Before you throw out those citrus peels, start tucking them inside a jar with a lid tightly screwed on. There are infinite ways to use citrus peels, but I’m going to share a few of my favorites!
Ways to use citrus peels
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Make citrus infused vinegar. It’s a great all purpose cleaner. Simply tuck your peels into a jar, cover with vinegar, and let sit for 2 weeks. Strain your peels and pour your new citrus infused vinegar into a spray bottle diluted at a 1:1 ratio with water. (say 1 cup vinegar + 1 cup water).
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Remove stains from coffee mugs and coffee pots. Place some citrus peel into a stained mug or pot and add warm water. Allow to sit for a few hours before washing.
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Make dehydrated citrus peels. Lay them out on a dehydrator tray and dry at 125°F until crisp. Save them whole or run through a blender or food processor to be added to dishes or turned into a scouring cleaner.
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Lemon sugar. Pulse some rinds with sugar in a food processor and frost the rim of a cocktail or sprinkle over lemon poppy muffins.
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Make body sugar and salt scrubs. Incorporate coarsely ground peels into your next batch of exfoliating scrub or handmade soap.
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Refresh your trashcan. Toss a few peels in the bottom of your trashcan before replacing the bag.
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Make candied citrus peels. Boil in water and sugar for 15 minutes and let them cool before enjoying.
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Repel pests in the garden. Spread peels around your garden and plants to keep slugs and ants at bay. You can also put them in a spray bottle with hot water, shake, and allow to cool. Spray your plants with this natural repellant.
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Repel pests in the house. Rub a lemon peel along windowsills or spray with a lemon/vinegar mix.
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Repel mosquitoes. Rub an unpeeled orange right on your skin.
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Use as kindling. Surprisingly enough, orange peels make a great fire starter. They light easily but burn slowly, giving you extra time to build a strong fire.
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Use as an air freshener. Bring water to a boil on the stove and add citrus peels and seasonal spices. Reduce to a simmer and let the fragrance fill your house for several hours.
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Make furniture polish. Infuse any kind of furniture friendly oil with your citrus rinds and polish away.
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Clean your garbage disposal. Throw one or two peels in the disposal and grind to your hearts content. (try to avoid using larger chunks). Feel free to freeze a few in ice cube trays filled with water or vinegar for future use.
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Homemade Goo Remover. Rub a peel right on the sticky spot (sap, stickers, etc).
