How to Remove a Lemon Stain

Jaya said, “My husband’s silk dhoties have a lemon stain. Without noticing, it became a dark blackish colour. Please suggest to remove it; it’s our wedding dress.”

You Will Need:

• Water
• Vegetable glycerin
• White vinegar
• Borax
• Powdered enzyme detergent
• Milk
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Bleach

Steps to Remove the Stain:

1. If the stain is old, rub liquid vegetable glycerin into it to help freshen it. Let the glycerin sit on the stain for several minutes, then rinse the area with cold water.¹
2. If the stain is fresh, sponge the area with cold water as soon as possible.¹
3. Combine equal parts of white vinegar and cool water, and sponge the mixture onto the stain.²
4. Wash the garment as usual, but do not put the garment in the dryer until you are sure that the stain is gone.¹
5. If the stain remains, combine some borax with a little water to make a paste. Spread a thick layer of the paste over the stain and let it sit for several minutes before rinsing it off.²
6. If the stain persists, mix a small amount of a powdered enzyme-digesting laundry detergent, such as Biz, with water to make a paste. Apply the paste on the stain and leave it to sit for about half an hour. Keep in mind that enzyme digesters cannot be used on silk or wool items.¹
7. Milk is a natural enzyme digester and can sometimes be effective for removing a lemon stain. Pour some milk in a bowl or onto a plate and lay the stained area of the garment in the milk. Let the stain soak in the milk overnight.³
8. If the above methods have not removed the stain, try using a mixture of equal amounts of hydrogen peroxide and cool water. Soak the garment in the mixture for a couple hours, then rinse it well. Keep in mind that peroxide can cause a bleaching effect on some garments, so it should always be tested on a small hidden area first.³
9. As a last resort, dilute an all-fabric bleach² or chlorine bleach in water to the ratio needed for your type of garment,¹ and soak the garment in the solution for about 15 minutes.²

• Never use heat when treating a fruit stain as it can cause the stain to set.¹
• Do not use a real soap, such as a bar soap or Woolite, on the stain as it can cause the stain to set.¹
• If the stain has caused the color of the garment to fade, that damage is irreversible. Consider using a fabric dye pen to color the area.
• Another option for a lemon stain that has caused the garment dye to fade is to soak the rest of the garment with a mix of lemon juice and water and leave it in the sun for an hour on each side to fade the rest of the garment so that it’s even. Put a sticker over the already-faded stain to keep it from fading more as you fade the rest of the garment.

1. Don Aslett’s Stainbuster’s Bible by Don Aslett
2. Stain Removal by Stephanie Zia
3. Haley’s Cleaning Hints by Graham and Rosemary Haley