Spring and summer are all about citrus fruits. If you’re like everyone else, you’ve probably brought several bags of oranges in the past few weeks and have been enjoying all your favorite orange-flavored foods and drinks.
What do you do with your orange peels? Do you just throw them away? There are a lot of orange peel uses you can try at home.
Make the most out of your oranges. Check out these uses and benefits of orange peel and you’ll be surprised with just how many things you can do with it.
1. Use Orange Peel as a Natural Sponge
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One of the many chores that could take out a lot of time from your day is cleaning pots and pans. This chore could be especially difficult when you’re trying to get rid of dried stains and hardened grease.
Orange peel is here to rescue your day!
Use your newly discarded orange peels as natural sponges. They are perfect for cleaning pots, pans, sinks, and counters! The essential oils found in the rinds help soften stains and degrease surfaces. Apart from using them for pots and pans, you can also use the orange peels on sinks and counters.
2. Freshen Up Rooms and Closets
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Nothing can be more embarrassing than an awfully smelly room and closet.
Be more confident entertaining guests and have the peace of mind that you won’t have to worry about having a musty-smelling closet or room.
Freshen up your kitchen by boiling orange peels for a few minutes. You can add some mint or cinnamon sticks for a fresher scent. To freshen up your living room, simply put some orange peels in a small glass or dish and place it on the table.
3. Keep Insects Away Using Orange
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Spring and summer are the perfect seasons to open your home and let fresh air in. Unfortunately, it’s not just air you’re letting in but insects too.
One of the popular benefits of orange peel is it could keep mosquitoes, flies, and ants out.
Oranges contain limonene, a substance found in most citrus fruits. Insects and pests don’t like it. To solve your pest problems, have some orange peels on areas where pests and insects always go.
4. Get Rid of Soap Scums and Water Stains
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Water stains and soap scum are unsightly. They also won’t give you a good impression. If you’re entertaining guests, make sure your glassware and metal fixtures are spot-free.
Sounds difficult? One of the best benefits of orange peel is that it helps remove those unsightly marks. The natural oils in the rind make these possible.
To remove soap scum, fill a sink with warm water and add some orange peels. Soak your glassware for five minutes. The citric acid from the orange peel could wash away the cloudiness caused by minerals and soap scum.
Polish your metal fixtures by just rubbing a peel on the surface.
5. Deodorize Refrigerator, Garbage Disposals, and Bins
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A smelly fridge and garbage disposal could make anyone lose their appetite.
You could keep your refrigerator smelling fresh for days with just half an orange! Fill up an orange peel with salt and put it in a bowl. Place the bowl in the fridge and let it do the work!
The deodorizer could last for a couple of weeks. It’s just one of the awesome benefits of orange peel everyone loves!
6. Start a Fire Easily
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When you’re shivering from the cold, you wouldn’t want to wait even a few minutes to get the fire roaring.
Luckily, a handy dried orange peel benefit is that it could get the fire roaring easily. No more waiting for the logs to catch fire completely.
Let some orange peels dry at least overnight before using them. Throw them in the fireplace and light them up. Compared with paper kindling, orange peels burn longer so you can enjoy more time by your cozy fireplace.
Bonus: Apart from making it easy to start a fire, the rind also works as an air freshener. It would give your home a nice citrusy scent while the peels burn.
Warning: Orange oils are easily flammable. Be careful when lighting them.
7. Keep Brown Sugar Soft
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Storing brown sugar could harden it over time. You can avoid this by putting a slice or two or orange peel in the container.
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The rind releases oil that helps draw moisture away from sugar, preventing it from solidifying. When used this way, the rind could last up to a month. Just put a date on the container so you don’t forget to replace the orange peels.
8. Orange Peel Keeps Plants Safe from Cats
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Many people love cats and plants. Having them together, however, could be challenging for some.
Some cats love to chew on plants. While some plants are good for them, others aren’t. When they accidentally chew on leaves that are bad for them, it could lead to stomachaches.
Keeping both your plants and cats healthy is one of the benefits of orange peel. Cut the peels up into small pieces and spread them on the soil of your plants. Cats hate strong citrusy scents. Putting peels on the plants acts as a natural deterrent, keeping your furry friends away from your potted pals.
Keep reading on the next page!
9. Make Orange Zest
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Well, this one’s obvious. This is probably the most popular use of orange rinds.
What’s a better way to start barbecue season than a citrusy marinade for your chicken, pork, and beef? Use the zest to add a tangy taste to your marinades.
Another way to use orange zest is to add it to your tea or coffee. Not only will you get a boost of energy from your pick-me-up cup but you’d also feel refreshed!
For a more citrusy and summery flavor, you could make a citrus zest with orange, lemon, and lime. Go crazy with it and add it to your pasta or mix it with bread crumbs.
Run a peel on a shredder and use the zest for your baked goodies.
Want to revamp your all-time favorite fried foods? Add the zest to your batter to lighten up the flavor.
10. Create Orange-Infused Salad Dressing
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Watching your weight? Give your salad a nice spin by making an orange-infused olive oil or vinaigrette.
Having more options for your dressing makes it easier to stick to your salad diet. You won’t be bored with the monotony of the dish as you can mix and match ingredients and dressing.
11. Make Candied Orange Peels
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Can’t live without sweets? Take control of how much sugar you’re getting by making your own candied desserts. This is one of the popular benefits of orange peel among dessert lovers.
To prepare, cut peels into strips and boil in a large pot for 15 minutes before draining. Mix sugar with water and bring to a boil over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Put the strips back into the pot and bring to a boil again before putting the pot into a simmer.
Coat the strips with a cup of sugar on a baking sheet. Slowly lift the peels and transfer them to a foil sheet. Let the coating dry for about one to two days.
12. Make Candles, Body Scrubs, and Bath Oil
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Orange rinds aren’t just for using in the kitchen and cleaning around the house. One of the well-known benefits of orange peel are for skin and relaxation.
To make an orange candle, cut the orange in half and remove the middle part, leaving the stem intact. Fill the rind with your choice of oil. Make sure to leave a few inches from the top of the stem as it will serve as your wick.
To use a peel as a body scrub, wrap it in a couple of gauze pads and lightly rub on your skin when you shower.
If you’re looking to improve your skin’s texture and tone, extract oil from your orange peels. Grind the peels and ferment them for three days using alcohol or vodka. Extract the oil by straining the grind. Add a few oil drops to your bath.
13. Make Orange Tea
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One of the favorite benefits of orange peel among people who love tea is that you can use it to make your favorite drink. The best part? No need for tea bags!
Dry the rinds for a few days and steep them in hot water when you want to have a nice cup of citrusy tea.
14. Keep Shoes Smelling Fresh
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Stop worrying about storing stinky shoes in the closet. Before putting them away, place a sachet filled with orange peels in each shoe. The peels will absorb the odor and keep your shoes smelling fresh for a long time.
15. Create a Natural Cleaner
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Stop using chemicals to clean your home. Orange peels are perfect natural cleaners you can use for almost anything. Add orange peels in a bottle of vinegar and store it for a few weeks in the refrigerator. Shake it occasionally.
When you’re ready to use it, transfer the mixture into a spray bottle. You can use this on floors, windows, and other types of surfaces.
There are many benefits of orange peel. The next time you buy oranges, don’t be too fast in throwing away the rinds. Following these tips could save you a few bucks.
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