Recipe

All-Purpose Vinegar & Citrus Spray

The one bottle that handles eighty percent of household surfaces. Three ingredients, two weeks of patience, and a kitchen full of clean.

Active Time2 min

Steep Time2 weeks

Yield32 oz spray

Cost~$3

Why this recipe

Vinegar is a mild acid. It cuts through soap scum, mineral deposits, hard water spots, and the kind of grease that builds up on stove fronts and microwave handles. Citrus peels add d-limonene, a natural solvent that boosts the cleaning power and leaves the spray smelling like a kitchen instead of a salad. Water dilutes the acidity to something gentle on most household surfaces.

What you will need

White vinegar (5% acidity, the standard kind from any grocery store)
Citrus peels: lemon, orange, grapefruit, or a mix. About 2 cups of peels per quart of vinegar.
Distilled or filtered water (tap water works but minerals can build up in the spray bottle)
A clean glass jar with a tight lid (a quart mason jar is perfect)
A spray bottle (glass or BPA-free plastic)
A funnel and fine mesh strainer (optional, makes pouring easier)

How to make it

Save citrus peels for a few days. Bag them up in a freezer bag if you are not ready to use them right away. They will keep frozen for months.
Fill a clean glass jar with the peels until it is roughly half full. Pack them in but do not crush.
Pour white vinegar over the peels until they are fully submerged. Seal the jar tightly.
Set the jar in a cool, dark cabinet for two weeks. Give it a gentle shake every few days. The vinegar will turn yellow or orange depending on the citrus you used.
After two weeks, strain the infused vinegar through a fine mesh strainer into a measuring cup. Compost the peels.
Pour the strained vinegar into a spray bottle, then add an equal amount of water. A 16 oz bottle gets 8 oz vinegar and 8 oz water.
Label the bottle with the date and the contents. Done.

Safety first

Never combine vinegar with bleach. The reaction releases chlorine gas, which is toxic.
Never combine vinegar with hydrogen peroxide in the same bottle. The reaction creates peracetic acid, which can irritate skin and lungs.
Do not use on natural stone (granite, marble, travertine, limestone). Vinegar etches stone surfaces.
Do not use on waxed wood, unsealed grout, or cast iron. The acid breaks down protective coatings.
Test on an inconspicuous spot first on any surface you have not cleaned with vinegar before, especially fabric and painted finishes.
Keep out of reach of pets and children while in spray bottle form. Once dried on surfaces, it is harmless.

Where it works

Glass, mirrors, sealed countertops (laminate, sealed quartz, sealed butcher block), stainless steel appliances, ceramic tile, vinyl floors, microwave interiors, refrigerator interiors, and the inside of trash cans. It also makes a fine window cleaner if you skip the dilution and apply it neat with a microfiber cloth.

Where it does not work

Granite, marble, and other natural stones. Waxed hardwood. Unsealed grout. Computer screens or any electronic display. Knives or cast iron pans (the acid promotes rust).

How long it lasts

Three to four months at room temperature. If the spray starts to smell different from when you mixed it, or if you see any cloudiness or growth, mix a fresh batch.

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