26 Genius Uses For Leftover Fruits and Vegetables
Sometimes you only need half an avocado, which leaves the remaining half potentially languishing away in the back of the fridge. Instead of tossing fruits and vegetables when they become a bit too mushy, give leftover produce new life with these smart DIYs. And you'll make the most of your groceries, which is always a win.
Citrus Peel Cleaner
Soak citrus peels in vinegar for a grease-busting homemade cleaner.
Summer Beauty From Leftovers
Have half a watermelon that needs to be used? Check out these beauty recipes that make use of party leftovers.
Citrus Planters
Use citrus rinds as natural planters for your seedlings. And you can plant them directly in your garden when they're big enough.
Vegetable Stock
Yes, all those veggie leftovers can be tossed in one pot for a flavorful broth that can be used in so many yummy ways.
Fix Smelly Feet
No one likes smelly feet. Check out these natural beauty fixes for rank tootsies.
Homemade Facials
All of these foods, including avocados, make helpful homemade facials — and give leftovers new life!
Garbage Disposal Cleaner
Thanks to this citrus rind DIY, you can refresh your garbage disposal and give it a good clean.
Kitchen Air Freshener
Put bits of herbs and citrus peels together for a kitchen refresher that gets rid of bad scents fast.
Soothe Tired Eyes
If you're feeling a bit droopy in the morning, potato peels will fix those dark circles under your eyes!
Lemon Soap
Give lemon peels new life with this soap DIY that also leaves your skin feeling soft and clean.
Homemade Butter
Leftover fruits can easily be turned into tasty butters, jams, or jellies that make sandwiches extra tasty.
Lovely Candles
Transform orange rinds into scented candles that also keep bugs away.
Garbage Disposal Refreshers
Never have a bad-smelling garbage disposal again with easy refreshers that use bits of lemon rind.
Dusting Wipes
Keep your house clean with dusting wipes made with citrus peels and rosemary.
Fix Sneaker Smell
Finished an orange? Toss the peels in your sneakers to eliminate bad smells.
Soft Skin
Use cucumber ends to mix together a soothing and calming foot mask that leaves your feet looking fabulous.
Natural Dyes
For a fun and fresh way to give color to fabrics, DIY your own natural dyes using leftover fruits and vegetables.
Compost
If you have a garden, adding your own homemade compost to the mix is a great way to take things to the next level.
Pretty Floating Candles
Use citrus peels and ends of herbs for creating a pretty base for floating candles. Bonus: you can add scents to this DIY to help keep bugs away.
Homemade Reed Diffuser
Give new life to citrus rinds and the ends of seasonings by making a pretty homemade reed diffuser.
Smoothie Freezer Packs
When you have a collection of bits and pieces of fruits and veggies, pack them together into smoothie freezer packs, which is so smart.
Healthy Popsicles
Another great use for leftover fruits and vegetables? Puree with yogurt or fruit juice for delicious and healthy popsicles.
Homemade Potpourri
Leftover citrus is also a great addition to homemade potpourri mixes that help freshen any space.
Grapefruit Bathroom Scrub
The acid in grapefruit does an awesome job of cutting through hard-water buildup in the bathroom — and this DIY cleaning scrub is so easy to make!
Infused Oils
Infused oils are a great way to use leftover bits of citrus or aromatic herbs. They can be used for cooking or soothing your skin.
Leftover Salad
That's right — toss all those leftover fruits and veggies together for a flavorful salad. Not sure where to start? This salad recipe is sweet, savory, and oh so yummy.