Why Lemon Infused Rubbing Alcohol is a Powerful Cleaner

3 Materials
$1
5 Minutes
Easy
Here on Chemistry Cachet, you’ve probably noticed a favorite tool of mine for cleaning: lemon infused rubbing alcohol. Lemon infused rubbing alcohol is found in many of our homemade solutions. If you follow my instagram, I share tutorials all the time with my cleaners, most using lemon infused alcohol.

There is a good reason for it too.

Today we are going to share with you why you should use lemon infused rubbing alcohol for cleaning.

You will find it in things like our homemade soft scrub (link in blog post), and even homemade bug spray.
First, let me share with you how to make it!



How to Make It:


As a recap, here is how you can make your own infused rubbing alcohol.


Ingredients:
  • Lemon peels to fill up entire jar
  • 91% rubbing alcohol
  • Jar with secure lid


Directions:
Add the lemon peels to the jar and fill to the top with rubbing alcohol.
Allow to infuse for at least 2 weeks. You can allow it to sit for even up to two months!
As a chemist, I love sharing with you the best homemade cleaning solutions. This lemon infused alcohol is the best homemade cleaner you can use. Here's a few reasons why:


  1. Disinfectant


We shared this post earlier this year on why rubbing alcohol is a better all-purpose cleaner than vinegar (be sure to click link below for this post). While vinegar is an awesome acid that cleans many things, it isn't actually all-purpose. Vinegar cannot be used on natural surfaces because it will eat away overtime. So, vinegar makes a great cleaner, like for the bathroom, but rubbing alcohol can be used on ANY surface without harming it. Therefore, it's safer for all-purpose use.


Rubbing alcohol is a great disinfectant on it's own, but adding in lemon peels increases the disinfectant quality.


2. Antimicrobial


Lemon peels contain antimicrobial benefits which get infused into the rubbing alcohol which is a great element for cleaning.


So, through home extraction and infusion, lemon infused rubbing alcohol makes a fantastic and CHEAP cleaning tool for using in other solutions.


3. Acidity


Rubbing alcohol isn't very acidic, but acidity is useful for cleaning. Like we mentioned above, vinegar is great for certain cleaning surfaces due to it's acidity. The problem is it's too acidic. This lemon infused rubbing alcohol is only slightly acidic making it safe to still use on all surfaces, even natural stones.


Lemon peels contain ascorbic acid (vitamin C), malic acid, and citric acid all which make great cleaning options.


Check out more reasons in the post and....
Can you substitute lemon oil or essential oil?? The answer in short is NO! Please click our link below for details on this!icon
Resources for this project:
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Alexis @ Chemistry Cachet
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
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  2 questions
  • Eob33827636 Eob33827636 on Oct 16, 2018

    Can you wash windows with this?

  • Lori Lori on Apr 15, 2020

    I’m going to order your book but was reading about a recipe for a rub used for rheumatoid arthritis when my computer went out. Is this recipe in the book also? Loved reading your blog and can’t wait to read the book. Thank you

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