8 Ways to Use Citrus Fruit Peels in the Home and Garden - wikiHow (2024)

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Co-authored byBrandon Beckwith

Last Updated: April 2, 2024Approved

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   Know your peel. There are many types of citrus, including orange, mandarin, kumquat, grapefruit, lemon, lime, pomelo, citron (citrus apple), tangerines, etc.

   • Always wash the peel extremely well before use. If possible, prefer organic sources rather than those which have been sprayed, especially for any food or internal use. If you can't get organic fruit, use a very good fruit and vegetable scrub to remove chemical traces.
   • See "Warnings" below for the possibility of dermatitis and allergic reactions to citrus peel.
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   Use kumquat peel.

   • Use the peel of a kumquat to make marmalade. Just cook the chopped peel with sugar-water until it's like a syrup — use your favorite marmalade recipe.

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   Use lemon peel. There are so many potential lemon peel uses that entire chapters in books have been devoted to it.

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   Here are some great ideas to get you started:

   • Peel a lemon and use it to bathe yourself in the shower. It leaves your body and hair smelling fresh and clean.
   • Infuse lemon peel in your tea to add a delicious lemony taste.
   • Prepare fresh lemon peel
   • Make candied lemon peel
   • Make lemon brandy
   • Citrus peels such as peel of lemon work well for roasting chicken. Put peel into the chicken and roast. You will find a great smelling and good tasting chicken.
   • Lemon is often used as a co*cktail garnish.

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   Use orange peel. Orange peel also has many possible uses. Here are a few:

   • Use the peel to keep your brown sugar soft by putting it in the packaging with the brown sugar.
   • Make candied orange peel.
   • Make preserved orange peel.
   • Use as a garnish on fruit juice drinks, co*cktails, and salads.
   • Use dried and powdered citrus peels to brighten your teeth.

   Tip: Mix equal amounts of peel, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), and salt. Apply the powder with a toothbrush and brush normally. It will brighten your teeth and also make your mouth taste fresh, reducing the odor. Alternatively, you can simply mix a bit of peel with your toothpaste while applying that to your brush.

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   Use grapefruit peel.Grapefruit peel can be used as you would lemon or orange peel, and it also has great uses of its own:

   • Use grapefruit peels to cut into shapes to brighten up your salad. All you have to do is sprinkle them over the salad. It will make the salad smell great too.
   • Make grapefruit marmalade or candy it as with other peels.
   • Use the oil distilled from the peel for perfume.^[1]

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   Use citrus peels for culinary endeavors or in the kitchen generally.There are lots of possibilities no matter the type of citrus peel:

   • Use to flavor water. Add any citrus peels to a pitcher of water and put in the refrigerator. Now you can enjoy the taste of water even more.
   • Use any type of citrus peel and candy it. It is very sweet and a great snack for the kids.
   • Make marmalade, chutney, jam, and savory sauces using citrus peel.^[2]
   • Add a slice of citrus peel to brown sugar to stop the sugar from going hard.
   • Use citrus peels of any kind to freshen up that smelly garbage disposal. All you have to do is cut up the peel and put it in the disposal.
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   Use mandarin peels for tea. Make sure you wash the mandarin before experimenting.

   • Peel the skin off the mandarin.
   • Pour 100°C (212°F) of boiling water into a cup until 3/4 of the cup is filled.
   • Add in the mandarin peels and enjoy your lovely tea.

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   Use citrus peels in the house.

   • Use as kindling. Any type of citrus peel makes a great kindling for your fireplace in the winter.
   • Use dried citrus peels to freshen up that smelly sock or underwear drawer. It is best to place the peels inside a sachet first. A sachet is a small perfumed bag used to scent clothes.
   • Use citrus peels for your bath. It will create a beautiful scent.
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   Use citrus peel in the garden.

   • Compost your peels.
   • Citrus peels can aid in cleaning burnt pots when applied with common salt. They can also remove any stains from porcelain pots. These are particularly known to brighten metal pots or any metallic thing for example your metallic staircase.^[3] Citrus peel is a great addition to the compost pile. Just be sure to chop them a little to help them to degrade faster. You can use any of the peels to add to a compost pile. It will make the compost pile smell fresh and clean too. Just be aware that some people claim that the anti-bacterial nature of orange oil slows down decomposition,^[4] while others don't find it has any impact at all and call this an "urban myth".^[5] Be your own judge of whether or not there is an issue by observing!
   • Use any of the citrus peels to keep cats from digging or using your garden as a litter box. Just peel the citrus and place around the garden to keep Fluffy away from your petunias.
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   Deodorize with citrus peel.

   • Chew the peel. You can use preferably orange or lemon peels to make your breath smell great. Chew the peel for a little bit; you'll find it's a good substitute for mints and gum.
   • Place any citrus peels in a pan of low simmering water to freshen up the house.
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   Use orange peels to remove tar from shoes

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   Grind the citrus peel into any smoothie. Enjoy the extra taste and benefits.

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   Scare off the bugs and pesky pets with citrus peel.

   • Orange peel applied to your skin at night will ward off the insects. Simply rub the peel over your exposed skin and repeat whenever the insects start bothering you again.^[6]
   • Place orange or other citrus peel from 2-3 oranges/citrus into a blender with a cup of warm water. Blend into a mixture that can be poured into an anthill that is causing you problems.^[7]
   • Rub citrus peel over the leaves of plants monthly to keep cats away from the leaves.^[8]
   • Place dried citron peel into closets and wardrobes to ward off the moths.^[9]

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   Turn citrus peel into a scent source.

   • Use citrus peel as a fixative for potpourri. Dry the peel until it turns crisp. Once dried, grind it coarsely and add to potpourri as needed.^[10] It should be stored in a glass jar until needed. This can also be added to sachets to keep away moths and to sweeten your clothes.^[11] Read How to make citrus potpourri for specific details.
   • The ground powder can be added to the bath for a scented treat.^[12]
   • Extract the oil from citrus peels for use in home-made perfume.
   • Make citrus perfume.
   • Make summer citrus soap.

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