Keep Those Citrus Peels For A Fresher-Smelling Kitchen Floor - Tasting Table

"Mopping your kitchen floor may seem like a straightforward task, but for so many of us, using harsh cleaning products in the kitchen can be undesirable and the choices confusing. First of all, there's the smell. So many floor cleaners contain disinfectants that give off a powerful chemical odor. And if you practice green cleaning, you likely don't want any chemicals on your floor or around your cooking area. But there's a reusable and biodegradable solution to floor cleaning that actually smells great: citrus peels."

"which makes them the perfect natural all-purpose cleaner. Making a cleaning solution from citrus peels is simple. Place citrus peels in a pot of water, bring them to a boil, remove, and add the liquid to your mop water. This is perfect for light cleaning on your kitchen floor, and because boiling releases the essential oils in the peels, the aroma will fill your kitchen."

"For a disinfecting clean, use the same boiling process, but add to the water 6 tablespoons of distilled vinegar and 3 teaspoons of borax. While you can use any citrus you have on hand, making a cleaning solution with lemons is going to give you the best results. Lemons are naturally more acidic than their citrus counterparts, and they do a fantastic job cleaning floors and leaving a fresh aroma."

"We know that citrus packs an acidic punch, and because of this, it's perfect for cleaning the grease and dirt from nearly every type of kitchen floor, even some hardwood. The oils from the citrus offer some protection for the finish on hardwoods and provide additional shine. As a matter of fact, the acids in citrus peels have grease-cutting properties that other mild household cleaners might lack."

Citrus peels can be boiled in water to release essential oils and create a natural cleaning solution for kitchen floors. The liquid added to mop water cuts grease, lifts dirt, and leaves a fresh citrus aroma. Boiled-peel mixtures suit light cleaning and are gentle enough for some hardwood floors, where citrus oils can enhance shine and protect finishes. For disinfecting power, add six tablespoons of distilled vinegar and three teaspoons of borax to the boiled citrus water. Lemons provide stronger results due to higher acidity. Orange, lime, and grapefruit peels are also effective and biodegradable.

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