The orange is a particularly delicious citrus fruit that can be enjoyed in a thousand and one ways. As for the peel, it’s often thrown away, and that’s a shame!
In fact, orange peel can be reused for many purposes, not only in the kitchen, but also in the garden, for cleaning and much more!
To better understand the benefits of orange peel, here are not one, but 10 ways to recycle orange peel.
What are the best ways to use orange peel?
1. Using orange peel to perfume your laundry
Orange peel contains essential oils that give off a very pleasant scent. This makes them ideal for pleasantly scenting laundry in a 100% healthy, natural way.
To do this, simply place a few peels in gauze or an old stocking and place it in several places in the closet.
This simple, effective trick will neutralize unpleasant odors and add a subtle fragrance to textiles.
2. Orange peel to clean worktops
Switching to natural household products is easier than you think. Among them, vinegar scented with orange peel is a must.
To make this citrus-scented multi-surface cleaner, simply macerate orange peel in a bottle of white vinegar.
After two weeks, the product is ready to use. For this purpose, it’s best to transfer the product into a spray bottle.
The citric acid in the bark will combine with the degreasing, cleaning and disinfecting power of the vinegar.
3. Orange peel to keep cats away from plants
When you have a cat at home, it’s not uncommon for them to nibble on your houseplants. This unfortunate habit is potentially dangerous for cats, and can cause serious digestive problems, as well as damaging the plants.
To put a stop to it, simply use orange peel. Cut into small pieces and scattered in the pot at the base of the plant, this will put a stop to cats’ desire to rub themselves against the plant, let alone eat it.
4. Orange peel to clean the microwave
Orange peel can be used to thoroughly clean microwaves and give your equipment a real boost of freshness.
Simply place a bowl filled with water and orange peel in the microwave and turn it on for at least 5 minutes at maximum power.
The steam released by the bowl will soften and loosen even the most stubborn stains inside the microwave. The citric acid contained in the bark will also eliminate bacteria and sanitize the appliance.
At the end of the 5 minutes, you can simply wipe the walls of the microwave clean with a sponge.
5. Orange peel to remove lime scale from glass
Orange peel is highly effective in restoring glassware to its original shine. To put this trick into practice, simply fill a basin or sink with hot water, then add the peel of one or two oranges.
Leave to soak for around 5 minutes, then wash the glasses with your usual washing-up liquid.
Thanks to the citric acid in the peel, the marks have disappeared and the glasses are as good as new again.
6. Orange peel to keep aphids away
Aphids are pests that can destroy plants in the home, garden and vegetable patch. To keep them at bay, you can make a solution using orange peel and hot water.
Simply mix 1 liter of hot water with 150 grams of orange peel and leave to infuse for around ten minutes.
Then place the mixture in a spray bottle and spray aphid-infested plants at least once a week.
This highly effective technique is safe for plants and will eliminate aphids from your plants.
7. Orange peel to preserve brown sugar
Brown sugar sometimes tends to harden, making it difficult to use. To put an end to this problem, there’s a simple solution: orange peel.
To apply this trick, simply place a piece of orange peel in the brown sugar tin.
To maintain its effectiveness, you’ll need to replace the peel about once a month. This way, the sugar will remain fluid.
8. Using orange peel to light a fire
Rather than using gasoline-based firelighters, a simple trick is to use dried orange peel.
The oils contained in the peel are highly flammable, and once dried they ignite in seconds.
This technique is ideal for lighting fires in winter or barbecues in summer. And to top it all off, it gives off a pleasant scent.
9. Orange peel to boost vinaigrettes
You can infuse a good olive oil with orange peel to create a fragrant oil that’s delicious on many dishes.
The recipe is quite simple: just pour the oil and orange peel into a saucepan and place over very low heat to slightly raise the temperature for infusion.
After a few minutes, simply turn off the heat and leave to cool. Once it has returned to room temperature, the oil can be poured back into the bottle, filtering out the peel, and enjoyed immediately with salads, fish or other dishes.
10. Orange peel to deodorize garbage disposals
For those who have a garbage disposal at home, orange peel can be used to deodorize the appliance.
Simply place the peel in the garbage disposal and turn it on for 30 seconds. The citric acid will clean and sanitize the blades, eliminating the odor problem.
And that’s how you can recycle orange peel with 10 simple and effective tips.
