Spring is finally here and that means spring cleaning! One of my favorite ways to freshen up the house is by making a batch of citrus-infused cleaning vinegar to help buff away buildup, add shine to kitchen sinks and countertops, and help disinfect bathroom surfaces.
This year, instead of using the usual lemon peel infusion, I decided to use pomelo peels.
If you have never experienced the insane fragrance of a pomelo, you’re in for a real treat! They have this beautiful citrusy scent of citrus but with a jasmine undertone that’s out of this world. I just knew that I wanted to make a cleaning vinegar out of the pith and peel the next time I came across fresh pomelo at the market.
So, here we are making fresh and fragrant pomelo cleaning vinegar.
I hope you enjoy ~
How to Make Pomelo Vinegar for Household Cleaning
Here’s what you’ll need:
1. One fresh pomelo
2. A sharp knife
3. Distilled white vinegar
4. A jar with a plastic lid
5. A spray bottle
6. A funnel
7. A nut milk bag (or sieve for straining)
8. A large bowl for straining
Preparation
1. Wash the pomelo well and remove any stickers.
2. Next, use a sharp knife and run it along the flesh of the pomelo to cut away the pith and peel. Pomelos have REALLY thick peels, so don’t be afraid to get in there.
3. Once the pith and peel have been removed, chop up the peels into small pieces.
4. Next, stuff the peels into a jar and cover them with vinegar. Make sure everything is submerged.
5. Let the vinegar steep for a few days. Keep checking on it every now and then to make sure that the peels stay submerged. You will likely need to top up the jar with vinegar as the peels absorb the liquid.
6. After a few days have passed, strain the vinegar and squeeze out as much liquid from the peels as possible into a bowl.
7. Pour the finished product into your spray bottle of choice, and voila! You’ve got pomelo-infused vinegar.
Since this is made with pure vinegar it will last indefinitely if stored in a cool dark place.
How to Use Your Pomelo Vinegar
This vinegar is perfect for cleaning stainless steel, linoleum kitchen counters, kitchen and bathroom sinks, toilets, tile, bathtubs, showers, glass doors and windows, mirrors, and inside the fridge. In fact, it’s so good for odor control that using it on toilets, the fridge, and wooden cutting boards are the main places I like to use it.
It’s magic how this stuff nixes odors!
No more musty bathrooms, sick-fridge-syndrome, or garlicky cutting boards.
Another great use for this pomelo vinegar includes adding a few tablespoons to your washing machine and dishwasher to help keep mineral buildup and soap scum at bay.
To use pomelo vinegar, simply spray it on evenly and let it sit for 10 minutes. This will allow the vinegar to get to work on odors, grease, grime, soap scum, mineral deposits, and more!
After 10 minutes, you can use the scrubby side of a sponge to buff away buildup. I love doing this for kitchen and bathroom sinks and glass shower doors. Everything looks new after a good soak in this vinegar.
For cutting boards, you can wash them with soap and water like usual after letting the vinegar sit for 10 – 20 minutes.
Where shouldn’t you use pomelo vinegar?
Since citrus and vinegar are very acidic in nature, you want to avoid using it on granite, marble, and other stone surfaces or delicate surfaces like hardwood floors.
This is a cleansing vinegar that eats through tough stains and grime so using it on surfaces that require specialized cleaning solutions will result in dull marble, stripped stone, and dry hardwood.
Other than that, this cleaning vinegar is great for spring cleaning. Not only will it make your house smell amazing as you use it, but it will also help eliminate germs and clear away the odors of winter.
I hope you give it a try.
You may also enjoy reading:
How to Make Herbal Vinegar
The Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
How to Make Four Thieves Vinegar
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