Super Simple DIY Orange Vinegar Cleaner Recipe

Most conventional cleaning sprays are concoctions of synthetic fragrances and other chemicals that aren’t always safe for your health.

One of the easiest ways that you can reduce your toxin exposure at home is to swap out your cleaning products for cleaner, safer options. One way you can do this is to buy cleaning products from a true non-toxic brand, or you can simply make your own!

Making your own homemade cleaning recipes is quite simple, often inexpensive and cleans just as well (minus all of the harsh chemicals and irritants!).

So, if you’re ready to ditch the toxic, chemical-laden cleaning products this DIY orange vinegar cleaner is made with just vinegar and orange peels and can be used as an all purpose spray on most surfaces.

In this post, you’ll learn about the benefits of homemade vinegar cleaners, how to make this cleaner with vinegar and orange peels, and the best ways to use it to clean your home.

Why You’ll Love This DIY Orange Vinegar Cleaner

Beyond its cleaning capabilities, this DIY orange vinegar cleaner is sure to become a staple in your non-toxic cleaning routine for several reasons:

Natural Aroma (No Synthetic Fragrances!)

Unlike many commercial cleaners, which have overpowering chemical scents, this DIY orange vinegar cleaner is fragrance-free and leaves behind a mild natural citrus aroma.

This homemade cleaner has no synthetic fragrance, so you don’t have to worry about toxic VOCs (volatile organic compounds) polluting your home.

Inexpensive

Why spend hundreds of dollars on commercial cleaners when you can achieve the same, if not better, results with a DIY alternative? Commercial all-purpose cleaners can be so expensive! Spending so much money on cleaning products can get very costly, especially because you need them everyday.

All you need for this cleaner recipe are two ingredients, orange peels and vinegar, both of which you likely have at home.

Non-toxic & Safe For Health

Commercial cleaners contain a myriad of harmful ingredients. Toxic ingredients such as synthetic fragrances, methylisothiazolinone, sodium methyl sulfate, and benzisothiazolinone are frequently found in popular cleaners.

These ingredients can be harmful to your health, with many of them being allergens, irritants, and posing potential endocrine and developmental risks. (source)

Popular brands like Mrs. Meyers and Method contain several harmful ingredients that can be harmful to your health and the environment.

This natural orange vinegar cleaner recipe is all-natural, toxin-free, and safe for your health and the environment.

Eco-Friendly

Making sure the cleaning products you use are safe for your health is very important but so is making sure that it’s safe for the environment, too. This recipe uses just two natural ingredients, and it’s 100% free from toxic chemicals, synthetic fragrances, and dyes, making it a great eco-friendly option.

But How Does It Clean?

Okay, it all sounds great on paper, but orange peels and vinegar? Does it even clean?

Both orange peels and vinegar have strong cleaning properties. The high concentration of citric acid in orange peels provides antibacterial properties and helps break down stubborn stains.

Vinegar is a versatile cleaning agent known for its antibacterial and antifungal properties. Its acidic nature effectively dissolves mineral deposits, cuts through grease, and eliminates odours.

How to Make Homemade Orange Vinegar Cleaner

1. Gather Your Ingredients

Before you begin, make sure you have the following items on hand:

• Oranges peels
• White vinegar
• A large glass jar with a tight-fitting lid
• *Optional: Fresh rosemary or basil

You can use any citrus peels you have on hand at the time. In this batch, I also had some grapefruit peels on hand, so I added those in, too!

Adding fresh herbs is completely optional. I highly recommend it as it gives a nice secondary note to your natural cleaner while adding beneficial antimicrobial properties!

2. Peel and Prepare

If you don’t already have some citrus peels from juicing or peeling, start by peeling the oranges, ensuring you remove as much of the white pith as possible.

There is no specific amount of peels you need for this recipe, but the more you add, the more citrusy your cleaner will be.

3. Fill the Jar

Place the orange peels and fresh herbs (optional) in the glass jar and cover it completely with white vinegar. Seal the jar tightly and allow it to infuse.

I recommend adding a piece of wax paper between the glass jar and your lid, as vinegar can erode at the lid – this will help protect against it!

4. Infuse and Wait

Store the jar in a cool, dark place for at least two weeks. This allows the orange peels to infuse into the vinegar. I like to keep it in one of my pantry cupboards, but any dark, cool space will do.

You can leave it to infuse for up to a month. The longer you leave it to infuse, the less vinegar-y the cleaner will be!

