Natural All Purpose Homemade Citrus Cleanser
YOU WILL NEED
• 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
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.
Use to clean counter tops, glass windows, or anywhere you need a natural all purpose cleanser. Please note that this cleanser does not work well for marble or stone surfaces, as well as certain granite counter tops... the acid content may cause etching. It does work like a charm for glass windows, showers, mirrors, and many other household surfaces!