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[-] neidu3@sh.itjust.works 21 points 2 days ago

Tip: Anywhere you want to use vinegar for its chemical properties, but you want to avoid the smell, use citric acid instead.

[-] AmidFuror@fedia.io 10 points 2 days ago

Additional tip: if you want to make vinegar or citric acid far less effective, first make a paste of it by mixing with baking soda. This is suggested on many life hack websites.

[-] mirshafie@europe.pub 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

If you need to wash something with hot water but don't like the steam, mix it with cold water before applying.

[-] fubo@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Another option is oxalic acid, which is the solvent in Bar Keepers Friend.

[-] Duamerthrax@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

CLR is citric acid based. Not sure if that or lemon juice is cheaper though.

[-] neidu3@sh.itjust.works 10 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

All I know is that citric acid is dirt cheap in powder form, especially if you don't need food grade.

Add water, and mix to taste: When it's the most sour thing you've ever tasted, it's about right.

Source: We use barrels of the stuff in the offshore industry to descale steel hardware that has been on the seabed. Just don't tell the HSE department that you're judging acid strength based on flavor, they'll only see the acid-part and freak out.

[-] Aussiemandeus@aussie.zone 2 points 1 day ago

That's how my tradesmen when I was an apprentice would mix coolant.

I'm not sure even 15 years later if he was just having me on or not. But you can certainly tell strong coolant by taste haha

[-] yucandu@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago

I just use hydrochloric acid.

[-] neidu3@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 days ago

Hydrochloric acid has a smell. That's definitely the only downside.

[-] ODuffer@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

I bought a big bag of citric acid, I descale my bean to cup coffee machine, kettle and clean my shower head with it. Good stuff.

this post was submitted on 04 Dec 2025
106 points (100.0% liked)

Showerthoughts

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