How to create your own lemon cleaner

Don't throw away lemon peels! With these instructions, you can turn them into an environmentally friendly all-purpose cleaner. By Het Zero Waste Project

Ingredients for 250 ml of cleaner

• Lemon scraps
• 250 ml natural (white) vinegar
• Glass weck/mason jar
• Strainer or tea towel
• Spray bottle

Preparation

1. During 4-6 days, collect your lemon scraps when you’re done using them in the kitchen. Add them to a glass jar to store airtight. Store them in the fridge until you have collected some scraps.
2. Once you’ve got a good amount of lemon scraps, pour the vinegar over the scraps. Make sure that all the peels are submerged.
3. Soak the lemon scraps for 7-10 days at room temperature. Make sure you shake the jar every few days. Don't worry if your vinegar becomes cloudy and is not as transparent as it used to be.
4. Open the jar and strain your liquid. This will separate the lemon pieces from the cleaner. You can use a sieve or strainer. For extra-fine results, you can also use a tea towel, nut bag or cheesecloth. Put the strainer/tea towel over a bowl, pour in the mixture and let it strain.
5. Squeeze a bit to get all the juice out.
6. Pour your liquid into a spray bottle and use it as a cleaning spray. You can use it for your kitchen counter (check if your material can handle vinegar first!), sinks, kitchen tiles, dishwasher, inside the fridge and even to clean cutting boards or spatulas. Spray, let it sit for a couple of minutes and rinse or wipe with a damp cleaning cloth or sponge.

Important: Do not use the lemon cleaner on marble, granite or other sensitive surfaces.