Garden Treasures Orange Vinegar in the tree

Our 28-year-old Arizona Sweet tree  is  still  struggling, following the BIG FREEZE of 2010.  I can hardly bear to look at this once-spectacular plant without pondering what I can do to bring it back. I decided to remove about half this year’s crop and cut out all the deadwood.

And then do what gardeners often have to do; wait until spring.  Again.

The oranges I removed were of little use in the kitchen.  Even as juice, they would barely have yielded a couple of tablespoons apiece. So I decided to make some Orange Peel Vinegar.  And today I got to use it for the first time.

Wow!

Garden Treasures Orange Vinegar

A friend, and fellow blogger from FRESH EGGS DAILY, provided the recipe: Orange Peel Vinegar. Lisa’s recipe calls for several ingredients I didn’t have on hand, so I simply made mine with white vinegar and orange peels.  I made two jars of this mixture and shook them every few days.  Then the holidays arrived and I forgot to shake. My neglect didn’t seem to matter.
IMG_6345

Today I decided to pour off the liquid, compost the peels, and try it for some cleaning on our oak parquet floor.

Wow!

I clean our floors with steam.  (I will share more about our steamer in another post.) Usually I spray the floor with white vinegar and steam.  Today I used my Orange Peel Vinegar. It was wonderful.

Orange Vinegar on floor

While we wait for our tree to recover, we won’t have juice, but we still have Garden Treasure. 

Garden Treasures Orange Vinega 2r

 

Follow these links for other great ideas:
Let This Mind Be You  and Deborah Jean’s Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop

 

6 Comments. Leave new

  • I have a gallon jug of this brewing right now, because I like to use it for cleaning mirrors and counters. I never thought of using it on the wood floors! Thank you for the idea and the great post!

    • stepintoourgarden
      January 9, 2013 3:03 pm

      Meredith, my only regret is that I did not make enough! I’m going to have to locate a gallon jug!

  • Sandra Miller
    January 9, 2013 2:06 pm

    I have been making this too but to use in the chicken coop.I saw a blog the other day to use white vinegar on mold in the house,so yesterday I cleaned out the kitchen cabinets and sprayed white vinegar inside,let it sit for a few minutes and then wiped it out.Then I sprayed the outside of the cabinets and cleaned with a cloth,they sparkle,I cannot believe the difference it has made.The next time I will use my orange vinegar instead of the plain white.We are planning on putting hardwood floors down in the near future and I will certainly take your advice and use this-thank you.

    • stepintoourgarden
      January 9, 2013 3:01 pm

      Oh yes, vinegar on floors is an old-fashioned trick that is being re-discovered. Since it is antibacterial and cheap, vinegar is having a resurgence in popularity. Isn’t it funny how much hen-keeping has taught us, Sandra?

  • Kristi @Let This Mind Be in You
    January 11, 2013 4:11 pm

    Wow, your floor looks amazing! I’ll have to try this on mine!

    Thanks for sharing at the Farm Girl Blog Fest #15!

  • […] been taking the blood oranges to school in their lunch boxes.My friend, Becky, from Tucson, made 'Orange Peel Vinegar' which she uses as a cleaner with her extra oranges.What do you do with an overabundance of citrus? […]

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