Welcome to DIY Week!
I thought I would change it up a little this week. Instead of recipes for food, I will be bringing you recipes to create DIY cleaning and beauty solutions. A few years ago I would have scoffed at the idea of making your own facial cleanser or laundry detergent, but times have changed. It is frugal to make it yourself, and dang it, it just feels good knowing that you are self sufficient.
Up first is a homemade citrus vinegar cleaning solution. I came across this recipe for Orange Vinegar over at Little Brick Ranch and decided to give it a try. I had used a basic water & plain vinegar solution in the past and liked it and the addition of the scent and cleaning properties of the citrus oils seemed like a great idea.
Pictured above is the solution the day I made it. I will come back and update this post in two weeks with the finished product.
The original recipe used oranges only, which is totally fine, but I had a bunch of lemons and oranges on the counter so I combined them. Plan on using a few pieces of fruit per large jar. Ready for the recipe?
DIY Citrus Vinegar Cleaning Solution
Makes one quart
2 Lemons
2 Oranges
vinegar
water (used later, see below)
1. If you'd like, juice the lemons and oranges first and save the juice for other uses. Using a spoon, scrape out the fleshy parts, leaving just the outer skin and the white pith.
2. Add to a quart size jar. Fill with vinegar and cap the jar. Let sit for about 2 weeks, then strain out the peels. Rinse out the canning jar. Add the strained liquid back to the jar & cap. This is the concentrated cleaning solution.
3. To prepare for use you will need a clean spray bottle (size of your choosing) and a funnel. Fill the spray bottle 3/4 of the way up with water. Using the funnel, pour in the citrus vinegar mix into the spray bottle. Shake to combine. Store this solution in the fridge.
Source: Little Brick Ranch
Linking up to:
{M) Melt in Your Mouth Mon, Motivate Me Mon, Making the World Cuter, Made By You Mon, Made By You Mon, Made by Me Mon, Made With Love Mon, Share Mon, Market Yourself Mon, Craft-O-Manic Mon, Amaze Me Mon, Metamorphosis Mon, Get Your Craft On, This Week's Cravings, Unwasted Homemaking, Making Mon Marvelous, Mad Skills, DIY Project Parade, Inspire Me Mon, Make Something Mon, Link Party Mon, Mangia Mon, Marvelous Mess Mon, Mad Skills Mon, Homemaker Mon, Mouthwatering Mon, Food'e' Friend Mon, Hunk of Meat Mon, {T} Show Me What You Got, Tempt My Tummy Tues, Take A Look Tues, Handmade Tues, Show and Tell, All Thingz Related, Anti Procrastination Tues, Tutorial Tues, Ten Buck Tues, Too Cute Tues, It's Sew Fun Tues, Tues Time Out, Delectable Tues, Ten on Tues, Tip Me Tues, A Little Birdie Told Me, Anything Goes, Creative Creations Tues, One Project at a Time, Tasty Tues, Inspiring Creativity, Tues Confessions {W} Whatever Goes Wed, Creative Share Wed, Show Off Your Stuff, Wed Link Party, Hoo's Got Talent, We Did It Wed, Linkin' with Luna, Link Party, Inspired by You Wed, What I Whipped Up Wed, Whassup Wed, Getting Crafty, Made It On Mon, Whisking Wed, What I Made Wed, Wow Me Wed, Wow Me Wed II, These Chicks Cooked, Cast Party Wed, {Thur} Strut Your Stuff Thur, I'm So Crafty, Crazy Cute Thur, Hookin' Up, Thrifty Thur, A Crafty Soiree, Transformation Thur, Making It with Allie, Catch A Glimpse Thur, It's a Keeper Thur, Get Your Craft On , Full Plate Thur, Sweet Treat Thur, Almost Fri Flaunts, Creative Juice Thur, Recipe Swap Thur, Sunday Baker, Creative Juice Thur, Twisted Thur, {F} Sweet Tooth Fri, Sweets This Week, Frugal Fri, Feature Yourself Fri, Foodie Fri, Home and Family Fri, I'm Lovin' It Fri, Show and Tell, Fri Favorites, Fantastic Fri, Show and Share Day, Fun with Food Fri, Weekend Wrap-Up, Pity Party, Simply Link Party, Lovely Crafty Weekend, Tickled Pink, What's Cooking In the Kitchen, Everything But the Kitchen Sink, Hodgepodge Fri, Favorite Things Fri, Fri Link Party, Inspiration Fri, Whatcha Got Weekend, Make and Share, Fri Free for All, Flaunt it Friday, Weekend Wander, Foodie Fri, Simply Creations Fri Link Party, Frugalicious Fri , Fancy Fri, Fantabulous Fri, Food on Fri, Weekend Show Off, Fat Camp Fri, Fri Fav Links, Weekend Bloggy Reading, {Sat} Check Me Out Sat, Sundae Scoop, Show and Tell Sat, Sat Spotlight, Sat Nite Special, Shindig Sat, Sat Swagger, Sweets for Sat, Summer Lovin' Sat Soiree, Sat Swap, {Sun} Sun Showcase, Sun Favorites, Sister Sister Sun, Recipe Link Party, Just Something I Whipped Up, Think Pink Sun, Not Baaad Sun, Sun Linky Party, Nifty Thrifty Sun, Sun at One Food Club, Your Kitchen, My Recipe, Potluck Sun, Sweet Indulgences Sun, So Sweet Sun
I thought I would change it up a little this week. Instead of recipes for food, I will be bringing you recipes to create DIY cleaning and beauty solutions. A few years ago I would have scoffed at the idea of making your own facial cleanser or laundry detergent, but times have changed. It is frugal to make it yourself, and dang it, it just feels good knowing that you are self sufficient.
