DIY Citrus + Forest-fresh, Zero-Waste Household Cleaner

Why I Make This
Store-bought cleaners are expensive, harsh, can be toxic to humans and pets, and often unnecessary. This simple vinegar cleaner uses food scraps you would otherwise throw away—saving nutrients and money—along with forest finds to create an effective, natural alternative that smells like fresh air instead of chemicals.

Ingredients

Citrus (choose one or combine):

• Orange, mandarin and/or clementine peels (from 2–3 oranges)
• Lemon and/or lime peels (from 1–2 lemons)
• Grapefruit peels (from 1–2 grapefruits)

Forest Add-In (optional):

• A small handful of white pine needles (fresh or dried), clean and pesticide-free, fallen naturally in the forest. Do not harvest directly from a living tree. No one needs needles more than the tree itself.

Base:

• White vinegar (5%)

Equipment:

• Glass jar with lid
• Fine strainer
• Spray bottle

Optional Needle Alternatives  - Choose What Grows Near You
(In my backyard are pine, maple, oak and fruit trees)

🌲 Safe Evergreen Options. Only use one type per batch to keep scent balanced.

• White Pine (Pinus strobus) – soft needles, mild forest scent
• Spruce (Picea species) – sharp needles, clean resin scent
• Fir (Abies species) – citrusy, bright, gentle aroma​

✔ Use fallen needles only
✔ Rinse well
✔ Avoid if unsure of identification

🚫 Do NOT Use
This is important to include for safety and trust.

• Yew (toxic)
• Cedar (too strong for cleaners and irritating)
• Hemlock (Tsuga species) – avoid due to frequent misidentification
• Any evergreen you cannot confidently identify
• When in doubt, skip the needles. Citrus alone makes an excellent cleaner.

Optional Add-Ons (After Straining)

• 10–20 drops essential oil (lemon, orange, pine, eucalyptus, or lavender)
• Dilute 1:1 with water for general cleaning

​Short on Time
If you are short on time, use only the vinegar and essential oils and dilute with water.  Fill a spray bottle, shake and use immediately.

Instructions

1. Prepare your scraps
   Rinse citrus peels and pine needles well. Let them air-dry briefly to reduce moisture.
2. Fill the jar
   Loosely pack the jar about ¾ full with citrus peels and pine needles.
3. Add vinegar
   Pour white vinegar over the contents until fully submerged.
4. Seal and steep
   Close the lid and store in a cool, dark place for 2–4 weeks. Shake gently every few days.
5. Strain
   After steeping, strain out the solids and transfer the infused vinegar to a spray bottle.
6. Optional essential oils
   Add 10–20 drops of essential oil if desired (lemon, orange, pine, eucalyptus, or lavender work well).

Bonus

• Add your discarded peelings and pine needles to your compost pile for your garden.
• Keep your seeds to grow your own fruit trees.

How to Use

• Countertops
• Sinks & tubs
• Floors (dilute 1:1 with water)
• Garbage cans
• Bathroom surfaces
• ​Do not use on natural stone (granite, marble), sealed hardwood.

Why It Works

• Vinegar cuts grease and odors
• Citrus boosts cleaning power
• Pine adds antibacterial properties and a grounding scent

This recipe is meant to be flexible and grounded in respect for the land. Use what you have, leave what you don’t need, and let the process be as nourishing as the result.