5. Strain and Mix

After the infusion period, strain the liquid into a clean container and discard the used orange peels. I use these brown glass spray bottles!

If you find it too strong, you can dilute the concentrated orange-vinegar infusion with equal parts water. You can leave it concentrated; however, vinegar is quite harsh, and diluting it will clean just as effectively!

Tips for Using DIY Orange Vinegar Cleaner at Home

Now that your orange vinegar cleaner is infusing, let’s look at how you can use this natural cleaner at home!

Kitchen Surfaces

The cleaner’s natural degreasing properties make it perfect for kitchen surfaces. Simply spray and wipe down countertops, stovetops, and appliances for a gleaming finish.

If you have granite or marble countertops, always do your research and do a small spot test to make sure it’s safe to use on your countertop.

Bathroom

Combat soap scum and water stains effortlessly in the bathroom. You can use your orange vinegar cleaner on shower tiles, glass shower doors, sinks, faucets and the toilet. It does a really great job at cleaning everything in the bathroom, leaving it sparkly clean and fresh.

This cleaner is the only cleaning product that has worked on my glass shower doors! We have very hard water in my area – which, as you can imagine, leaves lots and lots of hard water stains.

I tried virtually everything in the past to remove these hard water stains, and nothing works better than this homemade vinegar cleaner. I just spray it on, leave it to sit for about half an hour, and wipe it off with a microfiber cloth. Hard water stains? Gone.

Tile Floors

Add a splash of the cleaner to your mop water to revive and refresh your tile floors. The natural antibacterial properties will leave your tiles clean and germ-free.

Before cleaning, always do a spot check to ensure it’s good to use!

Glass and Mirrors

Say goodbye to streaks on glass surfaces and mirrors! Dilute this cleaner with water and use it on your glass and mirrors for a crystal-clear finish.

I divide my orange vinegar infusion into glass spray bottles and dilute them with equal parts water to have it ready when needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it have a strong smell?

Not at all. I was so shocked when I made my first batch because I genuinely thought it was going to smell like pure vinegar.

But it was the complete opposite. The longer you let the orange peels infuse (and the more peels you use!) the less vinegar-y your cleaner will smell. It ends up smelling like oranges and a very mild vinegar scent.

How effective is this orange peel and vinegar cleaning solution compared to commercial cleaners?

This vinegar and orange peel cleaner recipe is surprisingly effective and cleans just as well as many commercial all-purpose cleaning sprays.

The natural acidity and antibacterial properties of orange and vinegar make it a powerful cleaner, effectively tackling grime, grease, and stains. This recipe is an awesome natural, toxin-free cleaner (for a fraction of the cost!).

That being said, it’s not a sanitizing agent, as there are no harsh chemicals.

Will the orange scent linger after cleaning?

One of the awesome perks of using this cleaner is the lingering citrus aroma. The scent is gentle and not overpowering. Plus, it’s natural, non-toxic and doubles as free aromatherapy!

Can I use any type of vinegar for this cleaner?

While white vinegar is the most commonly used for this cleaner, you can experiment with other natural kinds of vinegar, such as apple cider vinegar.

However, remember that the cleaner’s scent and colour may differ depending on the type of vinegar you use.

How long does it take for the orange peels to infuse with the vinegar?

I recommend infusing your orange peels and vinegar for at least two weeks.

This allows the orange peels to release their natural oils and citric acid into the vinegar, creating a potent cleaning solution.

If you want a more concentrated cleaner, you can leave it to infuse for up to a month. This will produce a stronger-smelling citrus cleaner.

Can I use this cleaner on all surfaces?

This DIY orange vinegar cleaner is versatile and safe for various surfaces. It works well on kitchen countertops, bathroom surfaces, glass, mirrors, tile floors, and much more!

However, it’s always a good idea to spot-test on a small, inconspicuous area before using it on a new surface!

Is this cleaner safe for homes with pets and children?

Absolutely. Since this DIY orange vinegar cleaner is made from natural ingredients without harsh chemicals, it is a safer alternative for homes with pets and children. It is safer than the majority of commercial cleaners!

However, please be careful and keep the cleaner out of reach to prevent accidental ingestion.

How long does this orange peel vinegar cleaner last?

While the concentrated orange-infused vinegar can be stored for an extended period, it is recommended that the cleaner be used within a reasonable timeframe for optimal effectiveness.

The longer this vinegar cleaner sits, the less potent it will become. Diluted solutions are best used within a few weeks for maximum potency.