Throwing away lemon peels is a big mistake because they act like a natural grease cutter and powerful sanitizer for your entire house. This “citrus and acidic” habit works well because the d-limonene in the yellow skin and the acetic acid in vinegar help dissolve mineral deposits and stop the “sticky” and “grimy” feeling of dirty surfaces. It is an easy and cheap way to fix household buildup and keep your environment feeling fast and fresh. It makes your whole kitchen feel sanitized and bright right away.
Instead of buying expensive store multi-purpose sprays or chemical-heavy glass cleaners, this simple kitchen byproduct helps your cleaning stay natural. Once you try it, you will be surprised at how much your faucets shine!
11 Surprising Ways to Use Lemon Peels
- Degrease Stove Tops: The natural oils act like a tiny internal solvent, taking away the “burnt” and “oily” look of your cooking area.
- Remove Kettle Limescale: The citric acid helps the metal stay clear and wash out the “white” and “crusted” feeling of hard water.
- Whiten White Laundry: Adding peels to a wash bag acts like a tiny natural bleach to keep the “grey” and “dingy” look away from your shirts.
- Sanitize Microwave Walls: Steaming peels in water acts like a tiny natural vapor-cleaner to wash out the “splattered” and “dried” look of food.
- Polish Stainless Steel: The acidic juice helps the surface stay reflective and makes the “smudged” and “fingerprinted” look vanish.
- Deodorize Garbage Cans: Placing dry peels at the bottom acts like a tiny natural air-freshener to keep the “stale” and “rotten” look away.
- Clean Cloudy Glassware: Soaking cups with peels helps the glass stay clear and wash out the “foggy” and “dull” look of mineral film.
- Repel Kitchen Ants: The strong citrus scent acts like a tiny natural barrier to makes the “trailing” and “busy” look of insects disappear.
- Refresh Dishwashers: Placing a peel in the cutlery basket acts like a tiny natural rinse-aid to wash out the “musty” and “unclean” smell.
- Brighten Cutting Boards: Rubbing peels with salt helps the wood stay pure and keeps the “stained” and “garlicky” look away from your board.
- Soften Brown Sugar: Placing a clean, dry peel in the jar acts like a tiny natural humectant to wash out the “hard” and “clumped” feeling of the sugar.
How to Prepare the 2-Week Lemon Gold Cleaner
This is the best way to get the citrus power to work fast in your home.
Ingredients:
- Peels from 5 large lemons
- 2 cups of white vinegar
- 1 large glass jar
- 1 spray bottle
Instructions:
- Collect: Put all your leftover lemon peels into the large glass jar.
- Fill: Pour the white vinegar over the peels until they are completely covered.
- Seal: Close the jar tightly to keep the strong vapors inside.
- Wait: Let the jar sit in a dark cupboard for two weeks to release the cleaning oils deeply.
- Strain: Pour the yellow liquid through a fine cloth into the spray bottle to remove the solid peels.
- Dilute: Add 1 cup of filtered water to the spray bottle to make the cleaner safe for all surfaces.
- Apply: Spray the liquid onto your countertops, windows, or sinks.
- Wipe: Use a microfiber cloth to move in firm circles for 1 minute to lift the dirt.
- Dry: Use a clean towel to polish the surface until it is dry.
- Result: Your home will look very bright and your air will be very fresh.
Three Simple Tips
- Remove the Pith: Scrape off the white bitter part of the peel before soaking to get the best results for a very clear and residue-free-looking liquid.
- Avoid Marble: Do not use this acidic spray on natural stone or marble to see the best results for keeping your expensive-looking surfaces safe.
- Freeze Your Peels: Save your peels in a freezer bag until you have enough to fill a jar to make sure they stay in a very fresh and potent-looking state.
One Last Tip
You will know the Lemon Gold Secret is working when your “metal stays shiny” and your “kitchen smells like a garden!” It is a great way to look after your home with simple items from the fruit basket and the pantry.
