This 1 fruit banishes bathroom faucet limescale without chemicals – but I was left with a bitter taste in my mouth after giving it a go, here's why

For most of us, cleaning the bathroom is a job we'd rather skip, especially when it comes to tackling tricky limescale. But, as we all well know, the longer limescale is left, the harder it becomes to shift, especially if you prefer not to use harsh chemicals.

The unexpected hero for getting this oft-procrastinated job done, that's also natural, non-toxic, and affordable? Cleaning limescale with grapefruit.

I tested out this non-toxic cleaning supply, and it's safe to say I have some mixed opinions. The results were both bitter and sweet – just like a grapefruit.

I tried using a grapefruit to clean faucet limescale

While I've heard of cleaning with lemon juice, I'd never even considered cleaning with a grapefruit. But, as it turns out, it's one of the foods you can clean your home with, and it's especially good for cleaning a bathroom. Who knew?

Nigel Bearman, cleaning expert at Daily Poppins, explains, 'Grapefruit contains citric acid which helps to quickly break down soap scum and grime found in baths and showers.

'It acts as a natural cleaning agent and dissolves through tough stains while eliminating germs and bacteria.'

It also makes your bathroom smell fresh and clean. So, after purchasing a grapefruit to test its cleaning prowess, I decided to give it a go myself.

How to clean with a grapefruit

The good thing is, if you would like to try this unusual cleaning hack yourself, all you need is a grapefruit, some coarse salt, and a microfiber cloth, available at Walmart.

You probably have all or at least most of these things at home already but if you don't, you can purchase them all for around $6.

As we've recently had a water softener fitted, I wasn't able to effectively test this on my shower, but followed Nigel's step-by-step instructions focusing on my silver sink faucet:

1. Cut the grapefruit in half and sprinkle the cut side with coarse salt, such as Epsom or sea salt. We recommend the Equate Epsom Salt, available at Walmart.
2. Take one half of the grapefruit and lightly scrub it over the surface of your bath and shower. This was pretty sticky, so if you'd prefer to keep your hands clean and juice-free, I recommend wearing rubber gloves, such as the Mamison Rubber Gloves available at Amazon.
3. Let it sit for a few minutes to help the citric acid work even harder on the stains. This is recommended whenever cleaning with citric acid.
4. Rinse the area with warm water and wipe clean if necessary. This is where my microfiber cloth came in handy.

Nigel explains, 'The salt works as an abrasive to help scrub the grime away, while the grapefruit uses its natural acids and antibacterial properties to break down the limescale buildup and leave your bathroom sparkling clean. It’s a simple, eco-friendly solution that gives you a fresh, citrus-scented finish.'

You can also, he adds, make your own all-purpose grapefruit DIY non-toxic bathroom cleaner, by squeezing the juice from one grapefruit into a spray bottle, such as the Equate Plastic Spray Bottle available at Walmart, adding one to two tablespoons of white vinegar, also availible at Walmart, topping it up with warm water and giving it a good shake.

'This creates a natural, eco-friendly spray that smells amazing and gets the job done,' says Nigel. 'Once you’ve seen how effective grapefruit is on your bath, you’ll want to use it everywhere, and the best part is – you can! From scrubbing the tub, to freshening up tiles, taps, and even the toilet, this one ingredient is so versatile, but without all the harsh chemicals.'

My verdict

My feelings on this are mixed, mainly because I'm not sure I'd ever choose to clean with a grapefruit over my usual routine, either cleaning with vinegar or using commercial cleaners. The Method Bathroom Cleaner available at Walmart is my favorite for general cleaning, and the Viakal Limescale Remover Spray available at Amazon is great for removing limescale.

That being said, this grapefruit method did work well to get rid of hard water stains and polish up my faucet, but it was also sticky and a little messy. It also didn't make much of a difference on very stubborn limescale.

As a result, for tough build-up in hard water areas, you may find yourself falling back on a more traditional solution, such as Lime-A-Way cleaner, from Amazon to finish the job.

What to shop

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet our expert

To reduce food waste, you can use the leftover grapefruit peel to mask trash can smells, or put it in a pot of boiling water to make your house smell nice.