Up first is a homemade citrus vinegar cleaning solution. I came across this recipe for Orange Vinegar over at Little Brick Ranch and decided to give it a try. I had used a basic water & plain vinegar solution in the past and liked it and the addition of the scent and cleaning properties of the citrus oils seemed like a great idea.
Pictured above is the solution the day I made it. I will come back and update this post in two weeks with the finished product.
The original recipe used oranges only, which is totally fine, but I had a bunch of lemons and oranges on the counter so I combined them. Plan on using a few pieces of fruit per large jar. Ready for the recipe?
DIY Citrus Vinegar Cleaning Solution
Makes one quart
2 Lemons
2 Oranges
vinegar
water (used later, see below)
1. If you'd like, juice the lemons and oranges first and save the juice for other uses. Using a spoon, scrape out the fleshy parts, leaving just the outer skin and the white pith.
2. Add to a quart size jar. Fill with vinegar and cap the jar. Let sit for about 2 weeks, then strain out the peels. Rinse out the canning jar. Add the strained liquid back to the jar & cap. This is the concentrated cleaning solution.
3. To prepare for use you will need a clean spray bottle (size of your choosing) and a funnel. Fill the spray bottle 3/4 of the way up with water. Using the funnel, pour in the citrus vinegar mix into the spray bottle. Shake to combine. Store this solution in the fridge.
Source: Little Brick Ranch
Linking up to:
{M) Melt in Your Mouth Mon, Motivate Me Mon, Making the World Cuter, Made By You Mon, Made By You Mon, Made by Me Mon, Made With Love Mon, Share Mon, Market Yourself Mon, Craft-O-Manic Mon, Amaze Me Mon, Metamorphosis Mon, Get Your Craft On, This Week's Cravings, Unwasted Homemaking, Making Mon Marvelous, Mad Skills, DIY Project Parade, Inspire Me Mon, Make Something Mon, Link Party Mon, Mangia Mon, Marvelous Mess Mon, Mad Skills Mon, Homemaker Mon, Mouthwatering Mon, Food'e' Friend Mon, Hunk of Meat Mon, {T} Show Me What You Got, Tempt My Tummy Tues, Take A Look Tues, Handmade Tues, Show and Tell, All Thingz Related, Anti Procrastination Tues, Tutorial Tues, Ten Buck Tues, Too Cute Tues, It's Sew Fun Tues, Tues Time Out, Delectable Tues, Ten on Tues, Tip Me Tues, A Little Birdie Told Me, Anything Goes, Creative Creations Tues, One Project at a Time, Tasty Tues, Inspiring Creativity, Tues Confessions {W} Whatever Goes Wed, Creative Share Wed, Show Off Your Stuff, Wed Link Party, Hoo's Got Talent, We Did It Wed, Linkin' with Luna, Link Party, Inspired by You Wed, What I Whipped Up Wed, Whassup Wed, Getting Crafty, Made It On Mon, Whisking Wed, What I Made Wed, Wow Me Wed, Wow Me Wed II, These Chicks Cooked, Cast Party Wed, {Thur} Strut Your Stuff Thur, I'm So Crafty, Crazy Cute Thur, Hookin' Up, Thrifty Thur, A Crafty Soiree, Transformation Thur, Making It with Allie, Catch A Glimpse Thur, It's a Keeper Thur, Get Your Craft On , Full Plate Thur, Sweet Treat Thur, Almost Fri Flaunts, Creative Juice Thur, Recipe Swap Thur, Sunday Baker, Creative Juice Thur, Twisted Thur, {F} Sweet Tooth Fri, Sweets This Week, Frugal Fri, Feature Yourself Fri, Foodie Fri, Home and Family Fri, I'm Lovin' It Fri, Show and Tell, Fri Favorites, Fantastic Fri, Show and Share Day, Fun with Food Fri, Weekend Wrap-Up, Pity Party, Simply Link Party, Lovely Crafty Weekend, Tickled Pink, What's Cooking In the Kitchen, Everything But the Kitchen Sink, Hodgepodge Fri, Favorite Things Fri, Fri Link Party, Inspiration Fri, Whatcha Got Weekend, Make and Share, Fri Free for All, Flaunt it Friday, Weekend Wander, Foodie Fri, Simply Creations Fri Link Party, Frugalicious Fri , Fancy Fri, Fantabulous Fri, Food on Fri, Weekend Show Off, Fat Camp Fri, Fri Fav Links, Weekend Bloggy Reading, {Sat} Check Me Out Sat, Sundae Scoop, Show and Tell Sat, Sat Spotlight, Sat Nite Special, Shindig Sat, Sat Swagger, Sweets for Sat, Summer Lovin' Sat Soiree, Sat Swap, {Sun} Sun Showcase, Sun Favorites, Sister Sister Sun, Recipe Link Party, Just Something I Whipped Up, Think Pink Sun, Not Baaad Sun, Sun Linky Party, Nifty Thrifty Sun, Sun at One Food Club, Your Kitchen, My Recipe, Potluck Sun, Sweet Indulgences Sun, So Sweet Sun
This is awesome. I have been toying with the idea of doing these types of things. Not only is it frugal, but you know it is all natural! Thanks for the recipe.
