Citric Acid

What is it
In cleaning, it appears as a fine white crystalline powder or granules. It dissolves easily in water and has a pH of around 2 to 3 in solution, making it meaningfully acidic without being aggressive or corrosive in the way that industrial acids are.

How you can use it
Citric Acid is used in the following recipes

• Window and glass spray
• Fabric softener
• Dishwasher rinse aid
• Toilet cleaning gel
• Shower Cleaner
• Floor cleaner

✅ What you can use it on

• Stainless steel or chrome taps, sinks and shower fittings
• Glass and windows
• Ceramic and porcelain (toilets, basins, tiles)
• Plastic kettles and coffee machines
• Most washable fabrics (as a rinse aid, not a direct treatment)
• Grout (light limescale and mineral deposits)
• Dishwasher interior

❎ What to avoid
Citric acid is an acid. Used on the wrong surfaces it will cause permanent damage.

• Natural stone such as marble, granite, travertine, limestone
• Acid-sensitive metals such as brass, copper and bronze
• Grout in poor condition
• Wool, silk and delicate fabrics
• Aluminium

Do not mix acids with alkaline ingredients. Mixing citric acid directly with washing soda, bicarb or soap in solution neutralises both. They work best used separately or in recipes specifically designed to combine them like bath bombs!

🫙 Storage and shelf life
Citric acid is one of the easiest ingredients in the kit to store. Keep it in a sealed, airtight container in a cool, dry location and it has an indefinite shelf life. 

📦 Packaging
Available in home compostable Earth Bags or reusable glass Apothecary Jars (750ml size). The earth bags are plastic free way to get the goods to you but not ideal long term storage.

⚠️ Safety
Although this is food grade quality, consumption is not recommended as we are not a food safe premise.

Go deeper
Learn more about this amazing ingredient including the chemistry of how it works.

Two important links
The Recipe Hub shows you what commercial cleaning products you can replace, with step-by-step details on how to do it.

• DIY Recipe & Guides

The Learning Hub deep dives into the ingredients, looking at what each one is and why it works.

Learning Hub

At Under Your Sink, we consider the environmental impact of everything, from sourcing to how it lands at your door.

Every ingredient:

• Breaks down naturally, leaving no toxic residue behind
• Is vegan-friendly and cruelty-free
• Is ethically sourced
• Is safe for homes on septic systems

The packaging is part of the plan too. Your ingredients arrive in reusable amber glass jars designed to be refilled, not replaced. And your order is packed with as little waste as possible. Low footprint, high standards.