Easy DIY Citrus Vinegar Cleaning Solution

Learn how to make your very own Citrus Vinegar Cleaning Solution at home that saves money and uses natural ingredients.

I would have scoffed at making your facial cleanser or laundry detergent a few years ago, but times have changed. It is frugal to make it yourself, and it just feels good to be self-sufficient.

I came across this recipe for Orange Vinegar over at Little Brick Ranch and decided to try it. I had used an essential water and plain vinegar solution and liked it, and adding the scent and cleaning properties of the citrus oils seemed like a great idea.

The original recipe used oranges only, which is fine, but I had a bunch of lemons and oranges on the counter, so I combined them. Plan on using a few pieces of fruit per large jar. Ready for the recipe?

How to Make Citrus Vinegar Cleaning Solution

Makes one quart:

• 2 Lemons
• 2 Oranges
• vinegar
• water (used later, see below)

1. If you’d like, juice the lemons and oranges first and save the juice for other uses. Using a spoon, scrape out the fleshy parts, leaving just the outer skin and the white pith.

2. Add to a quart-size jar. Fill with vinegar and cap the jar. Let it sit for about 2 weeks, then strain out the peels. Rinse out the canning jar. Add the strained liquid back to the jar & cap. This is the concentrated cleaning solution.

3. To prepare for use, you will need a clean spray bottle (the size of your choosing) and a funnel. Fill the spray bottle 3/4 of the way up with water. Using the funnel, pour the citrus vinegar mix into the spray bottle. Shake to combine. Store this solution in the fridge.