Enzymatic cleaners are versatile cleaning agents that are safe for use on most objects, including metal and glass. This environmentally friendly cleaning agent contains enzymes and bacteria that can destroy organic materials making it suitable for removing odors and stains from blood, grass, sweat, urine, and other organic materials. You can make this enzymatic cleaner at home with just a few simple ingredients. However, before you can use them, you will have to wait and let the ingredients ferment for a few weeks.
Ingredients
- cup (100 g) brown sugar or granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon (3 g) yeast
- 4¼ cups (1 l) lukewarm water
- 2 cups (300 g) fresh orange peel
Step
Part 1 of 3: Mixing Ingredients
Step 1. Wash and slice the orange peel
Rinse the orange peel under running water while scrubbing the outer surface with a vegetable brush to remove dust and dirt. Next, pat the orange peel dry with a clean towel and slice it into 1 cm squares. The orange peel should be small enough to fit through the mouth of the bottle.
- You can use a variety of orange peel mixtures to make an enzymatic cleanser, such as lemon peels, limes, grapefruits, and oranges.
- We recommend using fresh orange peel that has not dried or rotted. Dry skin doesn't contain enough of the citrus oil it needs to clean. Meanwhile, rotting skin will make the cleaning agent mixture moldy.
Step 2. Mix the ingredients
Place the funnel in the mouth of a clean 2 liter pop/screw bottle. Gradually add the orange peel slices until they are fully incorporated into the bottle. Add sugar, yeast and water. Remove the funnel and screw the bottle cap tightly. Shake the bottle vigorously for a few minutes until all the sugar in the mixture is dissolved.
We recommend using a pop bottle as it can hold the liquid under pressure
Step 3. Remove the gas from the bottle several times a day
Once the sugar has dissolved, open the bottle cap to release the pressure from the bottle. Put the bottle cap back on. Repeat this step at least three times a day for 2 weeks to prevent the bottle from breaking.
- After two weeks, reduce the frequency of exhaling gas from the bottle to once a day as most of the sugar has fermented. Thus, the carbon dioxide produced will be reduced.
- The yeast will convert the sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide, and these gases will accumulate in the bottle as long as the lid is on.
- You'll need to keep the bottle cap tightly closed during the fermentation process because yeast needs an oxygen-free environment to ferment properly. In addition, oxygen also allows the growth of bacteria and fungi in the mixture of materials.
Part 2 of 3: Fermentation
Step 1. Put the bottle in a warm place to ferment
The optimal temperature for yeast fermentation is 35°C. So you should keep the bottle in a warm place while the mixture is fermenting. A good place to put the ingredients mix is on top of the refrigerator.
Yeast takes about 2 weeks to ferment. However, you can leave the mixture for up to three months to get a stronger solution
Step 2. Shake the bottle of the mixture daily while it ferments
Over time, the solids in the mixture will settle to the bottom of the bottle. So, take the gas out of the bottle, put the lid back on, and shake it gently every day to even out the ingredients each day. Remove the gas from the bottle one more time before putting the cap back on.
Continue shaking the bottle daily until the cleaning solution is ready for you
Step 3. Strain the solution
After two weeks, this mixture will turn cloudy, which means the solution is ready to be filtered and used. However, you can also leave the mixture for another two and a half months if you want a stronger cleaning solution. After the mixture has fermented long enough, pour it through a sieve and collect the solution in a bowl, removing any solids.
Discard the orange peel slices that are stuck in the sieve
Step 4. Store the solution in an airtight container
Transfer the cleaning solution to an airtight container for storage. Exposure to oxygen can make these solutions lose their cleaning potential and make them no longer effective when used.
To make a ready-to-use cleaning solution, store a small portion of the solution in a spray bottle, and store the remainder in an airtight container
Part 3 of 3: Using Enzymatic Cleaners
Step 1. Mix the diluted solution for a light cleaning
Mix one part of the enzymatic cleaning solution with 20 parts of water in a container. This mixture can be used for washing cars, mopping floors, or for everyday house cleaning (which doesn't require strong cleaners).
Step 2. Make an all-purpose cleaner
Measure out cup (120 ml) of the enzymatic cleaner and place it in a clean spray bottle. Add 4¼ cups (1 l) of water. Close the spray bottle, then shake the water and cleaner mixture in it. Shake the spray bottle before each use.
This versatile cleaner can be used for cleaning bathrooms, carpets, kitchens, removing small stains and other cleaning processes
Step 3. Add vinegar to make an even stronger cleaning solution
To make a stronger all-purpose cleaning solution, add one part apple cider vinegar to four parts enzymatic cleaning solution. Transfer the resulting mixture into a spray bottle and use it to clean kitchen, bathroom and stubborn stains.
Step 4. Use a concentrated cleaning solution to remove stubborn stains
To remove stubborn stains and odors, as well as build-up of dirt, pour this enzymatic cleaner directly onto dirty surfaces. Leave this solution for a few minutes, then wipe with a damp sponge or cloth.
- Enzymatic cleaning solutions are effective at removing grease, and they can be used without needing to be diluted in the kitchen and garage.
- You can also try this method to remove scale and lime buildup in dishwashers, kettles, showers, and other objects or appliances.
Step 5. Use it to wash clothes
You can use an enzymatic cleaning solution in place of or in addition to laundry detergent. Simply pour cup (60 ml) of the enzymatic cleaning solution into the washing machine. Start the washing machine as usual.
