Apply lemon juice and dry in direct sunlight

Dampen the yellowed fabric, apply lemon juice (full-strength for cotton, diluted 1:1 with water for linen), and lay it in direct sunlight. Keep the fabric moist and reapply as it dries. Repeat over several sessions until the yellowing fades, then wash to remove the lemon residue.

Why It Works

Citric acid in lemon juice breaks down stain compounds through acid hydrolysis. When combined with UV light, the citric acid facilitates an oxidative reaction that degrades chromophores more effectively than either element alone. This traditional method has been used for centuries.

Tips

• Dilute for linen — the acid (pH ~2) can affect linen's pectin bonds with repeated full-strength applications
• Cotton tolerates full-strength lemon juice without issue
• This is a slow, gentle method requiring patience and multiple sessions
• Wash thoroughly after treatment to remove all citric acid residue