The Incredible Cleaning Power of Citric Acid

Written By: Meredith O’Connor

Most of us were taught that tacking areas in our homes where the worst germs reside — like the toilet, kitchen counters, and the floor — calls for the toughest cleaners. Bleach and disinfecting wipes come to mind. 

But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Before you give us the skeptical side-eye, hear us out. 

Cleaning products with natural, plant-based ingredients have incredible properties that power through the dirtiest messes your family can muster. Even better, by using chemical-free cleaning products, you’ll get a deep detox without exposure to chemicals that can harm your loved ones’ health and mess up your home’s microbiome. 

One of our favorite non-toxic compounds is citric acid. We use it in tons of Truly Free products, including our Laundry Machine Cleaner, Fruit & Veggie Wash, Dishwasher Cleaner, Heavy Duty Pot and Pan Spray (and more!) — plus our NEW product that’s Launching September 13. (Hint: it’s the perfect complement to our non-toxic Bathroom Cleaner.)

Why do we trust citric acid as a cleaning ingredient to do so much dirty work? Here’s everything you need to know about the potent cleaning capabilities of citric acid. 

Citric Acid’s Place In Cleaning History

Citrus has been used as a cleaning agent throughout the ages. Greeks and Romans kept it on hand for when things needed a good scrub and ancient Egyptians knew about its cleansing qualities, too.   

Citric acid was discovered in the 7th century, and in 1784, Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Steele successfully isolated citric acid from lemon juice. In the late 1800s, it was discovered that the compound could be created from sugar. By the mid-1900s, citric acid transformed into a commercially produced ingredient that industrial companies used to dissolve rust from steel. 

Eventually, citric acid made its way into homes as the workhorse of everyday cleaners. Unfortunately, many cleaning products you’ll find at the store replace this plant-based high achiever with toxins like ammonia, hydrochloric acid, sodium hypochlorite (bleach), and chemical surfactants. 

The Problem with Chemical Cleaners 

Where do we begin? Common disinfectants and toilet bowl cleaners include chemicals you don’t want around your family or pets. If these chemicals come into contact with the skin, they can cause chemical burns, blisters, redness, itching, and irritation. (There’s a reason most household cleaners recommend wearing gloves when using them.) Plus, these compounds wipe out both bad and good bacteria, eliminating the microorganisms that help protect your loved ones from dangerous viruses and pathogens.

Using bleach also exposes your family to chemical ingredients known to cause trouble breathing, blurred vision, and chest tightness. Prolonged exposure can even increase the risk of some cancers. 

When combined with organic matter like feces and urine, these chemicals can emit vapors which can cause irritation and inflammation in the eyes, nose, and respiratory tract as well as coughing. Additives you’ll find in disinfectants also include synthetic fragrances and chemical surfactants, or detergents that lower the surface tension on water, both of which are known endocrine disruptors.  

And if chemical cleaners are in your home, there’s always a risk of accidental poisoning. When Fido inevitably drinks out of the toilet bowl, toxic residue could put your pet’s health at risk. Household cleaning substances are also the second most common poison exposure in children, making up 10.7% of all pediatric calls aged for children under 6 years old.

Why Citric Acid Is Such a Powerful Cleaning Agent 

Of course, at Truly Free, non-toxic household cleaners that are effective and safe for your family is what we do best. That’s why citric acid is one of our star ingredients — and a non-negotiable when we were developing the formula for our new product that targets the bathroom’s, ahem, worst offender.  

Here’s how citric acid cleaners stacks up: 

• Safe, non-toxic, and effective bleach alternative — get a sparkling clean without chemical exposure. 
• Easily breaks down soap scum and limescale.
• Eliminates hard water residue, brown rust stains, and mineral deposits. (Say goodbye to that dreaded toilet bowl ring!)
• As little as 0.5% citric acid concentration is an effective disinfectant, reducing the likelihood that bacteria can cause illness if exposed to it by 10-fold. 

Ready to tackle grime naturally and effectively? Check out Truly Free’s entire product lineup for every room, mess, and stain in your home — and keep an eye on your email for an exciting PRODUCT LAUNCH TOMORROW!

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