DIY All-Purpose Cleaner Recipe

An easy homemade citrus cleaner that puts leftover orange peels to good use.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means Salt & Shea may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through one of my links, at no extra cost to you. I only share products I genuinely love, use, or would buy for my own home. Thank you for supporting Salt & Shea!

A Simple DIY All-Purpose Cleaner You Can Make at Home

You know those little things you start making yourself once you realize how simple they are? This DIY all-purpose cleaner is one of them.

Instead of tossing your orange peels straight into the compost, save them to make a homemade citrus cleaner with just two main ingredients: orange peels and white vinegar. After letting everything infuse for a week or two, you’ll have a citrus-scented vinegar solution that you can dilute with water for everyday cleaning.

It’s an easy, budget-friendly swap if you’re trying to simplify your cleaning routine, cut back on disposable packaging, or just get a little more use out of things you’d normally throw away.

And honestly, I love a DIY that doesn't require a trip to the store or a cabinet full of specialty ingredients. A jar, some leftover orange peels, and a little patience? That's my kind of project.

Why Make Your Own Citrus Cleaner?

Orange peels contain natural citrus oils, including a compound called d-limonene, which is known for its ability to dissolve grease and oily residue. Infusing the peels in vinegar creates a citrus-infused cleaning solution that's useful for certain everyday household messes.

Here are a few reasons I love this simple homemade cleaner:

• Makes use of kitchen scraps. Give those orange peels a second life instead of tossing them.

• Budget-friendly. You only need a few basic ingredients.

• Simple ingredients. No complicated shopping list or specialty cleaning supplies required.

• A fresh citrus scent. The orange peels add a pleasant scent to the vinegar.

• Easy to customize. Try other citrus peels to change things up.

Making your own household products doesn't have to mean replacing everything you own overnight. Sometimes it's just about finding a simple swap that works for your home and building from there.

Ingredients & Supplies

The ingredient list is refreshingly short.

Ingredients

• Orange peels (from any variety of oranges)

• Distilled white vinegar

• Distilled water

Supplies

• A clean glass jar with a lid

• A glass spray bottle

• A funnel

• A fine-mesh strainer

My Favorite Supplies for This DIY

If you're going to make homemade cleaners regularly, a few reusable supplies make the process easier.

• Amber glass spray bottles — Great for storing your finished cleaner.

• Stainless steel funnel — Makes pouring your citrus vinegar into a spray bottle much less messy.

• Wide-mouth glass jars — Handy for infusing your citrus peels and useful for plenty of other DIY projects around the house.

How to Make DIY Orange Peel Cleaner

The only real catch with this recipe is that it needs time to infuse. The hands-on work takes just a few minutes, so it's an easy project to start and come back to later.

Step 1: Save and Prepare Your Orange Peels

After eating your oranges, save the peels and cut or tear them into smaller pieces. This helps them fit into your jar.

Step 2: Fill a Glass Jar with Orange Peels

Add the orange peels to a clean glass jar, filling it loosely. You don't need to pack them in tightly.

Step 3: Cover the Peels with White Vinegar

Pour distilled white vinegar over the peels until they're completely submerged. Keeping the peels covered helps reduce the chance of mold developing.

Step 4: Let the Mixture Infuse

Secure the lid and place the jar in a cool, dark spot for 7–14 days.

The vinegar will take on the citrus oils and aroma as it sits. Check the jar periodically, and discard the mixture if you notice mold or anything that looks or smells unusual.

Step 5: Strain the Citrus Vinegar

Once the infusion is ready, strain out the orange peels using a fine-mesh strainer. Transfer the infused vinegar into a clean glass spray bottle using a funnel.

Step 6: Dilute Before Using

For a diluted everyday cleaning solution, combine equal parts citrus-infused vinegar and distilled water in your spray bottle.

Give the bottle a gentle shake before use and label it clearly so everyone in the house knows what's inside.

