Stop throwing away your orange peels. Use them to clean your kitchen - CNET

This story is part of Home Tips , CNET's collection of practical tips for making the most of your home, inside and out.

keep the orange peel. Instead of throwing the fragrant bark in the trash or compost, you can use it in a multitude of ways around your home, including naturally cleaning your kitchen.

Orange peels produce a natural oil called d-limonene, which is used in many cleaning products because it helps keep surfaces shiny, clean, and smelling nice. And the scrubs have antibacterial properties to kill germs around the home.

So you can skip the expensive cleaners and go straight to the source. But remember: the "peel" is the entire peel of an orange: the outside is the peel, while the white inside is known as the pith.

Here are some helpful tips on using different parts of an orange peel to brighten up countertops, appliances, trash cans and more.

For more home tips, check out Nine Surprising Laundry Hacks , How to Properly Clean an Air Fryer and How to Clean Your Bathroom in 10 Minutes or Less .

1. Make your stainless steel shine

Use the bark or the outside of the bark to buff and oil stains on your refrigerator, stovetop or faucet. (I think the fresher the orange, the better this trick works.)

You can use the pith side to rub your cutlery to make it shine like new.

2. Clean the inside of your microwave

Place your orange peels in a microwave-safe bowl of water and zap for 60 seconds. The steam fluffs up dry foods for quick cleaning and the bowls freshen up bad odors in the microwave.

3. Make a natural cleanser

You can also use orange peel to make an all-natural utensil cleaner. Place several mussels in a jar and fill with white vinegar. Let the mixture soak for two weeks, then pour it into a spray bottle. This cleaner is ideal for stoves, refrigerator doors, microwaves and countertops made of stone, marble and laminate.

Do not use this spray on wooden furniture as it may stain it.

Orange peels contain natural oils that are great for cleaning and removing strong odors.

Aline Bradford

4. Cancel your garbage collection

Does your disposition taste of rank? Grate some orange zest in the grinder and let it steep for a few minutes. Hold the disposer under hot tap water for a few seconds and the smell will turn into a clean citrus smell.

You can also throw some clams in the trash to deodorize them.

5. Make your fridge cooler

Smelly fridges can be caused by many different problems , but to make yours smell better, make some powdered orange peel.

Dehydrate their shells in the oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for two to three hours. Next, use your food processor to grind the peels into a powder. Mix the powder with baking soda, put the mixture in a container and put it in the back of your fridge. Your fridge will never smell better.

6. Clean cloudy glasses

Fill your sink with warm water and pour in plenty of orange zest. Soak the jars in it and let them soak for about 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing. Even your dishwasher can't get glassware that bright and clean.

Pro tip: Rubbing orange peels on your coffee mugs can also remove those pesky coffee stains.

7. Clean wooden cabinets and counters

Put a drop or two of vinegar on the pulp and rub on wooden tables and cabinets, then wipe the surface with a clean, soft cloth to reveal a lustrous shine.

For more cleaning tips, see How to Get the Organized TikTok Fridge Look and How to Clean a Cast Iron Skillet.

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