Alternative Uses of Oranges

?Everyone knows that oranges are tasty and nutritious, but fewer people realize that they can also be used in many different ways to help keep your home clean and your pets healthy. Oranges and orange peels can be used around the house as a safe, environmentally friendly alternative to the many harsh chemical cleaners and solvents that most people use at home. Beyond simply eating them, there are many other versatile uses for delicious and nutritious oranges.
 
Oranges are a great alternative to cleaning products and if you use half an orange and sprinkle it with salt, you can make a very effective scrubbing tool that is perfect for all types of marble or metal counter tops in the kitchen. Simply use half a salted orange to wipe down the counter tops and then finish up with a damp towel and your counters will shine and smell great too.
 
Because orange juice will loosen grease and make it easier to scrub away, oranges can be used as a handy kitchen degreasing tool instead of using harsh cleaners or caustic liquids to remove stains on the stove, the floor, and the range hood. All that is required is to grind some orange peel into small pieces and mix them with a bit of orange juice to use with a scrub brush or steel wool pad. The orange enzymes in the juice and the rough pieces of the peel will loosen up just about any type of grease and make it much easier to clean.
 
Oranges can also be used as an effective natural insect repellent because so many insects are repelled by the scent of citrus fruits. Mixing orange juice into the water when you mop your floors will repel ants and many other small insects that are common in kitchens. And a tiny bit of orange juice mixed with the rinse water when you bathe your pets will repels fleas and other small insects that can annoy your pets or make them sick. One more insect-fighting orange trick is to add some ground up orange peel into the vacuum cleaner bag before you vacuum in order to spread insect repelling orange scent on the carpets throughout your house.
 
Like insects, most cats do not like citrus aromas either, making orange peel oil an effective deterrent to keep your cat out of your houseplants. Just rub some orange peel oil on the soil or rub the plant’s leaves with it and your cats will stay far away. You can also keep your neighbor’s cats from making your backyard into their litter box by sprinkling a mix of orange peels and coffee grounds into your yard and gardens outdoors.
 
In addition to being an effective insect repellant, oranges can also make a great natural pesticide too. Spraying a mixture of fresh orange juice and water on your plants will kill unwanted bugs and help keep your plants healthy too. Instead of throwing your orange peels into the trash, drop a few pieces into your garbage disposal to keep the kitchen smelling clean and fresh. Boiling a few orange peels with cloves on top of the stove can fill the rest of your entire house with the amazing scent of oranges too. Considering all the different benefits and uses of oranges, it might make sense to stock up on more the next time you head to the grocery store.