Learn how easy it is to make scented vinegar for cleaning with citrus peels, fresh pine needles, fresh herbs and other aromatics.

When switching to more natural cleaning products, you’ll quickly learn that many of the recipes out there contain vinegar. Vinegar is great at cutting through grease and grime, as well as mineral deposits and dirt. You can use it as an ingredient in homemade glass cleaners, floor cleaners, tub and tile cleaners and so much more. And being the versatile ingredient that it is, vinegar also has a ton of uses in the kitchen. Not only is vinegar great for things like pickling recipes, but one of my favorite uses in the kitchen is to clean my fruits and veggies with a little vinegar. Needless to say, I always have a huge container of distilled white vinegar on hand.

So why would you want to make scented vinegar or infused vinegar, especially for cleaning? The simplest answer to that question is to make it smell better. Vinegar obviously has a very distinct smell, and one that isn’t my favorite, and I’m sure many people can relate. So when using vinegar to clean with, it doesn’t exactly make the room smell fresh and clean. So a way that I’ve found makes it more palatable is to infuse it with some yummy smelling things. One of my favorites are orange peels, but I’ve used fresh pine needles, cinnamon sticks and so much more.

Additionally, depending on the item you choose to infuse your vinegar with, it can add to the cleaning power. For example, if you use citrus peels in your vinegar, the natural oils from the peels actually have wonderful cleaning benefits, like cutting through grease.

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FAQs

What are aromatics?

Aromatics are typically used in cooking to add flavor and fragrance to a dish. These are ingredients like fresh herbs, cinnamon sticks, citrus peels, fresh pine, cloves and other spices that have a strong scent and flavor.

What kind of aromatics can I use to make scented vinegar for cleaning?

You can really use any kind of aromatics to make scented vinegar for cleaning. My favorite to use are fresh orange peels because I just love the scent of orange, but you can use any citrus peels, fresh green pine needles, and so much more! The key to making scented vinegar is to ensure the aromatics are fully submerged in the vinegar and it needs to sit for at least 4-6 weeks before using.

Ho do I use scented vinegar for cleaning?

You can use scented vinegar by itself to help clean your fresh produce, as an ingredient in homemade cleaners like this homemade mop solution concentrate or in the laundry as a natural laundry softener.

Ingredients

Citrus peels or other aromatics: You can use any citrus peels, fresh pine needles, cinnamon sticks and other whole spices, hearty herbs or whatever you enjoy.

Distilled white vinegar: I buy distilled white vinegar in large jugs to have on hand to make things like scented vinegar. I only recommend distilled white vinegar and no other types of vinegar for this recipe.

How to Make Scented Vinegar for Cleaning

TOOLS YOU MAY NEED

INGREDIENTS

Distilled white vinegar
Orange peels, lemon peels and/or other aromatics

DIRECTIONS

Cut the oranges into quarters and peel them.

Stuff the orange peels and any other aromatics into a glass jar until it’s completely full.

Pour enough distilled white vinegar into the container to completely submerge them. It’s important to make sure the peels are completely under the vinegar to avoid mold growth.

Add an airtight lid to the glass jar or bottle and store the infused vinegar in a cool dark place for 4-6 weeks before using.

After each use, add more vinegar to keep the orange peels submerged.

NOTES

You can use any type of aromatics like citrus peels, fresh pine needles, cloves, cinnamon sticks, et cetera.
Only use distilled white vinegar in this recipe.
To get the full effect, it’s super important to allow the vinegar to infuse for at least 4 weeks in a cool, dark place. I just store mine under the sink in the kitchen.
Making this recipe is a great excuse to reuse glass jars and containers.

Scented Vinegar for Cleaning

Yield: 1+ Containers

Active Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Learn how easy it is to make scented vinegar for cleaning with citrus peels, fresh pine needles, fresh herbs and other aromatics.

Materials

Distilled white vinegar
Orange peels, lemon peels and/or other aromatics

Tools

Large mason jars
Mason jar pouring spout
Cutting board
Knife

Instructions

Cut the oranges into quarters and peel them.
Stuff the orange peels and any other aromatics into a glass jar until it's completely full.
Pour enough distilled white vinegar into the container to completely submerge them. It's important to make sure the peels are completely under the vinegar to avoid mold growth.
Add an airtight lid to the glass jar or bottle and store the infused vinegar in a cool dark place for 4-6 weeks before using.
After each use, add more vinegar to keep the orange peels submerged.

Notes

You can use any type of aromatics like citrus peels, fresh pine needles, cloves, cinnamon sticks, et cetera.

Only use distilled white vinegar in this recipe.
To get the full effect, it's super important to allow the vinegar to infuse for at least 4 weeks in a cool, dark place. I just store mine under the sink in the kitchen.
Making this recipe is a great excuse to reuse glass jars and containers.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR MORE NATURAL CLEANING TIPS AND RECIPES?

Looking for more natural cleaning tips and recipes? Check these out!

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How to Make Scented Vinegar for Cleaning

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