You eat oranges all the time, but you can do not realize the potential of this fruit. Oranges not only are just a great-tasting source of vitamin C but they have awesome household benefits. Use orange peels to make your own cleaners, infuse your foods with orange, or make your home smell fresh.
You can do so much! Here are amazing household hacks with oranges that you should try immediately!
1. Fancy Candied Orange Peels
Candied orange peels are delicious. Have you ever tried them?
Prep time which consists of chopping up the orange peels into 1/4″ wide strips, blanching them, simmering in syrup, and rolling in sugar is roughly 25 minutes. Though optional, dipping in molten chocolate makes them fancier. However, allow yourself an extra 5 hours for the candy to dry.
2. Keep Cat Out Of Your Plants
You set your new plant on a shelf but still worry your cat might jump up and try to munch on the leaves, which are mildly toxic and could give him a stomachache. To help prevent this, dice the peels of two oranges and sprinkle them onto the plant’s dirt. Cats dislike the strong scent of citrus, so your pal will stay away.
3. Freshen Musty Closets Naturally
To nix, your closet smell, place the rinds from an orange inside the foot of an old pair of pantyhose, then tie the end and set the sachet on a shelf. The pith will absorb and neutralize odors, while the fruit’s oils give off a fresh fragrance.
4. Stop Brown Sugar from Hardening
Ensure your brown sugar stays soft by placing a slice of orange peel in the box. The rind will slowly release oil that keeps the sugar moist. Replace once a month.
5. Get a Fire Roaring With Ease
A trick that will help you spend more time enjoying the warmth of your cozy fire—and less time trying to get the logs to catch: Let the peels from a few oranges sit out overnight so they dry, then throw them into the fireplace and carefully light.
Orange oils are flammable, so the peels will burn longer than paper kindling. Plus, you’ll get a nice citrus scent wafting through the house.
6. Remove Tough Microwave Stains
The no-sweat way to clean stubborn tomato soup splatters in the microwave: Place a few orange peels in a heatproof bowl and cover with water, then zap on high for 5 minutes. The steam from the water will loosen buildup, while the orange peels’ citric acid works to kill bacteria. Even the most caked-on food will wipe away with a damp cloth.
7. Take Salad from Bland to Grand
For a delicious way to wow your taste buds, make your own orange-infused olive oil.
To do: Add one orange rind and a handful of cranberries to 2 cups of olive oil and let simmer on low for 5 minutes. Allow to cool, then strain the fruit and keep the oil in a sealed container. The fruit acids released into the oil will add tart-sweet pizzazz to your side salads and hors d’oeuvres.
8. Lift Soap Scum From Glassware
Dingy glasses will sparkle, thanks to this trick: Soak them in a sink filled with warm water and a handful of orange peels for 5 minutes, then wash as usual. The peels’ citric acid will power through the soap scum and mineral deposits that cause cloudiness.
9. Prevent an Aphid Attack in Your Garden
To do: Steep ¼ to ½ cup of citrus peel in 3 to 4 cups of hot water for 10 minutes. When the solution cools, pour it into a spray bottle and spritz your plants once a week. Aphids love citrus scents, but the peels’ citric acid will weaken their soft bodies, eventually killing them—without harming your plants.
10. Make Your Own Mosquito Repellent
If you’re not crazy about the idea of rubbing onions all over yourself to keep away mosquitoes, you can rub fresh orange or lemon peels over your exposed skin. It’s said that mosquitoes and gnats are totally repulsed by either scent.
11. Deodorize Your Refrigerator
Orange peels won’t just eliminate the smell of trash but can clear up any lingering odors in your fridge. You can place an orange peel filled with salt in your fridge to keep it smelling fresh.
To do: Cut the orange in half, scoop out the pulp, fill the rind with salt, and just tuck it away on the back of a shelf.
12. Exfoliate Your Skin
Dip a cut orange in coarse, raw sugar and gently scrub your skin with it to exfoliate. The coarse sugar removes the dead skin and oils and juices from the orange soften the skin. You can try this on your face, hands, and feet.
13. Clean Counters Sans Chemicals
Sidestep the headaches that can come from using harsh cleaning products with this all-natural—and wonderfully effective—cleaner:
In a spray bottle, combine the peel from 1 orange and 1½ cups of white vinegar. Keep tightly closed for 2 weeks, then add 1 cup of water to the spray bottle. The orange peel’s citric acid will break down grease, while the vinegar disinfects to get your home sparkling.
14. Deodorize a Garbage Disposal
To do: Toss the peel of orange down the drain and run the appliance for 30 seconds. The fruit’s acids will neutralize odors, while the coarse rind scours away food particle buildup on the blade. Repeat once a week or as needed.
15. Reuse Orange Peels For A Fun Kids Project
Halve your oranges. Remove the flesh and take care to leave a little of the pith in the peel (like a candle wick), pour some olive oil in, and you have yourself an orange peel candle. Slightly coat the tip of the pith with olive oil.
Don’t douse it, otherwise, it won’t light. The candles don’t really serve a practical purpose, but they sure are pretty plus it will keep your kids busy with this quick and fun citrus hack DIY project.
