Homemade all purpose cleaner with orange peels. 32 oz glass jar + spray bottle + cheesecloth or jar lid + orange peels + distilled white vinegar + water

Why Use Homemade All Purpose Cleaner?

Homemade cleaner is free from chemicals that companies put into their store-bought cleaners. Most of the chemicals big companies use, are not needed to disinfect. Vinegar, or other natural substances, disinfect and break down dirt just as well as chemical based cleaners.

Homemade cleaner is cheaper. If you are looking to save some money this is one easy way to do it! You will likely have most of the ingredients needed in your kitchen right now. All you need is a 32 oz glass jar, spray bottle, cheesecloth or jar lid, orange peels, distilled white vinegar, and water.

Making homemade cleaner is a great skill to have. It is a way of homemaking that doesn’t require you to depend on a store. I am very excited to be able to pass this recipe down to my children and grandchildren in the hopes that they live a clean lifestyle free from chemicals. Hopefully you can pass this recipe around in your family, as well!

If you have babies, check out our Homemade Diaper Rash Cream Recipe.

Vinegar Base Cleaner

This homemade all purpose cleaner is vinegar based. Because the main ingredient is vinegar, it kills germs and bacteria, dissolves dirt and grease, and deodorizes. It is a great option to clean countertops, coffee pots, floors, and stoves.

Be sure to use distilled white vinegar for a stronger, better cleaning spray. Regular vinegar is not as strong.

You should not use this cleaner on clothes.

The orange peels add a citrus scent. They are also a cleaning agent and pair very well with the vinegar. Because you are adding orange peels, you will need to let this mixture sit in a dark place for at least 2 weeks.

Supplies

1 32 oz glass jar
1 spray bottle
1 cheesecloth or jar lid
orange peels
distilled white vinegar
water

Directions

1. Fill jar with orange peels

You will fill your jar completely with orange peels. The more orange peels you have, the stronger the orange scent will be.

As we eat oranges, I will freeze the orange peels in a freezer safe ziploc. This way, whenever I need to restock my fermenting jar with oranges I have them on hand. This is a great way to save some money and never waste food.

2. Pour vinegar into jar until all orange peels are covered

Make sure all of the orange peels are covered in vinegar. The vinegar should be filled up to the rim of the jar. If it isn’t filled completely, there is a chance your orange peels may mold.

3. Cover jar with cheesecloth or lid

I cover my Mason Jar with a cheesecloth and screw on the Mason jar ring around it to keep airflow to the vinegar mix. You can gently lay the jar lid on top of the jar if you do not have cheesecloth. You could also use a paper coffee strainer in place of cheesecloth. (I use cheesecloth for so many things! It’s a great investment.) You want to make sure there is some air getting into the jar.

4. Let sit for at least 2 weeks in a dark area

Keep the jar in a cabinet or in the basement while it ferments for about 2 weeks. You want the jar to be in a dark place. After 2 weeks, the orange peels will have mixed nicely with the vinegar and it’s ready to be used. I keep mine in my laundry room cabinets with my other cleaner. I go through so much vinegar spray that I have two mason jars fermenting now!

5. Fill the rest of the spray bottle with water

Do not fill the whole spray bottle with vinegar. You want to mix 1 part vinegar to 2 part water. I normally eyeball this! Just make sure you add more water than vinegar.

Why I Use This Spray

I make and use this vinegar spray mainly because I have young kids. I am really cautious about the chemicals I use around my house. Unless I am cleaning the bathroom or a dog accident, I use my homemade cleaner. Using this cleaner gives me such relief when my children play on the floor or help me clean the counters! I know they are safe from chemicals.

My children will also help me make this all purpose, all natural cleaner and I am not worried about harsh chemicals when they spill a little bit on themselves! I love their willingness to help and learn how to reuse food that we don’t eat. These are skills that I am confident they will keep and use in the future to not only benefit them but also the world.

The third reason I make my own all purpose cleaner, and most liked by my husband, is because it saves money. It doesn’t make us rich in savings but it does save a few bucks here and there. As a stay at home mom, any savings I can keep is a plus for our family budget. Check out my stay at home mom routine here!