How To Make Citrus Vinegar For Cleaning (All Purpose and Natural Homemade Cleaner Recipes)

I use vinegar for cleaning and as an all natural laundry softener. I do use brand name household cleaners, but vinegar is such a cheap and effective all purpose cleaner that I use it all the time, too. One thing I enjoy doing is making homemade cleaners. Even if I just make them once to see how well they work.

Some homemade cleaners work out awesome and others I would never make again. The two recipes I am sharing here: Citrus Vinegar All Purpose Cleaner and the Citrus Vinegar Shower and Tub Cleaner are definitely keepers. I shared the DIY Shower and Tub Cleaner recipe a couple of years ago, and it is still my favorite tub cleaner of all time.

The only difference this time is that I made the Shower and Tub cleaning spray using the Citrus Vinegar, so I felt like it was good to share the recipe again. Plus, for the first time ever, I made this cleaner in a clear glass bottle — who knew it was such a pretty blue color? Not me! It’s the prettiest homemade cleaner ever, right?

Why use citrus and vinegar for cleaning? Vinegar gets its natural germ-fighting powers from acetic acid. Citrus fruits like lemons and oranges also contain natural acids that make them good for cleaning, plus they add a fresh citrusy scent to the vinegar.

It takes about 2-3 weeks for the citrus peels to completely infuse with the vinegar. The longer the citrus peels sit in the vinegar, the more powerful the citrus effect will be. I let my citrus peels and vinegar steep in the jar for three weeks. I actually made two jars at the same time. It stays good for several months on the shelf.

Let’s get started! Peel a few lemons and/or oranges and grab a bottle of white vinegar. That’s all you need to make this Citrus Vinegar All Purpose Cleaner. We’ll only be using the citrus peels to make the cleaner, so use the pulp for homemade lemonade or fresh squeezed orange juice. We don’t want to waste the good stuff.

How To Make Citrus Vinegar For Cleaning

Ingredients and Materials Needed:

• 2-3 Lemons (Peels Only)
• 1-2 Oranges (Peels Only)
• White Vinegar
• Mason Jar with Lid

Directions:

1. Peel the citrus fruit and put the peels into a quart sized mason jar.
2. Fill the jar with white vinegar. The citrus peels should be completely covered by vinegar.
3. Put the lid on the jar and let the mixture steep for two to three weeks.
4. Use a strainer to separate the citrus peels from the vinegar. Pour vinegar into a spray bottle for cleaning. (Discard or compost the peels now.)

You can use the citrus vinegar cleaner at full strength for tough cleaning jobs or dilute the citrus vinegar with water. A 50/50 citrus vinegar to water ratio works well for an everyday all purpose cleaner. I use Citrus Vinegar as an all purpose cleaner on non-porous surfaces including glass (windows and mirrors), the stove top, inside the microwave, on counter tops and surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom.

To Use: Spray onto surface. Wipe away dirt and grime. Allow to air dry. There’s no need to rinse. 

TIP: Repurpose empty spray bottles you have at home or buy glass spray bottles. I bought some of my glass bottles on Amazon and got another from my affiliate Grove Collaborative. Reusable bottles are a worthwhile investment for your homemade cleaners.

*Just a Note: Any vinegar cleaner will smell like vinegar when you use it. The vinegar smell does go away in a few minutes. I think the Citrus Vinegar cleaner has a more pleasant smell than plain vinegar because of the citrus notes. 

And now for one of my all time favorite homemade cleaners made with vinegar. This is amazing for cleaning the dirt and grime out of the bathtub. And with just 2 ingredients, it is super simple to make. If you don’t want to wait 2 weeks for your Citrus Vinegar, go ahead and use plain white vinegar.

DIY Citrus Vinegar Shower and Tub Cleaner Recipe

What You’ll Need:

• 1.5 cups of Citrus Vinegar (or substitute plain white vinegar)
• Dawn original dishwashing liquid (the blue kind)
• Spray Bottle

Directions:

1. Heat 1.5 cups of citrus vinegar until very hot, almost boiling. This takes about 1-2 minutes in the microwave.
2. Carefully pour the hot vinegar into a spray bottle and add an equal amount (1.5 cups) of Dawn dishwashing liquid.
3. Shake it up until mixed.

How To Use:

1. Spray the tub and shower area with the Vinegar/Dawn mixture until the entire surface area is coated.
2. Allow the cleaner to sit for about 10-20 minutes.
3. Use a clean cloth to wipe down the tub/shower area. Dirt and grime should wipe off easily. Rinse tub/shower area thoroughly with water.

Do you use vinegar for cleaning? What are some of your favorite natural cleaning products? Let me know how these work for you in the comments below.