What To Do With Citrus Peels – Seven Practical Tips
The smell of the grated orange peel in my grandparents’ house is still fresh after so many years. Since, in those times, citrus fruits were so rare, especially in that corner of Romania, my grandmother didn’t waste anything when using an orange and a lemon. The peel was grated and stored in jars in the kitchen cabinets. Of course, the ingredient was mainly used to be added to a variety of recipes, especially cookies, which would get a distinct taste and flavor. But besides the kitchen, here is more on what to do with citrus peels, alternative uses which can be quick solutions to some problems you usually run into.
As expected, citrus peels can definitely help in home cleaning tasks. An efficient recipe for a DIY cleaner involves soaking peels in vinegar for a week or two and then mix 50/50 with water like you typically would with a DIY cleaner. In the end, you get a very good and scented cleaner.
And since we mentioned fragrance, then let’s freshen up the air inside our homes using citrus peels. Place your peels in a pot on a low heat setting and allow them to simmer. The natural oils in the peel will be released into the water and into the air creating a natural air freshener. Add cinnamon sticks or cloves for a delicious autumn scent. Compost the remains when done.
In the same context, if you want to get rid of the smell inside a fridge, then put a couple of peel in a bowl and leave them inside for a while. Squeeze them before so the aromas are released for a better and quicker result. Do the same to freshen up an underwear or sock drawer and to keep moths away.
Coming back to the cleaning topic, rub your cutting board down with the outside of the peel, rinse and sun dry for the best disinfecting power. Also, use orange peels to remove tar from shoes or blemishes from the rubber side of the snickers.
Last, but not least, orange peel squeezed a little and then applied to your skin at night will ward off the insects. Simply rub the peel over your exposed skin and repeat whenever the insects start bothering you again.
Sources: About.Home.com, Wikihow.com
