Citric acid is one of those natural cleaning products that we should all have at home and that allows us to replace conventional cleaning products that are full of undesirable chemicals. You may wonder if, when we say this, we mean directly using lemon to clean. The answer is no, although it is true that it is found in lemon and that it is also very useful for cleaning naturally. Citric acid is used in powder form and looks like a salt.

Citric acid (C6H8O7) is an antioxidant and natural preservative used in numerous industries such as cosmetics, food, pharmaceuticals and photography. It is an organic acid present in a large number of fruits, especially citrus, but currently almost all of its production It is obtained through the fermentation of sugars with the fungus Aspergillus niger, known as black mold.

It is used as a food preservative, in beauty products or to cause effervescence in fruit salts, for example. However, and although not much is known, Its uses in cleaning the house are multiple and very effective.

Nowadays it is easy to find citric acid powder in ecological or DIY and home stores, for example. We tell you its advantages, its main applications when cleaning naturally at home and in which cases it is advisable to avoid it or opt for other natural homemade products.

Advantages of citric acid over vinegar

Vinegar is a natural and effective cleaning product, but It should be used sparingly for essentially environmental reasons.

Every substance, no matter how natural, produces some impact on the environment. Vinegar is much more respectful than detergents with synthetic components, but due to its acidity it causes metal particles such as nickel to be released from the dishwasher, washing machine or steel surfaces. Citric acid is less corrosive.

On the other hand, vinegar is sold in liquid form and in plastic bottles, while citric acid is found powder and paper envelopes. Consequently, the energy consumption necessary for its transportation is much lower and so are the CO2 emissions.

What is citric acid used for?

Citric acid is a safe product, with the appropriate precautions, and biodegradable. Therefore, it is used in many areas:

• In beauty products. In the world of beauty it is used in anti-blemish, depigmenting, exfoliating and other skin care creams. It is present in medications to combat various ailments such as heartburn, gastritis or prevent the formation of kidney stones.
• In some drugs. It is also used to achieve effervescence and impart citrus flavor in vitamin C supplements and fruit salts.
• In food. In food products it is very popular for its antioxidant, preservative, acidifying and flavoring properties and is found in soft drinks, sweets, jams, juices, wines, preserves, pastries or pre-cooked foods. As an additive, E-330, of natural origin, is one of the additives that should not worry you, since it is allowed in the ecological and biodynamic seals.
• In the photograph. Photography is one of its curious uses and is used in developing photographs, replacing acetic acid.
• In home cleaning. It stands out as a descaler, polisher, anti-limescale and to remove rust. When cleaning, it is always used diluted in water.

10 ways to use citric acid to clean at home

The 10 most useful uses of citric acid at home are as follows:

Let’s see how to use citric acid in each case:

1. Remove rust

It is one of its most “magical” uses. If you discover a rusty object in your storage room or garden, try spraying it a spray with half a liter of water and 2 tablespoons of citric acid, Then rub with a cedar brush and dry.

You will be surprised how it returns to its original state. In the same way It is also used to shine metals (never in aluminum).

2. Descaling burnt pots

Although some seem to have no solution, You have to boil water with two tablespoons of citric acid and the burned remains are descaled.

3. Unclog pipes

It is not necessary to buy aggressive products, because pWe can unclog pipes effectively by pouring half a glass of citric acid into them. and a half of baking soda and then a liter of hot water. We could also use vinegar to unclog pipes, instead of citric acid.

4. Disinfect surfaces

It is one of its most notable and sought-after functions for home protection. 100 g of citric acid are mixed in one liter of hot water and with this product you can clean, remove stains and disinfect surfaces (excluding wood, marble and enamelled). Rinses with water.

5. Descale the washing machine with citric acid

The more we take care of the washing machine, the better results we will obtain. To remove limescale and impurities from detergents, it is recommended to wash with the machine empty and at maximum temperature with a liter of water mixed with 150 of citric acid in the box. ⁠

6. Laundry softener

Vinegar is the best known natural softener, but 1 liter of water with 100 g of dissolved citric acid can also be used with the same function. 100 ml per wash are added to the fabric softener compartment and You can add a few drops of essential oil to provide a good smell. With that amount we have enough for 10 washes.

7. Clean the carpets

Although the most popular trick is to spread baking soda or clean the stain with vinegar, citric acid will come in handy as a replacement for the previous remedies to clean stubborn dirt from our carpets. 100 g of citric acid are mixed in one liter of water in a spray container and applied. Then rub and rinse.

8. Decalcify tiles and screens

It involves mixing 150 g of this compound in a liter of very hot water and Spread it on the tiles of both the bathroom and the kitchen. After rinsing well with a cloth so that no traces of the acid remain. This recipe is also used to descale bathroom and toilet screens.

9. Remove limescale from the shower

The shower head is one of the appliances most affected by limescale. One solution is to unscrew it and immerse it in a bag or basin with the same proportion as the previous formula: 150 g per liter of hot water. Also add a tablespoon of baking soda and let it sit for an hour. Then place it again and let the hot water run to remove the limescale for about 10 minutes.

10. Clean the toilet

One of the most striking and well-known uses of citric acid is cleaning the toilet, because foam is produced that reinforces its disinfectant work. You can sprinkle half a cup of baking soda in the toilet, Let it rest for about 30 minutes and then pour another half of citric acid, rubbing it well over the surface with the brush.

Another idea is to have the mixture prepared previously with some toilet pumps which we make by combining 125 g of citric acid and 125 g of baking soda in a container with a teaspoon of mineral water and about 7 drops of an essential oil that we like, for example, tea tree.

1. It is mixed with your hands so that it is somewhat compact and portions are placed in large ice or pastry molds, the size of muffins or similar.
2. Let it rest overnight so that it compacts and you can now unmold it and store it in a glass container or wherever you want.
3. Pour one or two pumps into the toilet and scrub with the brush.

11. Citric acid as a rinse aid in the dishwasher

Citric acid is an excellent toxic-free alternative to dishwasher rinse aid. Commercial products can leave residue on plates and pots that ends up in food. Therefore, it is always a good idea to replace a product with synthetic and potentially toxic ingredients with something natural as citric acid.

1. Mix 200 g of citric acid with 800 ml of distilled water or filtered into a bottle and shake until the powder is completely dissolved.
2. Use this dilution of citric acid as you would with a normal rinse aid, pouring it into the appropriate compartment.

12. Hair conditioner

It may seem a little strange to you, but the exact same dilution that has been used for the dishwasher and washing machine also produces an excellent result as a hair conditioner. with the advantage over vinegar that it does not smell and its antibacterial and antifungal properties are greater.

1. Take 30 ml of the dilution and dissolve it again in a liter of water and use it as the last rinse for your hair. This dilution helps the hair cuticle close and makes it soft and shiny.
2. You can also use it as facial toner (mix 50 ml of the “magic” dilution with the same amount of water, and apply it as usual) or as a deodorant (mix 25 ml of the dilution with 75 ml of water and apply it with a sprayer).