Normally I try not to overdo the strong chemicals and toxic cleaners, but with all of the COVID business, that went out the window. We were disinfecting everything, all day long. Our house is filled with Lysol, bleach, hand sanitizer – things we normally avoid. As necessary as those steps were (and in some ways still are for high traffic surfaces), my constant eczema flare ups are moving me towards some more natural solutions. That’s how I landed on this homemade lemon cleaner.
Last month I saw someone post a similar cleaner on their Instagram stories. (For the life of me, I can’t remember who – if it was you, please reach out so I can thank you!) It’s brilliant. Just vinegar and lemon and lime peels, that’s all you need to make this effective and fragrant all-purpose, non-toxic cleaner.
How to make – Homemade Lemon Cleaner
The process is so simple!
1. Take any mason jar and fill it 2/3 of the way with vinegar.
2. Add in lemon and lime peels. My container has a capacity of about 4 cups, and I used the peels from about 3 lemons and 3 limes.
3. Keep the jar closed for about 2 weeks. Your solution is ready when the colour of the vinegar is yellowish or orange (depending on the peels you used), and has a strong citrus odour.
4. Strain the peels out, and dilute the solution with water. I used a 1:1 ratio of water and it was perfect.
5. Pour into a spray bottle, and start cleaning!
I’ve been using this cleaner for a few weeks now and am really happy with it. Apparently vinegar’s acidity makes it a really good cleaner, and it smells wonderful. I grew up with that overpowering Pine Sol smell on cleaning day, and it’s been a process getting used to non-chemical smells and feeling like it’s clean enough. This one is perfect thought, I love the smell of lemons!