Household Uses for Clementine Oranges

Because Clementine oranges are in season during the winter, the prices for them drop significantly, making them one of the most affordable fruits in the produce aisle. Still, most people reach for other citruses instead, like Navel oranges or Ruby Red grapefruits. This is surprising, because there are literally dozens of ways to use clementines around the house.

Besides being a delicious and nutritional snack, Clementine oranges offer a wide variey of household uses. For example, they can keep cats from eating houseplants. If a cat owner takes the peels from the clementines and rubs them on the leaves of the houseplants that the cats have been chewing on, he or she will find that the plants will thrive. This is because cats hate the scent of citrus, and will avoid it at all costs. To remain an effective deterrent, the plants should be rubbed down at least once a month.

The peels of Clementine oranges can also be used to infuse oil for cooking. Even novice gourmet chefs can create delicious and aromatic cooking oil by placing pits of peel and dried cranberries into a bottle of extra virgin olive oil. If the concoction is allowed to sit for several weeks, the clementines and cranberries will impart a unique and tasty flavor to the oil (perfect for baking!). For those that are image-conscious, the bottle of oil can be made into a decorative centerpiece by simply tying strings of raffia around the neck of it.

Clementine oranges can also be used to keep a kitchen looking and smelling fresh. When cut into quarters and run in a stinky garbage disposal, the clementines will remove just about any foul odor. To be sure, the tiny fruit packs a powerful punch.

Those with marble countertops may know how notoriously difficult they are to maintain. Besides being expensive, marble countertops are also fairly delicate, and must be cleaned in a certain way (often times with expensive chemical cleaning solutions). Instead of turning to potentially harmful chemicals to clean the marble surface, people can use Clementine oranges! All they have to do is cut one of the clementines in half, lightly dip the pulpy part in salt and gently scrub at the marble using circular motions. Almost instantly, the countertops will be as shiny and new looking as the day they were bought.

Taste the Sunshine with Hale Groves

At Hale Groves, we believe the best gifts come from the land, not a factory. For generations, our fruit has been grown slowly under the Florida sun, picked at its peak, and delivered fresh to your door. From sweet Navel Oranges to rare Honeybells, every gift shares the simple joy of real flavor—perfect for holidays, milestones, or everyday moments worth celebrating.

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