Home

Don’t Toss Out Your Orange Peels! Here Are 10 Inventive Things You Can Do With Them

By Debbie Strong Updated: March 5, 2022

Comments

TOP STORIES

View gallery orange peels and oranges on a wooden cutting board

Getty

Trust us: Orange peels are not for the trash or the garbage disposal anymore. Sure, these fruit casings smell delicious — despite their slightly bitter taste — but there are so many other reasons not to toss those citrusy peels.

For instance, orange peels can be used to create a fresh, non-toxic DIY cleaner that you can use around the home in place of your store-bought brand (such a good money-saver!). The solution disinfects, reduces mold, and removes calcium build-up, and it’s also quite pretty! You can even bring the skin of your favorite fruit into your beauty routine by using orange peels to concoct a yummy-smelling sugar scrub to soothe dry skin. Or create a unique candle that burns for hours and is totally wallet-friendly (and by that, we mean free!).

Karsell Collagen Hair Mask for Deep Conditioning, Keratin Hair Treatment with 4 Hydrolyzed Proteins, Moroccan & Avocado Oils Conditioner for Nourish, Calendula Gentian Extracts Care Dry & Damaged Hair

Deal of the Day

This Deep Conditioning Collagen Hair Mask for Has 4.9 Stars and Is 80% Off — Get It for $20! View Deal

So, eat that juicy orange. But before you toss the peel in the trash, STOP! There are plenty of genius uses for peels that will save you money and time. See the best DIY ways to reuse your orange peels below.

Make an eco-friendly cleaner.

Pinterest

Use vinegar and leftover peels to create an easy cleaning solution that disinfects, reduces mold, and removes calcium build-up (and is also quite pretty). Get the instructions here!
Make yummy-smelling candles that burn for hours.

Pinterest

Cut your peel to form a cup, and leave the center core-like stem intact. Fill the cup with olive oil to just below the stem top, light it; and enjoy the amazing scent!
Fill your home with a sweet aroma.

Pinterest

An easy and delicious way to send a beautiful fragrance wafting through your home? Boil orange peels with a 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon over medium heat.
Create garbage disposal cleaners.

Pinterest

Send a burst of citrus down the drain to clean up a smelly garbage disposal by making these simple cleaning cubes in your freezer. Find the instructions here!
Make an orange peel lip butter.

Pinterest

Soothe dry lips and hardworking hands with DIY masks for skin, like this ointment that uses orange peels, shea butter, and cocoa butter. Check out the instructions!
Protect your pets.

Getty Images

This one takes just seconds. Before you toss them, rub the peels on your indoor plants. The oils it leaves behind will keep your cats from clawing and biting the leaves.
Make a powdered zest for baking.

[Pinterest](

Next time a recipe calls for orange (or lemon) zest, have your own on hand. The powdered kind is less acidic than fresh, FYI. (See the instructions.)
Pack them with your sugar.

Pinterest

Another baker's tip: To avoid scraping at hard brown sugar when you need it for a recipe, store a three-inch long peel in the package. It will keep the sugar from clumping and hardening and preserve moisture.
Mix up a sugar scrub.

Pinterest

Exfoliate the natural way by adding a DIY sugar body scrub to your shower or bath routine. (Instructions are available here.)
Ward off insects.

[Pinterest](

Mosquitoes, roaches, and the like can't stand the smell of orange oil. Blend dried peels and water, and save the mixture in a spray bottle for a natural bug repellent.

Tags:

Conversation

All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Woman's World does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.