The Trick For Removing Lemon Citrus Stains From Your Clothing Is So Simple

Lemon is often thought of as a household cleaning hack that offers an all-natural solution for sweat stains and serves as a chemical-free cleaning substitute that will still get the job done despite its lack of harsh ingredients. However, when the tables turn and citrus is the cause of the stain, it can pose a bit of a problem that needs to be acted on relatively quickly, especially if the stain is on your clothes. Luckily, it's a relatively simple process that calls for a wet cloth, a cold water flush, and a simple, regular-old washing.

Since lemon and other citrus juices contain citric acid ; it's the same natural property that helps bleach white clothes for a brilliant, crisp clean — but it can also cause irreversible damage by bleaching and staining clothes. While it's color-safe if it's diluted, lemon and citrus juice may result in unwanted staining if left on for too long. So if you've found yourself on the accidental receiving end of a splash of citrus juice on your clothes, you'll need to act quickly to make sure that citric acid doesn't create an unfortunate bleach spot on your favorite shirt or pants.

Many food stains are water-based, so the fresher the stain, the better chance of successfully removing it. Therefore, the very first step is to quickly remove any remaining bits of citrus left on the fabric. Use a spoon to carefully scoop pieces off the clothes without pushing in it further into the fibers. Then, using a wet, white cloth (so that dye doesn't transfer), blot the problem area. Avoid vigorous rubbing since that can damage your clothes further.

Next, clean the affected area with cool water. While hot water is great for certain stains to break down the staining agent, with lemon, citrus, or other fruit stains, you run the risk of baking the stain in even further with hotter water. Cold water, conversely, stops the staining agent from sticking and binding to the fabric, so flushing your lemon stain under or in cold water stops the citric acid from penetrating clothing fibers. Finally, taking care to consult the washing instructions on the garment, wash clothing as you normally would.

As a reminder, avoid direct sunlight on the clothes during any steps — it'll speed up the accidental bleaching process. But this method should save your lemony clothes to wear another day, and you can go back to using your lemons for cleaning good. Beyond just lemons, other citrus fruits also have many cleaning uses around the house too — so don't get too mad at your citrus for the occasional accidental stain.