Lemon juice is one of the oldest home stain removers, and it still earns a place in the laundry room. It works best on a few specific stains, and it can cause real damage if you use it on the wrong surface.
The short version is simple: it is a mild acid, so it helps with light marks and fails on heavy ones. Read the limits below before you squeeze a lemon on anything.
5 steps
Step by step
- 1
Test the Fabric First
Check the item's colorfastness in a hidden spot before you treat the stain. If the fabric is questionable, skip this method and try a gentler option. Lemon juice can permanently damage cotton and linen if used at full strength.
- 2
Dilute the Lemon Juice
For cotton or linen, mix the lemon juice with 2 parts water, as UGA advises. Use the mixture rather than the juice straight from the lemon. This keeps the acid from damaging the fibers.
- 3
Apply Salt and Lemon Juice to Rust or Mildew
For rust on washable fabric, sprinkle salt on the stain and squeeze lemon juice over it. For mildew, treat the spot with salt and lemon juice. Spread the item out so it can dry.
- 4
Dry in Direct Sunlight
Place the treated item in direct sunlight to dry, stain-side up. The sun helps the acid work while the fabric dries. Leave it out until it is fully dry.
- 5
Rinse, Then Wash
For baby formula or poop stains, rinse the garment under warm water until it is saturated and apply lemon juice without scrubbing. After a few hours in direct sunlight, wash the item. Expect the garment to feel stiff until it has been washed.
What Lemon Juice Is Good For
Lemon juice is a mild food acid, and that is what makes it useful on certain stains. It suits light rust on fabric and iron stains on ceramic wall tile. It also works as a bleach alternative for mildew on fabric when you dry the item in direct sunlight.
Lemon juice also helps on set-in baby formula or poop stains on washable baby clothes. The stain has to be saturated with warm water first, and then the garment dries in direct sunlight. These are the jobs where lemon juice earns its keep.
How to Use Lemon Juice on a Stain
Always start with a small test in a hidden spot if you are unsure about the fabric's colorfastness. Lemon juice should go on the stain in the way each method describes, not as a general soak. Most methods pair it with salt or sunshine, because the acid works while the item dries.
Do not use lemon juice at full strength on cotton or linen. UGA says to mix it with 2 parts water first. Once the stain is treated, wash the item as you normally would.
Where Lemon Juice Is Unsafe
Lemon juice can damage several common materials. Marble, limestone and travertine react to mild acids, and the etch they leave often cannot be removed without refinishing. Cement grout is alkaline, so acids like lemon juice dissolve it over time.
Stainless-steel appliance finishes can also suffer, since Whirlpool lists citrus-based cleaners among products that could damage the finish and void the warranty. Enameled cast iron can lose its exterior gloss from citrus cleaners, Lodge warns. Granite is more resistant, but it still does not do well with acidic cleaners.
Common Myths About Lemon Juice
A common belief is that lemon juice or vinegar will take out rust on clothes. UGA does list salt and lemon juice in the sun as a first try, but Clorox says these weak acids typically are not strong enough for set-in rust. If the stain does not lift, repeat the treatment or move to a commercial rust remover.
Another myth is that acidic kitchen liquids make good all-purpose cleaners. Coca-Cola's own FAQ says lemon juice has a similar effect to its soda, but that these are not very good choices for cleaning. Dedicated cleaning products do the job much better.
What Never to Mix With Lemon Juice
Never mix lemon juice with chlorine bleach. Lemon juice's natural acids react with bleach to release chlorine gas, and Poison Control says never to mix bleach and acid. Clorox adds that bleach must not be mixed with vinegar or other acids either.
Baking soda and lemon juice are safe to combine, but the result is pointless. The baking soda neutralizes the acid, so the two largely cancel each other out and fizz as carbon dioxide is released. Use one product at a time and rinse in between so nothing reacts on the fabric or surface.
Questions
Does lemon juice remove stains?
Yes, for a few specific stains. Lemon juice works on light rust, mildew and set-in baby formula on washable whites. It is too weak for set-in rust and is not a general-purpose stain remover.
Does lemon juice stain clothes?
Lemon juice can cause problems on some fabrics, so test a hidden spot first. Cotton and linen can be permanently damaged at full strength, so dilute it with 2 parts water. Do not leave it on longer than the method describes.
Can I use lemon juice on rust stains on clothes?
You can try it on light rust, using salt and sunshine. Clorox says lemon juice is a weak acid that typically is not strong enough for set-in rust. For heavy rust, a commercial rust remover works better.
Is it safe to mix lemon juice and baking soda?
It is safe but pointless. Baking soda neutralizes the acid in lemon juice, so the two largely cancel each other out. The fizzing is carbon dioxide, and nothing harmful is reported.
Can I mix lemon juice with bleach?
No, never. Lemon juice's acids react with bleach to release chlorine gas. Clorox also says bleach must not be mixed with vinegar or other acids.
Is lemon juice good on marble or granite?
No, not on marble or limestone. These stones react to mild acids and can be etched in a way that needs refinishing. Granite resists most kitchen acids, but acidic cleaners are still not recommended.
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Sources
Every verdict, amount and warning here comes from these sources.