Did you know that besides being an excellent “material” to make gorgeous jewelry, orange peel has a lot more uses?  Next time you will think twice before you throw out your orange peel waste.

ORANGE OVEN
A self-cleaning oven can leave an odor after it’s done its work. Eliminate the lingering smell by turning down the oven to 350 F when it’s finished, then putting orange peels on a baking sheet inside. Cook the peels for half an hour, and not only will the oven smell fresh, but your whole kitchen will, too!

INSECT AND MOSQUITO REPELANT

Word on the street is that insects and mosquitoes dislike the scent of oranges. Rub orange peels all over your skin to keep mosquitoes at bay. To get rid of insects, such as ants, puree orange peels with water and pour the solution in and around the areas you’d like to protect to send a clear message to ants.

A CITRUS REFRESHER
Smelly shoes? Make them a thing of the past with orange rings. Place the inside of the rinds against the soles of your shoes and they’ll absorb moisture and make them smell wonderful.

ALL PURPOSE SURFACE CLEANER

Bring 2-3 cups of white vinegar to a boil. While it prepares to boil, take the peels of 3-4 oranges and stuff them into a quart-sized mason jar. Pour the boiled vinegar into the jar over the orange peels. The vinegar will nearly reach the top of the jar. Seal the jar and let it set in a dark place for a few weeks (2-4) to allow enough time for the peels to infuse the vinegar with its fragrance and oils. After a few weeks, strain the mixture. Fill half an empty spray bottle with the orange vinegar and the other half with water AND Enjoy!

LUMP-FREE BROWN SUGAR

Place an orange peel in your brown sugar and seal in an air-tight container. The orange skin keeps moisture in the container, preventing brown sugar from clumping together.

AVOID FRIDGE SMELLS
Besides baking soda, a number of other foods are capable of removing odors. Pour a little vanilla extract into a bottle cap and set in the refrigerator to absorb odors. One of the best ways to eliminate odors is to take an grapefruit or orange rind, fill it with salt, and place in the back of the fridge. Leave it there until the sale gets completely damp, and then throw the whole thing out and replace as needed.

ODOR-FREE TRASH

Place a few orange peels at the bottom of trash bags to reduce odors as well as the infestation of insects.

FACIAL MASK

Orange peels are full of vitamin C and other enzymes and antioxidants that your skin loves, so they make for a great face mask. Grate orange peel and mix with water or milk until a paste forms. Apply to face and let sit for 20 minutes before rinsing clean.