10 uses of citric acid in cleaning the home

Citric acid (C6H8O7) is an antioxidant and a natural preservative used in numerous industries such as cosmetics, food, pharmaceuticals or photography. It is an organic acid present in a large number of fruits, especially citrus, but currently almost all its production It is obtained by fermenting 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 too much is known, its uses in cleaning the house are multiple and very effective.

Do you know the lemon trick to clean the microwave? Watch the following video.

Today it is easy to buy powdered citric acid in organic or DIY and home stores, for example.

What is citric acid used for?

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

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

10 very useful applications of citric acid at home

The 10 most useful uses of citric acid in the home are the following:

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

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 on aluminum).

2. Descale burnt pans

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

It is not necessary to buy aggressive products because pWe can effectively unclog by pouring half a glass of citric acid into the pipes and a half of bicarbonate 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 remarkable and sought-after functions for home protection. 100 g of citric acid are mixed in a liter of hot water and with this product you can clean, remove stains and disinfect surfaces (discarding wood, marble and enamel). 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. Fabric softener

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

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

8. Decalcify tiles and screens

It is about mixing 150 gr 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 there are no remains of the acid. This recipe is also used to decalcify bathroom and toilet screens.

9. Remove limescale from the shower

The shower head is one of the devices 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 grams per liter of hot water. Also add a tablespoon of baking soda and let it rest for an hour. Then it is placed again and the hot water is allowed to run so that the lime incrustations come off for about 10 minutes.

It is one of the most striking and well-known uses of citric acid in cleaning because it produces foam that reinforces its disinfectant work. Half a cup of baking soda can be spread in the toilet, let it rest for about 30 minutes and then add another half of citric acid, rubbing well over the surface with the brush.

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

Mix with your hands so that it is somewhat compact and portions are placed in large ice or pastry molds, the size of cupcakes or similar. Let it rest overnight to compact and you can unmold and store in a container glass or wherever you want. One or two bombs are thrown into the toilet and rubbed with the brush.