26 Genius Uses For Leftover Fruits and Vegetables

POPSUGAR Photography | Jae Payne
POPSUGAR Photography | Jae Payne

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.

01
Citrus Peel Cleaner
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Citrus Peel Cleaner

Soak citrus peels in vinegar for a grease-busting homemade cleaner.

02
Summer Beauty From Leftovers
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

Summer Beauty From Leftovers

Have half a watermelon that needs to be used? Check out these beauty recipes that make use of party leftovers.

03
Citrus Planters
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

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.

04
Vegetable Stock
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

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.

05
Fix Smelly Feet
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

Fix Smelly Feet

No one likes smelly feet. Check out these natural beauty fixes for rank tootsies.

06
Homemade Facials
POPSUGAR Photography | Grace Hitchcock

Homemade Facials

All of these foods, including avocados, make helpful homemade facials — and give leftovers new life!

07
Garbage Disposal Cleaner
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Garbage Disposal Cleaner

Thanks to this citrus rind DIY, you can refresh your garbage disposal and give it a good clean.

08
Kitchen Air Freshener
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Kitchen Air Freshener

Put bits of herbs and citrus peels together for a kitchen refresher that gets rid of bad scents fast.

09
Soothe Tired Eyes
POPSUGAR Photography | Jae Payne

Soothe Tired Eyes

If you're feeling a bit droopy in the morning, potato peels will fix those dark circles under your eyes!

10
Lemon Soap
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Lemon Soap

Give lemon peels new life with this soap DIY that also leaves your skin feeling soft and clean.

11
Homemade Butter
POPSUGAR Photography | Anna Monette Roberts

Homemade Butter

Leftover fruits can easily be turned into tasty butters, jams, or jellies that make sandwiches extra tasty.

12
Lovely Candles
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Lovely Candles

Transform orange rinds into scented candles that also keep bugs away.

13
Garbage Disposal Refreshers
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Garbage Disposal Refreshers

Never have a bad-smelling garbage disposal again with easy refreshers that use bits of lemon rind.

14
Dusting Wipes
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Dusting Wipes

Keep your house clean with dusting wipes made with citrus peels and rosemary.

15
Fix Sneaker Smell
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Fix Sneaker Smell

Finished an orange? Toss the peels in your sneakers to eliminate bad smells.

16
Soft Skin
POPSUGAR Photography | Grace Hitchcock

Soft Skin

Use cucumber ends to mix together a soothing and calming foot mask that leaves your feet looking fabulous.

17
Natural Dyes
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Natural Dyes

For a fun and fresh way to give color to fabrics, DIY your own natural dyes using leftover fruits and vegetables.

18
Compost
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

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.

19
Pretty Floating Candles
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

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.

20
Homemade Reed Diffuser
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Homemade Reed Diffuser

Give new life to citrus rinds and the ends of seasonings by making a pretty homemade reed diffuser.

21
Smoothie Freezer Packs
POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

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.

22
Healthy Popsicles
POPSUGAR Photography | Lauren Hendrickson

Healthy Popsicles

Another great use for leftover fruits and vegetables? Puree with yogurt or fruit juice for delicious and healthy popsicles.

23
Homemade Potpourri
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Homemade Potpourri

Leftover citrus is also a great addition to homemade potpourri mixes that help freshen any space.

24
Grapefruit Bathroom Scrub
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

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!

25
Infused Oils
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

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.

26
Leftover Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

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.