from happening.
I squeeze my lemons and I have bags of them in my freezer. Could you explain why you cant have any of the lemon left on the peels? Love your site, just found it.
Hi Yannah, Tori’s assistant Ashley here. Removing all of the fruit helps to ensure that the cleanser doesn’t go bad or accumulate any mold. It’s precautionary.
I have neen making this cleaner for years now. A tip I would like to share is; after peeling the citrus of choice, run a knife over the white parts of the peel to ensure no citrus flesh is on peel greatly reducing the chance of mold growing!!! Also I boiled the vinegar/water solution then added citrus peels and let cool to room temperature, however the citrus barley added sent; leaving my kitchen with an overwhelming vinegar smell for days!!! Last tip, I added a tablespoon of baking soda to the spray bottle and then added two week infused vinegar and mixed until baking soda dissolved. This helped remove tough grime!!
Gotta be careful with mixing baking soda and vinegar in any container. Best case scenario, the chemical reaction will be overwhelmed by the vinegar—the little bit of baking soda will be turned into a salt and water, thereby weakening your vinegar and neutralizing any baking soda effects. If you really want bubbling action? Scrub with baking soda and rinse with a vinegar cleanser.
Can you do anything with the peels instead of throwing them away? If there is mold, will that be ok? How do you know if you have distilled water or purified water? Is there a cleanser that could work on any surface and be pet safe? Thank you.
I do not know of a use for the peels. I do not recommend using if the peels became moldy. Distilled water can be purchased by the gallon in most grocery stores, if you are uncertain you can purchase it. This cleanser should be pet safe, it is all natural ingredients.
This is a great base recipe. You can add rubbing alcohol (for window cleaning), hydrogen peroxide for heavy duty stuff, and even essential oils! My favorites are lime & basil, tea tree, lemon, grapefruit, and clove. 🙂
A little late commenting, but this mixture works great if your cat makes a ‘mishap’ in your house. It not only cleans the area, but the citrus deters your feline from returning to that same spot.
Please test it in an inconspicuous area, if using on carpets, I have never had an issue, but that could be dependent on the type of carpet.
Good to know about this Della!
Hi, Tori.
I tried doing this since our family drinks lemon water everyday. I leave our peels in a jar in the fridge but have found that they get moldy before the jar is completely full. Do you have any tips to prevent this from happening?
Hi Harriet, you can freeze them in the freezer until ready to use.
Does the water have to be distilled or can you use boiled or tap water?
Could I boil the peels instead… similar method. Tightly pack a pot with peels cover with water and boil. Strain liquid and when it is cooled add vinegar..? Just to have a faster method. Please let me know your opinion and thanks 🙂
Hi Nadia, Tori’s assistant Ashley here. I have not heard of this method and we haven’t tried it, so unfortunately I’m not sure how it would turn out.
Hi was wondering if i could strain out the peels and replace with new orange peels to the infused orange vinegar and infuse for another 2 weeks? Will that make the smell of orange stronger ?
Hi Santa, Tori’s assistant Ashley here. In my experience, two weeks is enough time to make a pretty fragrant cleanser. If you’d like to strain them and add new peels, I don’t see why there would be an issue, as long as no mold forms.
Hi,
I would like to know. Can you use the whole lemon for this cleanser? Or only the peels?
Hi ILze, Tori’s assistant Ashley here. Only the peels should be used for this cleanser.
I am wondering what happens if you happen to have some of the fruit on the rind and if it’s been longer than a couple of weeks after making the mixture.
Hi Jeannie, Tori’s assistant Ashley here. There should not be any fruit left on the rind when you make this cleanser.
I did not get the mix from you; however I made a batch and yes it works very well. Forget those over priced commercial products and I use it neat which really, really cleans.
hi…is it important to use all the white from the peel….i prefer not to peel my citrus by hand but to slice it off….but im thinking that if i use my zester to take the orange off first and use that in the jars. this method will have no white at all…thxs
Hi Michelle, Tori’s assistant Ashley here. It’s best to use all of the peel if you can, not just the zest. You can also use a knife to remove the peel, just be sure there isn’t any fruit attached.
Here is a tutorial on how to peel the citrus with a knife: https://toriavey.com/how-to/how-to-slice-oranges-and-citrus/