How to Remove Citrus Stains From Clothes and Carpet

By
Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette 2018
Mary Marlowe Leverette

Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40+ years of experience and 20+ years of writing experience. Mary is also a member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 01/11/23
How to Remove Citrus Juice Stains

The Spruce / Alison Czinkota

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 5 - 10 mins
  • Total Time: 10 - 30 mins
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $10

Citrus fruits like lemon, lime, and grapefruit can leave stains or bleached areas on clothes and carpets. Although citrus juice stains don't look as menacing as cranberry or cherry juice stains, they may leave marks that can't be removed after they've done their damage.

It's important to quickly treat citrus stains to reduce their ability to cause bleaching. Follow these simple steps to save your clothes and carpets.

 Stain Type  Citrus (acid-based)
 Detergent Type  Liquid laundry detergent
 Water Temperature  Cool and warm
 Cycle Type  Normal

Before You Begin

Citrus fruit and juices seldom leave much of a visible stain like other fruit juices—at least not right away. The danger comes in leaving the juice on clothing or carpet for too long. Citrus juice and pulp contain citric acid which acts as a bleaching agent, especially when exposed to sunlight. Some people even use lemon (or lime) juice as a cleaner and natural stain remover on white fabrics or to clean other things around the house.

It is critical to act quickly when citrus juice spills on clothing or carpet because the longer the acidic juice sits on the fabric, the more likely it is to lighten or bleach it.

OxiClean White Revive Laundry Whitener + Stain Remover Review

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Dull knife or spoon
  • Washing machine

Materials

  • Paper towels or clean, white cloths
  • Sponge
  • Liquid dishwashing detergent

Instructions

How to Remove Citrus Stains From Clothes

  1. Lift Away Solids

    Lift the pulp away with a dull knife or spoon if any citrus pulp is sitting on the surface of the fabric.

    Lifting citrus solids off of fabric

    The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

  2. Blot With a Wet Cloth

    Dip a white cloth in cool water and blot the area. Do not rub because that will simply push the stain deeper into the fabric fibers.

    White cloth dipped in water blotting dry clean clothing sleeve to remove citrus stain

    The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

  3. Flush With Cool Water

    Hold the back side of the stained area under a faucet to flush the area with cool, clean water to help neutralize the acid.

    Citrus stained white cloth rinsed under kitchen sink

    The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

    Tip

    If the fabric is colored and can't be flushed under a faucet right away, wet a clean white cloth or paper towel with cool water and blot the citrus stain. This will dilute the citric acid and reduce bleaching. Be sure to wash the garment as soon as possible and do not expose it to excessive sunlight. 

  4. Wash as Directed

    Wash the clothing as recommended on the care label.

    Closeup of a garment's care label

    The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

How to Remove Citrus Stains From Carpet

  1. Remove Solids

    Remove all the citrus pulp solids from the carpet by lifting them away with a spoon or butter knife. Never rub because you can make the stain larger.

    Lifting citrus solids off of a carpet

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  2. Wet and Blot

    Dip a clean white cloth in plain cool water and saturate the citrus-stained area to dilute the citric acid. Work from the outside edge of the stain toward the center to keep it from growing larger.

    Immediately blot away the moisture with a dry white cloth. Always use a white cloth or paper towel to prevent the transfer of dye to the fabric.

    Blotting the carpet with a moist cloth

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  3. Use Soap on Stains With Sweetened Juice

    Mix a cleaning solution of 1 tablespoon of liquid dishwashing detergent and 2 cups of warm water to treat citrus juice that is sweetened or combined with other ingredients.

    Follow the same sponging steps, using the detergent solution. Again, always work from the outside edge of the stain toward the center.

    Mixing a cleaning solution for the carpet

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  4. Rinse Away Soap Residue

    Wet a white towel or paper towel with plain water and dab to rinse away any soapy residue.

    Tip

    Removing all the cleaning solutions from the carpet by rinsing is important because the soap can attract soil.

    Blotting the carpet stain with a new cloth

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  5. Blot and Air Dry

    After blotting away the moisture, allow the carpet to air dry away from direct heat. When dry, vacuum to lift the fibers.

    Vaccuming the carpet after stain removal

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Additional Tips for Handling Citrus Stains

Even if a citrus spill doesn't look like it will leave a stain, don't skip the cleaning steps for your clothing or carpet. The citric acid can bleach fabric or carpet fibers and the damage cannot be reversed. If the stain contains added sugar, dark stains can appear and attract more soil over time.

The same cleaning techniques recommended for carpets can be used on upholstery. It is essential not to over-wet the fabric because that can cause problems with mildew in the cushion filling. Allow the upholstery to air dry away from direct heat and sunlight.

When to Call a Professional

If your stained garment is vintage, silk, or labeled as dry clean only, gently remove any citrus solids with a dull knife or spoon. Dip a white cloth in cool water and blot the stain. Follow up by blotting with a dry cloth until no more moisture is transferred.

As soon as possible, head to the dry cleaner, point out and identify the stain to your professional cleaner. 

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