The Benefits of Using Citric Acid for Cleaning

From making your bathroom gleam to tackling stubborn limescale, citric acid proves to be an effective, environmentally-friendly cleaning solution. Get tips on the most common uses and practical tricks to keep your home shining with minimal effort. Join us and explore how citric acid can transform your cleaning routine while being kind to the planet.

In these times where disinfection has become more essential than ever, a new ally for household cleaning has emerged: anhydrous citric acid. Found in lemons, this versatile element has become indispensable for cleaning and disinfecting. Not only does it excel at descaling, polishing, removing lime, preserving, and unclogging, but it is also eco-friendly. This makes citric acid cleaning environmentally friendly. Here, we share the most common uses of citric acid and some cleaning tips to make your home shine.

Properties of Citric Acid

Before diving into how to use citric acid, let's look at its properties. This organic acid is found in lemons and many other fruits and vegetables. With antioxidant qualities and natural preservative capabilities, it is used in various industries: food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

• Preservative: Citric acid has preservative properties. It reduces the product's pH, which increases the preservation of food.

• Antioxidant: Besides preventing food oxidation, it also protects the skin from oxidation. In the cosmetics industry, it is used to remove dead skin cells.

• Flavoring Agent: In the food industry, it is frequently used as a flavoring agent for soft drinks, candies, etc.

• Descaler: Citric acid is perfect for descaling and removing dirt from all kinds of surfaces.

• Anti-Limescale: Another well-known property is its descaling ability, making it often used to remove lime from washing machines or dishwashers.

• Disinfectant: Citric acid helps disinfect surfaces. During the coronavirus pandemic, it became an effective substitute for bleach when combined with baking soda.

Citric Acid for Cleaning: Uses and Applications

Have you ever thought about cleaning with citric acid? It is undoubtedly one of the essential products for sustainable cleaning. Let's explore the uses of citric acid.

Cleaning the Bathroom with Citric Acid

This natural compound will help make your bathroom spotless. Use it to clean the toilet or showerhead. To disinfect the toilet, you will also need baking soda. Sprinkle a cup of baking soda inside the toilet and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Then, pour 100 grams of citric acid while scrubbing the toilet walls with a brush.

You can also remove lime and general dirt from the showerhead with citric acid. Unscrew it and submerge it in a container with 1 liter of water and 100 grams of citric acid. Add a tablespoon of baking soda and let it sit for an hour. Reattach it and run hot water to flush out all impurities.

Citric acid is also very useful for cleaning tiles, whether in the bathroom or kitchen. Dissolve 100 grams of this natural compound in 1 liter of hot water and scrub the tiles with this mixture. Don't forget to rinse them well to finish.

Unclogging Pipes with Citric Acid

Citric acid is the perfect substitute for caustic soda and other toxic chemical uncloggers. For a clogged pipe, nothing works better than mixing about 60 grams of baking soda with 100 ml of liquid citric acid. When you pour this mixture, you will hear it bubble—don't worry, that's completely normal. Wait 15 minutes and then run hot water through the pipe. If you want to learn about another effective method for unclogging pipes, check out our article on making a natural homemade drain cleaner with baking soda and vinegar.

Cleaning and Disinfecting All Types of Surfaces

As we've seen, citric acid is not only a descaler but also a disinfectant. This makes it ideal for cleaning and removing stains from any surface. The mixture is simple: dissolve about 90 grams of citric acid in 1 liter of hot water. Wipe with a cloth, and then rinse with water.

Removing Lime Scale from Washing Machines and Dishwashers

The anti-limescale properties of citric acid will leave your washing machine and dishwasher like new. Mix 1 liter of water with 150 grams of citric acid and run a cycle with the appliance empty. You can also remove lime scale from your kettle by adding 1 teaspoon of citric acid to 250 ml of water and letting the mixture sit overnight.

For a More Fragrant and Softer Laundry

Did you know that citric acid, besides being ideal for cleaning the washing machine, is also a magnificent fabric softener? If you are looking for a sustainable alternative, try dissolving 10 grams of citric acid in 100 ml of water. Pour the mixture into the appropriate compartment and voilà!

Cleaning Carpets

A handy trick to clean stubborn dirt from carpets is to use citric acid. Mix 90 grams with 1 liter of water and put it in a spray bottle for easier application.

Cleaning Burnt Pots and Pans

Another interesting use for citric acid is cleaning burnt pots and pans. If you have ever burnt the bottom of a pan and found it hard to clean, here's a tip: pour water into the pan, add two tablespoons of citric acid, and heat the mixture until it boils. The dirt will immediately loosen from the bottom!