How To Clean Carpets With Lemon Juice: Easy DIY Method

If you have lemon at home but don’t know ‘how to clean carpets with lemon juice?‘ then we got you covered. Follow this article to learn about ‘homemade lemon carpet cleaner’ and ‘using lemon juice to clean carpet.

Though lemon juice is a good natural carpet stain remover having bleaching capability, it is not considered for carpet deep cleaning. But it is a great carpet deodorizer or freshener. That’s why DIYers mix a little amount of lemon juice with their cleaning solutions to freshen up the carpets.

There are several methods to clean carpets with lemon juice, but the easiest DIY method involves making a paste with lemon juice and baking soda. This article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to clean carpets with lemon juice using this method.

1. Why Use Lemon Juice To Clean Carpet: Benefits:

• Unlike harsh chemical cleaners, lemon juice is safe to use on most types of carpets and is gentle on the environment.
• Lemon is considered as an excellent natural sanitizer and deodorizer for carpets.
• Easy to collect and really cost effective.

2. Things You Can Clean With Lemon: Household Cleaning:

• Polishing Copper: You can easily restore these copper items and make them shiny again with some lemon.
• Cleaning Cutting Board: Rub some lemon on the surface then allow the board to soak for 20 minutes and the smell of onion or garlic will be gone. 
• Cleaning the Microwave: Grease stains and splatters can be cleaned effectively from your microwave oven easily with lemon.
• Cleaning Glassware: You can clean your dingy glassware and restore it to its former glory with some lemon juice, vinegar and water. 
• Removing Rust: Squeeze some lemon juice on the sharp edges of a crusty pair of shears or a knife to remove the rusts effectively. 
• Shampooing Carpets: You can use lemon to deodorize and brighten your carpets during your next deep clean.
• Cleaning Sinks and Tubs: You can use lemon to deep clean your sinks and tubs or even your entire home. 
• Removing Mineral Deposits: Lemon juice can dissolve and remove mineral deposits such as limescale on showerheads and faucets.
• Removing Soap Scum: If you have stubborn soap scum on your shower door or walls then you can remove it by combining lemon juice and vinegar.
• Cleaning Your Stovetop: If you have any burnt debris or food scraps stuck on your stovetop then you can remove them with lemon juice and baking soda paste. 
• Brighten Whites: You can brighten your whites with lemon juice solution at home all by yourself. 

Like other natural bleaching agents, lemon juice may not be suitable for all fabrics.  Alicia Sokolowski, the president and co-CEO of Aspen Clean recommends testing a small, inconspicuous area of the fabric first to check any kind of color fading issue. 

3. How to Make a Homemade Lemon Carpet Cleaner:

Lemon juice is a wonderful cleaning agent that can be used in a variety of ways around the home. When it comes to carpet cleaning, lemon juice can be an effective and natural solution for removing stubborn stains and unpleasant odors.

Follow these steps to make a DIY lemon juice carpet cleaner:

1. Cut the lemons into small pieces and place them in a pot with water. Bring to a boil and continue to boil for 5-10 minutes. Allow the mixture to cool.
2. Strain the lemon and water mixture and pour it into a spray bottle. Add a small amount of white vinegar to the mixture.

Always test the solution on a small, inconspicuous area of your carpet before applying it widely. Remember to avoid using lemon juice on carpets or surfaces like granite, marble or timber floors as over time the lemon juice may cause bleaching and wear down timber polish, or etch stone.

4. How To Clean Carpets With Lemon Juice:

4.1. Products and tools needed:

You will be needed the following supplies to complete the cleaning process-

• Water
• Liquid dish soap
• Raw lemon juice
• Spray bottle 
• Paper towels
• Brush or, scrubber
• Rubber gloves

4.2. Vacuuming The Entire Carpet

Before applying the lemon juice solution you have to vacuum the entire carpet. Vacuuming will remove the loose dirt and pet hair. If needed, vacuum twice to remove them at maximum amount, otherwise they will create obstacles during the cleaning process.

4.3. Preparing the lemon juice solution

Make a solution with raw lemon juice, water and liquid dish soap maintaining a suitable ratio (1:1:1). Then pour it in a spray bottle. Do not make a concentrated solution with lemon juice. If you do so, then it may damage the color of your carpets and other fabrics with its bleaching capability. That’s why it is good to use on pale gray colored carpets. 

4.4. Applying the lemon juice solution

Carefully apply the solution with a spray on the stains to be cleaned from the carpet. Do not overuse the cleaning solution. In case of fresh liquid spills or urine stains, blot up as much liquid as you can with paper towels. For old stains, apply it directly on the spots. 

4.5. Brushing or, scrubbing

Now gently rub or scrub the spots with a soft brush or scrubber to work the cleaning solution properly. Then wait for 10 to 15 minutes. This will enable the cleaner solution to loosen up dirt particles on the stains. After 10 minutes, rinse the spots with water and then blot up the spot with paper towels.  

