These Things Should Not Be Cleaned or Mixed With Lemon
Lemon juice serves as an excellent cleaning agent for various tasks, particularly when dealing with challenging combination stains like sunscreen and for removing strong odors from cutting boards, such as those caused by onions and garlic. However, it is crucial to exercise caution as lemon juice is unsuitable for certain surfaces and fabrics.
Lemon Can Damage Certain Surfaces
Most importantly, lemon should never be combined with chlorine bleach or products containing bleach due to the creation of hazardous toxic fumes. To prevent costly damage or potential dangers, it is essential to be aware of common household items that should never come into contact with lemon juice. Here are some things that should never be used with or cleaned with lemon.
Bleach and Lemon Shouldn’t Be Mixed
Bleach
Combining lemon juice with chlorine bleach results in a chemical reaction that produces toxic chlorine gas. Just like the advice not to mix bleach with vinegar, the same applies to lemon juice. Under no circumstances should you ever mix chlorine bleach or products containing it with lemon juice.
Natural Stone
The use of lemon juice on natural stone surfaces, including countertops, backsplashes, floors, furniture, and accessories, is not recommended. The acid in lemon juice can lead to pitting in natural stones such as marble, granite, and slate.
Hardwood Floors
Lemon juice has the potential to damage the seal on hardwood floors, causing them to appear dull and making them more susceptible to harm. Avoid cleaning hardwood floors with lemon, and if any lemon spills occur, clean them up promptly to minimize exposure time to the citric acid.
Brass Plating
Cleaning brass-plated items with lemon juice can result in corrosion. While solid brass can be polished using lemon or acidic cleaning agents, it’s crucial to avoid using lemon juice on brass-plated objects. To distinguish between solid brass and brass-plated items, perform a magnet test, if the magnet does not attract to the metal, it is solid brass; however, if there’s a magnetic pull, the piece is brass-plated and should not be cleaned with lemon juice.
Dark or Brightly Colored Clothing
Direct application of lemon juice on dark or brightly colored clothing and textiles can lead to irreversible color loss due to its mild bleaching effect. It’s best to avoid squeezing lemon juice directly onto dark or vibrant clothing, household goods, and upholstery.
By being mindful of these precautions and avoiding the use of lemon juice on the mentioned items, anyone can make the most of its cleaning potential without causing any harm or unintended consequences. While lemon juice is a versatile and effective natural cleaner for many household tasks, it is essential to exercise caution and be mindful of its limitations. To ensure safety and prevent damage, lemon juice should not be used on surfaces like natural stone and hardwood floors, as well as on dark or brightly colored fabrics.
Additionally, lemon juice should never be mixed with chlorine bleach or products containing bleach, as this can lead to the release of toxic fumes. By understanding these guidelines and using lemon juice wisely, anyone can harness its cleaning power to tackle various chores while maintaining a safe and pristine living environment.