What should you do with an orange peel after you're done eating the fruit part? If at least one half of the orange peel is still intact, consider using it as a seed starter pot, emergency oil lamp, bird feeder, or a super-easy, salt-packed DIY fridge deodorizer.
Orange peel pieces can be used to deter ants, keep mosquitos away, scrub your kitchen sink and countertop, and freshen up your musty closet.
Though the tips listed below pertain to non-edible uses, orange peels are also really great for cooking, baking, and for making candy.
How great are oranges? They’re probably one of the best fruits. They basically come pre-sliced, housed in their own container. All you have to do is peel and eat, no cutting involved. They contain a high amount of vitamin C and only about 85 calories per orange, but more importantly they contain no fat, cholesterol or sodium.
Besides their beneficial nutritional makeup, oranges provide many different health benefits ranging from improved immune system to heart health to improved skin health and even anticancer properties. But did you know that the peelings can provide several benefits too? Try hanging onto your orange peels next time and test out some of these hacks for yourself.
While these tricks or hacks have not been scientifically proven, many people will attest to there uses. Below are nine ways you benefit not only from the orange, but the peel too!
1. Help coughs
Orange peel powder can help to reduce coughing and phlegm build up. Simply mix the powder with an 8 ounce glass of water and you have yourself a natural cough medicine!
2. Clean stainless steel
Rub the outside of the orange peel against your stainless steel sink after you’ve rinsed it. It’ll not only help the stainless steel to shine, but it’ll work to deodorize the sink as well. The citric acid in the orange peel helps add the shine to your stainless steel and it can even be used on stone, like granite, counter tops!
3. Make a DIY cleaner
Simply add a few orange peels and vinegar to a glass jar. Leave it to sit in the fridge for a few weeks, shaking the mixture every few days. Then, strain the liquid into a spray bottle and add water. You can use this just like any other cleaner. Vinegar acts as a very good disinfectant and the orange peels give the cleaner a pleasant scent!
4. Soften brown sugar
If you’ve got clumpy, hard brown sugar, a great way to soften it is by adding an orange peel.
5. Repel mosquitoes
Apparently mosquitoes don’t like limonene, which is what makes up 95% of an orange peel. By grating the peel around the areas you like to sit outside, you might be able to keep mosquitoes at bay.
6. Start a fire
You need to dry out the orange zest part of the peel, ensuring that no fruit is left. You can leave them out in the sun, or place them near a heater. Once they’re dry and brittle, they’re ready for use. Arrange the dried peels in a pyramid shape along with any other twigs or paper you might have and then light them.
7. Deodorize your shoes
Smelly feet? Don’t worry about it. You can try adding some orange peels to a satchel and leaving them overnight in your shoes. It should help to absorb the odor and kill the bacteria causing it.
8. Add to your bath
Since vitamin C can be absorbed by the skin, some people choose to add orange peels to their baths to get it that way. Make sure you really clean the peel first if you opt for this route. Alternatively, you can grind up a dried orange peel and add the powder to your bath.
9. Deodorize your fridge
An orange peel can be used to keep your fridge fresh. Simply cut an orange in half and remove the fruit from the peel. Fill that half of the peel with salt and place it in the refrigerator. It will help keep things smelling fresh for about two weeks.
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