It’s about that time of year when my flat calls for a proper deep clean. You know, one that requires several hours. Although I do as many household chores as I can, especially when I notice any grime building up in sinks or countertops, sometimes you need a bit of elbow grease.

My bath is one of those places where a quick hose and scrub every now and then can make it squeaky clean, but after a busy month of travelling and working, it needs a little TLC. Scum from hair products and shower gel form yellowish stains across the bath, while a coffee scrub has turned into an off-blue patch of muck. But running low on appropriate cleaning products, I turned to a natural household remedy: lemon.

Lemons have been touted as an easy-to-use cleaning solution, especially if you want to avoid harsh chemicals.

Lemons are effective cleaning agents due to their citric acid content. It also acts as a natural antibacterial, antiseptic, and bleaching agent, helping to cut through grease, remove stains, and kill bacteria, making them a versatile and eco-friendly cleaning option.

The citric acid in lemons is naturally antibacterial and antiseptic, meaning it can kill bacteria and prevent the growth of microorganisms. So, I thought I’d give it a whirl.

I also had a bottle of lemon juice handy in my baking cupboard. However, bottled lemon juice, made from concentrate, has a lower citric acid level than a fresh lemon.

Although it’s easier to apply to the affected areas. I liberally poured the lemon juice over the patches of soap scum. There’s no such thing as too much.

I gave it around five minutes to marinate. It’s a blessing not to have your eyes water with overwhelming chemical odours. Obviously, if you’re squeezing lemon juice directly, be careful not to squirt some into your eye by mistake.

Next, I took a slightly damp sponge to the grime. In one wipe, it was almost entirely gone.

To tackle the globules of soap scum in the tub itself, I needed to apply more vigorous pressure.

The whole process was painless, lifting off surface-level grime with absolute ease. It also worked its magic on some of the hard water marks near the plughole.

The tub also had some greyish lines where some historic hard water marks had built up. Unfortunately, the lemon juice could only tackle surface-deep grime, so a commercial cleaner is required to remove those.

How to clean baths with lemon juice

Apply – Rub the inside of a cut lemon or lemon juice directly onto soap scum or hard water stains.

Let it sit – Allow the lemon juice to sit for a few minutes.

Scrub – Scrub with a soft brush or sponge.

Rinse – Rinse thoroughly with hot water.