A quick reminder: This is a homemade cleaning solution, not a disinfectant. It isn't a substitute for a properly labeled product when disinfection is needed.

Tips for the Best Homemade Citrus Cleaner

Give it enough time. Let the orange peels infuse for up to 14 days if you want a more pronounced citrus aroma.

Keep the peels submerged. Peels sticking out above the vinegar can increase the risk of mold.

Start with a clean jar. Clean equipment helps reduce the chance of introducing unwanted contaminants.

Label your bottle. It may look like something from the kitchen, but this cleaner isn't for consumption. Keep it clearly labeled and stored away from children and pets.

Test surfaces first. Natural cleaning recipes aren't automatically compatible with every material. Always test a small, inconspicuous area before using the cleaner on a larger surface.

Where Can You Use Orange Peel Vinegar Cleaner?

This diluted citrus vinegar solution may be suitable for certain hard, nonporous household surfaces, depending on the surface manufacturer's care instructions.

Potential uses include:

• Some kitchen counters that are compatible with vinegar

• Stainless steel sinks, when permitted by the manufacturer's care guidance

• Certain bathroom fixtures

• Trash cans and other washable household surfaces

• Everyday grime on compatible surfaces

Avoid using vinegar-based cleaners on marble, granite, limestone, and other natural stone surfaces, as the acidity can damage them. Avoid unsealed wood, hardwood floors, waxed finishes, and any surface whose manufacturer advises against acidic cleaners.

Also, don't use this recipe as a food-contact sanitizer or to disinfect high-touch surfaces. For those jobs, follow the applicable product label and surface-care instructions.

Important safety note: Never mix vinegar with bleach or bleach-containing cleaners. The combination can release dangerous chlorine gas. Store your homemade cleaner safely out of reach of children and pets.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does homemade orange peel cleaner last?

There isn't a universally established shelf life for homemade citrus vinegar cleaners. Because this recipe isn't tested or preserved like a commercial cleaning product, I wouldn't automatically assume it will last for several months. Make manageable batches, use clean equipment, label the bottle with the date, and discard it if you notice mold or unusual changes.

Can I use lemon, lime, or grapefruit peels instead of orange peels?

Yes! Other citrus peels can be used to make a similar vinegar infusion. Lemon, lime, and grapefruit are all options if that's what you have on hand.

Does orange peel vinegar cleaner disinfect?

No. Although vinegar can help with some cleaning tasks, this homemade recipe has not been validated as a disinfectant. If you need to kill specific germs, use a registered disinfectant according to its label directions.

Is this DIY cleaner safe to use around kids and pets?

Treat it like any other household cleaning product. Keep it labeled and out of reach, avoid contact with eyes, and don't allow children or pets to ingest it. Citrus oils can also be irritating or problematic for some animals, so use care and follow veterinary guidance when needed.

Why do you dilute the citrus vinegar with water?

Diluting the infusion makes a less concentrated solution for certain everyday cleaning tasks. It doesn't guarantee that the cleaner is safe for every surface, so always check the manufacturer's care recommendations.

Will my house smell like oranges after cleaning?

You'll likely notice a light citrus-vinegar aroma while using it, although the strength depends on the peels and infusion. The scent should fade as the surface dries, but it may not smell exactly like a store-bought orange-scented cleaner.

Small Swaps, One Step at a Time

I love finding little ways to make our home routines simpler, whether that's saving kitchen scraps for a DIY project or choosing reusable supplies instead of disposable ones.

This homemade orange peel cleaner is an easy place to experiment if you're curious about making some of your own household products. It's inexpensive, uses ingredients you may already have, and gives those leftover orange peels another purpose.

And remember, you don't have to overhaul your entire home in a weekend. Pick one swap, see how it works for your family, and go from there. That's what a more intentional home looks like in real life.

Want more simple swaps, from homemade DIYs to everyday low-tox living? Follow@SaltandShea on Instagram for more ideas from our little handmade homestead.