Here’s a detailed, effective recipe for making homemade dish soap using orange peels and salt — a natural degreaser that smells fresh and cuts through grease surprisingly well.

🍊 Orange Peels + Salt Homemade Dish Soap

🌿 Why This Works

Orange peels contain d-limonene, a natural solvent that breaks down grease.
Salt acts as a mild abrasive and helps boost cleaning power.
When combined with vinegar and a natural soap base, you get a powerful, eco-friendly dishwashing liquid.

🧂 Ingredients

Peels from 3–4 oranges
2 tablespoons coarse salt (sea salt preferred)
1 cup white vinegar
1½ cups water
1 tablespoon baking soda (optional, for extra grease-fighting power)
2 tablespoons liquid castile soap (like Dr. Bronner’s)

🥣 Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Orange Infusion

Chop the orange peels into small pieces.
Place them in a jar.
Add the salt.
Pour in the white vinegar until the peels are fully covered.
Seal and let sit for 5–7 days (shake daily).

👉 This extracts the grease-cutting oils from the peels.

Step 2: Strain the Mixture

After a week, strain out the peels.
You’ll be left with a citrus-infused vinegar concentrate.

Step 3: Create the Soap Base

In a saucepan, gently warm 1½ cups of water (do not boil).
Slowly add the infused vinegar.
If using baking soda, add it slowly (it will fizz).
Let the mixture cool completely.

Step 4: Add Castile Soap

Stir in the liquid castile soap gently to avoid excessive bubbles.
Pour into a pump bottle or reused dish soap container.

🧼 How to Use

Use like regular dish soap.
For heavy grease: apply directly to sponge before adding water.
For stuck-on pans: sprinkle a little extra salt and scrub.

💡 Extra Strength Version (Optional)

For tougher grease:

Add 1 teaspoon washing soda.
Add 5 drops lemon essential oil.

⏳ Shelf Life

Best used within 2–3 weeks.
Store in a cool, dark place.
Shake before each use (natural separation may occur).

⚠️ Important Notes

Not recommended for marble or natural stone surfaces (vinegar is acidic).
If you have sensitive skin, wear gloves.
Always test on delicate dishware first.

If you’d like, I can also share:

A no-vinegar version
A thicker gel-style version
Or a concentrated grease-cutting formula for very oily cookware

Orange Peels + Salt: A Powerful Homemade Dish Soap