Lemon helps to break down stains and brighten whites since it is acidic. Vinegar softens fabrics and eliminates odors. Baking soda lifts stains, increases the efficiency of detergent and neutralizes odors. These alternatives don't contain synthetic fragrances, dyes, or harmful chemicals.
Mix equal parts white vinegar and water to get rid of brown or yellow spots (lemon juice works, too). For more punch, dab undiluted vinegar on fabric using a cloth or sponge.
Lemon juice is acidic, much like vinegar so they perform very similarly in cleaning, however lemon juice itself can stain clothing so vinegar is better choice. They are both good in removing stains left by hard water in bathroom, faucets and so on...
Lemon is not suitable for cleaning anything that contains brass, hard wood or natural stone, such as granite worktops, sandstone surfaces or tiles and wooden floors.
Lemons are acidic and therefore contain antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties, plus they cut grease, dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits and can be mixed with baking soda and vinegar to make a nifty cleaning paste.
Lemon juice can have a bit of a bleaching effect on dark and brightly colored clothing and textiles, leading to irreversible color loss. Avoid squeezing it directly onto dark or vibrant clothing, household goods, and upholstery. Instead, use our guide to removing common fabric stains.
Lemon juice can brighten whites and remove rust and mildew stains from clothing when added to the laundry wash cycle. It serves as a natural fabric softener and whitener when mixed with baking soda, making clothes softer and whiter without the use of harsh chemicals.
“Use a solution of 50 percent vinegar and 50 percent water on the stain. Apply liberally and then treat with laundry soap and water. “DO NOT put the garment in the dryer until you have seen that the stain is gone,” he warns.
Featuring both fungicidal and antibacterial properties, lemon juice is another natural way to remove mould from tile grout. Mix lemon juice with a bit of washing up liquid, rub onto your surface and leave for several hours before rinsing.
The citric acid in the lemon will swiftly eliminate the stains. If you do not have fresh lemons, bottled lemon juice for cleaning can be just as effective.
To remove stains with vinegar via pre-treating, you can dilute the vinegar with water (vinegar 1:3 Water) or soak in undiluted vinegar and allow garments to soak between 15-30 mins or even overnight depending on the stubbornness of the stain.
Our guide to using white vinegar for cleaning
Utilise the antibacterial and antiseptic benefits of lemon and the germ-busting benefits of vinegar by mixing up a vinegar and lemon cleaner, plus add baking soda to bust odours too.
Method: Apply fresh lemon juice directly onto the yellow stains and spread the garment out in the sun for several hours. The citric acid in the lemon juice, enhanced by the UV rays from the sun, will naturally bleach the stains. After sun exposure, rinse with water and wash the garment as usual.
Mix Dish Soap and Hydrogen Peroxide
Add 2 parts hydrogen peroxide (1 cup suggested). Add 1 part dishwashing liquid (1/2 cup suggested).
Mix 1/4 cup of white vinegar, 1 tbsp. of dish soap, and water in a spray bottle. Spray the area liberally and let soak for 5-10 minutes and then blot again with a clean, dry towel until stain is removed.
We prefer distilled white vinegar as our cleaning condiment of choice because it doesn't have any coloring agents that might stain surfaces (Stay away from balsamic or red vinegar). We also like white vinegar because it only has about 5 percent acidity, so it's on-par with other common cleaning products.
Lemon juice breaks down stains, brightens whites, and provides a fresh result. Whereas vinegar and baking soda stain remover are quite effective for light-colored fabrics and for removing detergent residues.
Lemon juice works great too, because the acid helps break down the blood stain. The key here is following most of the steps detailed above, but instead of using hydrogen peroxide, use the juice of a lemon instead to start breaking down the stain before washing it in the machine.
If the fruit juice stain is still visible after a few hours, moisten the stained area with a bit of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Let this sit for one hour. Repeat until the stain is removed. Apply more paper towels, and then weigh them down with a heavy object.
Lemon has citric acid, which when paired directly with milk or other dairy products may react and lead to curdling and spoil the texture. Apart from that, consuming the two can trigger acidic reactions and cause severe heartburn and acidity.
Pour 1/4 to 1/2 cup lemon juice in either the bleach dispenser, if your laundry machine has one, or if it doesn't, to the wash water with the detergent before adding your whites.