26 Genius Uses For Leftover Fruits and Vegetables
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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.
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Citrus Peel Cleaner
Soak citrus peels in vinegar for a grease-busting homemade cleaner.
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Summer Beauty From Leftovers
Have half a watermelon that needs to be used? Check out these beauty recipes that make use of party leftovers.
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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.
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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.
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Fix Smelly Feet
No one likes smelly feet. Check out these natural beauty fixes for rank tootsies.
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Homemade Facials
All of these foods, including avocados, make helpful homemade facials — and give leftovers new life!
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Garbage Disposal Cleaner
Thanks to this citrus rind DIY, you can refresh your garbage disposal and give it a good clean.
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Kitchen Air Freshener
Put bits of herbs and citrus peels together for a kitchen refresher that gets rid of bad scents fast.
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Soothe Tired Eyes
If you're feeling a bit droopy in the morning, potato peels will fix those dark circles under your eyes!
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Lemon Soap
Give lemon peels new life with this soap DIY that also leaves your skin feeling soft and clean.
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Homemade Butter
Leftover fruits can easily be turned into tasty butters, jams, or jellies that make sandwiches extra tasty.
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Lovely Candles
Transform orange rinds into scented candles that also keep bugs away.
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Garbage Disposal Refreshers
Never have a bad-smelling garbage disposal again with easy refreshers that use bits of lemon rind.
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Dusting Wipes
Keep your house clean with dusting wipes made with citrus peels and rosemary.
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Fix Sneaker Smell
Finished an orange? Toss the peels in your sneakers to eliminate bad smells.
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Soft Skin
Use cucumber ends to mix together a soothing and calming foot mask that leaves your feet looking fabulous.
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Natural Dyes
For a fun and fresh way to give color to fabrics, DIY your own natural dyes using leftover fruits and vegetables.
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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.
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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.
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Homemade Reed Diffuser
Give new life to citrus rinds and the ends of seasonings by making a pretty homemade reed diffuser.
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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.
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Healthy Popsicles
Another great use for leftover fruits and vegetables? Puree with yogurt or fruit juice for delicious and healthy popsicles.
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Homemade Potpourri
Leftover citrus is also a great addition to homemade potpourri mixes that help freshen any space.
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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!
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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.
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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.