Orange Peel And Rubbing Alcohol: The Fragrant Diy Cleaner You'll Want To Try

If you like the scent of oranges, you'll love this diy cleaner using orange peels and rubbing alcohol. Orange is one of the best scents to use in diy cleaning products to make your home smell amazing. But besides an amazing smell, orange peels contain Limonene, a compound with solvent properties, excellent for dissolving greasy or oily residue. Mixing it with a disinfectant like rubbing alcohol, makes it a great multipurpose cleaner for around the home. This natural cleaner has the bonus of being better for you and the environment than popular cleaning products that aren't worth buying. Plus, it's easy to make, and affordable since you may already have the ingredients at home. 

This DIY cleaner can be used for high-touch and high-traffic areas of your home like door knobs and countertops. It's also great for kitchen appliances, mirrors, and glass windows. Simply spray the cleaner on the surface and wipe clean. You'll want to avoid using rubbing alcohol-based cleaners on surfaces like wood, paint, or natural stone, and be sure to spot test it first on lacquered, varnished, and shellacked surfaces. It's also important to note that rubbing alcohol is highly flammable and shouldn't be used around open flames.

There are two basic methods for making your own DIY orange cleaner. The first method begins by collecting orange peels. Whether you want to peel several oranges all at once or save the peels in a jar as you eat the oranges is up to you. When the jar is full, pour 70% isopropyl alcohol over the peels until they are completely submerged. Alternatively, cut the peels into smaller pieces and drop them directly into a bottle of rubbing alcohol. Allow them to soak for several days or weeks. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle, and you're set. 

If you have a bit more time and patience, you can elaborate on this method by creating a concentrated orange oil. Once you have all your orange peels, dry them in a dehydrator or oven before placing them in a jar and filling it with rubbing alcohol. Let them soak for one to two weeks before draining it, using a cheesecloth to squeeze as much liquid out as possible. Discard the orange peels or consider these other clever ways you should be using orange peels in your home and garden. Let the liquid sit out on the counter. After about a week, the alcohol and water will have evaporated, leaving a concentrated oil. Use this oil to mix with water as a cleaning spray or add a drop to your floor mopping water bucket.