ReplyDeleteVery cool idea! Linking up after you on Craftomaniac.
ReplyDeleteI have got to try this! I have been looking for natural cleaning products to make myself. Thanks for sharing. {stoped by from sugar bee crafts}
ReplyDelete@ Miranda - You are welcome :)
ReplyDelete@ Sunny - Thanks!
@ Kristin - You are welcome, I hope you let me know how it turns out.
What a great idea! Thanks for following me on Pinterest! I'm following you now too!
ReplyDeleteCool! I would love it if you would link up to my Tuesday Confessional link party going on now: http://www.craftyconfessions.com/2011/07/tuesday-confessional-link-up-2.html. I hope to see you soon!
ReplyDelete~Macy from Confessions of a SAHM
I am doing some of my cleaning supplies but this one seems amazingly cheap and certainly effective because it's using all the right ingredients! I'll never throw away lemon and orange skin again!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
Kiss
great idea. I'm not sure I can make my own products. I can barely find time to clean!
ReplyDeletemegan
craftycpa.blogspot.com
Great recipe! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteLooks cool--does it help it smell less vinegar-y?
ReplyDelete@ Steph - My solution still has to soak for another week and a half, but my guess is that no, it still smells like vinegar, which should go away / lessen as it dries. Cleaning with vinegar & smelling vinegar is just one of those things that you have to be okay with. If people hate the smell of vinegar, they wont appreciate cleaning with it, ya know what I mean? :)
ReplyDeletelove this!
ReplyDeleteWow, I bet it smells great when it's finished. Wish there was smell-o-blog.
ReplyDeleteTheresa
That sure beats the vinegar smell I bet. I love cleaning with vinegar, but hate the stench...great solution! I wonder if this will clean the "jamhands" off my sofas...lol...
ReplyDeleteAli- Pop by and link this up if you have time...I@Creative Juice Thursday
This sounds great! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletethanks will try this,..
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a good idea for a cleanser. I'm definitely giving it a try.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! Thanks so much for linking up.
ReplyDeleteCrystal
www.chocolatedroolandkisses.blogspot.com
Hey Ali - thanks for the shout out!! I am in the process of making a lemon vinegar batch right now!! I still have half of the original orange/vinegar concentrate but I thought a change of scents would be nice for the summer. Let me know how it turns out!!
ReplyDeleteSo how did it end up? (Now that it is the end of August, I'm guessing it is finished and in use!) I'm interested in making this but would love to hear your results first. :)
ReplyDeleteEmily - Oopsie! Sorry about that. It turned out GREAT. The vinegar smell is really toned down. I did let my mixture sit for probably an extra week (out of forgetfulness). I don't know how much extra potent it got by sitting an extra week, but I just wanted to mention that.
ReplyDeleteI use it all the time and I love it. :)
Do you only use what you strain out of the peels? Or do you reuse the vinegar too?? I'm starting mine tonight. We live in Alaska where everything is expensive... I've enjoyed being sufficient! :) Thanks! This is great!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to try this with grapefruit peels since its all I have at the moment...this is a great idea!! Thanks
ReplyDeleteI bet limes or tangerines would work great as well :)
ReplyDeleteI'll try this one soon!
ReplyDeleteHere's something similar from my blog last week.
www.orendasroots.wordpress.com
Lo e this combination... Since oranges are my favorite fruit! Thanks
ReplyDeleteI'm already on my second batch of cleaner. The first I did just like stated above. The second batch is 2 lemons and 2 limes. I use it on everything except wood. Bathroom, mirror, glass, countertop, stove top, vanity. I use a slightly higher ratio of water to solution, 3:1. Any citrus is great. You could also add mint or rosemary (just a couple of sprigs) for a better scent.
ReplyDelete