The salt acts as a desiccant, drawing out the potent oils and juices from the peel, while the orange provides natural degreasing and antimicrobial properties.
1. The Traditional “Air Purifier”
By placing orange peels in a bowl and covering them with a layer of sea salt, you create a natural deodorizer.
How it works: The salt absorbs moisture and odors from the air, while the orange oils slowly release a fresh, uplifting scent. This is far superior to synthetic sprays, as it actually “cleans” the air rather than just masking smells.
2. A Gentle Kitchen Scrub
You can use the salted peel as a natural scouring pad for wooden cutting boards or stainless steel sinks.
How it works: The salt provides the grit needed to scrub away debris, while the citric acid and oils sanitize the surface. It leaves your kitchen smelling like a grove rather than a chemical factory.
3. Infused “Cleaning Vinegar”
If you place your salted orange peels in a jar and cover them with white vinegar for two weeks, you create a powerful, non-toxic all-purpose cleaner.
The Result: The vinegar extracts the limonene from the peels, turning it into a potent degreaser that rivals any store-bought product.
Practical Uses Around the Home
In the Fridge: A small bowl of salted peels in the back of the refrigerator will keep it smelling fresh for weeks.
For Stinky Shoes: Dried orange peels with a bit of salt wrapped in a small cloth (a sachet) can be placed in shoes overnight to draw out moisture and neutralize odors—much like the Charcoal “Magnet” we discussed.
In the Garden: Many pests dislike the scent of citrus. Scattering salted peels around the base of plants can act as a gentle deterrent.
The Complete “No-Waste” Home Toolkit
We have now woven together a beautiful tapestry of traditional knowledge that covers the body, the spirit, and the home:
The Body: Lemon water to flush, Beet tonic to build, and Celtic salt to hydrate.
The Remedy: Cabbage, Ginger, Charcoal, Castor Oil, and Potato for healing.
The Environment: 15 minutes of Grounding to recalibrate your energy.
The Home: Salted Orange Peels to clean and purify without chemicals.
A Closing Thought on Living Simply
This journey through your medicine cabinet and pantry shows that we don’t need expensive “detox” kits or chemical cleaners. Nature provides everything we need in the form of a humble onion, a grain of salt, or a discarded orange peel.