4.6. Drying 

 Finally, dry up the washed spots automatically or you can use a heat drier for quick drying. 

Repeat the whole process if necessary for better result.  

Important Note*:

• If you overuse the solution and there is lemon juice left on the carpet after the cleaning process, then you will experience a sticky condition of the carpet attracting fleas.
• Raw lemon juice may damage the color of your carpets and other fabrics with its bleaching capability. To prevent color damage, prepare a dilute solution by mixing sufficient water with it.

5. Using Lemon Juice To Remove Tough Stains:

• Mix lemon juice with other ingredients like hydrogen peroxide to create a powerful cleaning solution for stubborn stain removal.
• Mix lemon juice and baking soda to clean tough stains from carpets. Start by making a paste from lemon juice and a teaspoon of cream of tartar or baking soda. Apply it to the stained area with a toothbrush and brush it until the stain is gone.

Note*: Remember to vacuum first so no dirt particles sit on the carpet. Avoid mixing lemon juice with bleach, as it can create toxic chlorine gas.

6. Lemon Juice For Deodorizing Carpets:

Lemon juice is an excellent natural deodorizer for carpets. You can use it alone or in combination with baking soda for more effective results. Other natural remedies for carpet deodorizing include hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and essential oils.

Instead, use baking soda and lemon juice to deodorize carpets by making a paste, applying it to the carpet, and letting it sit for 15-20 minutes before vacuuming it up.

7. Lemon Juice For Cleaning Other Household Items:

• To clean food storage containers, mix lemon juice with salt and baking soda and scrub the containers with a brush before rinsing with water.
• For removing stains from rugs, make a paste from lemon juice and cream of tartar or baking soda, apply it to the stain, and scrub it with a toothbrush until the stain is gone, then rinse with water.
• Lemon juice can also be used to clean other surfaces like cutting boards, grout, and rust stains.

Note*: Avoid using lemon juice on carpets made of natural fibers or delicate surfaces like hardwood floors, marble, or granite.

8. Precautionary Measures When Using Lemon Juice:

• Lemon juice should not be used on carpets, upholstery, timber floors, or surfaces like granite or marble as it may cause bleaching, wear down timber polish, and etch stone.
• Instead, mix lemon juice with baking soda or cream of tartar, apply it to the stain, and gently brush it until it disappears.
• Proper mixing techniques should be followed, and the solution should be used as soon as possible after mixing.
• When storing lemon juice, it should be kept in a cool, dry place and used within a few hours for maximum effectiveness.
• It is important to note that lemon juice should not be mixed with bleach or other acidic cleaners.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is Lemon Juice Good For Cleaning Carpets?

Lemon juice is not recommended for cleaning carpets as it may cause bleaching and damage to the carpet fibers over time. Instead, a carpet cleaning solution made with baking soda and lemon juice may be used to remove stains. However, it should be applied cautiously and only for a short period before rinsing with clean water.

Lemon juice should also not be used on upholstery, timber floors, or surfaces like granite or marble.

Can I Spray Lemon Juice On Carpet?

No, you should not spray lemon juice on carpet as it may cause bleaching and damage the fibers over time. Instead, you can use a mixture of lemon juice and baking soda or cream of tartar to make a paste, which you can apply to the stain with a toothbrush and then rinse with water.

Be careful not to use lemon juice on surfaces such as upholstery, timber floors or stone.

How Do You Clean Carpet With Baking Soda And Lemon Juice?

To clean the carpet with baking soda and lemon juice, make a paste using lemon juice and cream of tartar or baking soda. Apply the paste to the stained area, scrub using a toothbrush, and rinse with water until the stain is removed.

Avoid using lemon juice on carpets, timber floors, and surfaces like marble or granite as it may cause bleaching and damage over time.

What Should You Not Clean With Lemon Juice?

Do not clean bleach, natural stone, hardwood floors, brass plating, or dark or brightly colored clothing with lemon juice. Lemon juice may cause bleaching, wear down timber polish, and etch stone over time.

Can Lemon Juice Be Used To Clean Carpets?

Yes, but it should be used with caution as it has bleaching properties that may damage certain types of carpets.

Conclusion:

To sum up, lemon juice can be a fantastic, natural cleaner for freshening up your carpets. This simple DIY method can save you both time and money. However, it’s important to keep in mind that lemon juice can bleach fabric over time, so it should be used with caution on carpets, upholstery, and other surfaces.

So, we believe that people who find it tricky and difficult and don’t know the process of ‘how to clean carpets with lemon juice?‘ is no more a bigger problem. In fact, it was never been that hard if people have already followed a similar process like that. And now this article has cleared all the probable and necessary questions of the DIYers.