How do you clean lemon squeezers?

You clean a lemon squeezer by rinsing it under water straight after use, before the juice and pulp dry on, then washing it in warm soapy water with a small brush to clear the pulp, pips and residue from the holes and the hinge, and drying it. A handheld lemon squeezer, the hinged press you put a lemon half in and squeeze, has perforations that the juice is pushed through and a hinge where the two parts meet, and pulp and bits lodge in these, so getting into them is the main cleaning task. Most lemon squeezers are dishwasher safe, especially metal and sturdy plastic ones, but rinsing first still helps the holes come clean, and prompt cleaning stops citrus residue drying sticky and corroding or staining the squeezer. Our Best Lemon Squeezers compares five of them.

Why lemon squeezers need prompt cleaning

A lemon squeezer (or citrus press) works by pressing a halved lemon or lime so the juice is forced out through small holes while the pulp and pips stay behind, and this means pulp, membrane and seeds collect in the perforated bowl and the holes, and juice gets into the hinge and all over the squeezer. Citrus juice is acidic and, with the pulp, dries into a sticky residue if left, which is harder to remove once dried and can, over time, corrode or stain some metals and leave the squeezer looking dull.

So the key with cleaning a lemon squeezer is to do it promptly, while the juice and pulp are still fresh and wet, because then they rinse and wash off easily, whereas left to dry they cling in the holes and hinge and take more effort. The holes and the hinge are the spots that trap residue and need attention. Understanding that the squeezer collects pulp and pips in its perforations and juice in its hinge, and that citrus residue dries sticky and can corrode if left, explains why prompt rinsing and getting into the holes are the heart of cleaning it well.

Rinsing and washing it

The most helpful step is to rinse the squeezer immediately after use, under running water, which flushes out most of the loose pulp and juice while it is fresh, before it can dry in the holes. Open the squeezer and rinse both parts, letting the water clear the perforations and the bowl. Doing this straight away makes the rest of the cleaning quick and easy, and often a thorough rinse is enough for light use.

For a proper wash, clean the squeezer in warm soapy water and use a small brush, a washing-up brush, a nail brush or an old toothbrush, to clear the pulp, membrane and pips out of the perforations and the bowl, and to get into the hinge where the two parts join and juice and bits collect. Work the brush over the holes from both sides to push out anything lodged, and open and close the hinge to clean it. Rinse it well, making sure no pulp is left in the holes, then move on to drying. Getting into the holes and hinge with a brush is the main cleaning task, since that is where residue hides.

Dishwasher and material notes

Most lemon squeezers are dishwasher safe, especially those made of stainless steel, aluminum or sturdy dishwasher-safe plastic, so you can usually put one in the dishwasher, which is convenient. However, rinsing the squeezer first to flush out the pulp still helps, because a dishwasher spray does not always clear all the pulp and pips from the small holes, so bits can remain, and rinsing beforehand means it comes out properly clean. Place it securely in the dishwasher so it is not blocked by other items.

Check the material and any guidance, as a few points apply: some aluminum or coated squeezers, or ones with painted finishes, may be better hand washed to protect them, and acidic citrus juice can, over time, dull or corrode some aluminum, so prompt cleaning and drying matter especially for those. Enameled or coated squeezers should avoid harsh abrasives that scratch the coating. So for most metal and plastic squeezers the dishwasher is fine (with a rinse first), while for coated, painted or certain aluminum ones hand washing may be safer, so match the method to the material, and either way clear the holes and dry it.

Drying and keeping it in good condition

Dry the lemon squeezer after washing, since water left on it, and acidic residue if any remains, can cause spotting or, on some metals, corrosion over time, and drying prevents this and keeps the squeezer looking good. Shake out the water, dry it with a cloth, and let it air dry fully, making sure no pulp is left trapped in the holes or hinge before you store it, as leftover residue can go sticky or moldy and will taint the next use.

Keeping the squeezer clean and residue-free also keeps it working well, since dried pulp clogging the holes would reduce how well it presses and strains. So the practical routine is: rinse the squeezer straight after use, wash it in warm soapy water with a brush into the holes and hinge (or dishwasher it after a rinse if it is dishwasher safe), making sure the perforations are clear, and dry it fully, cleaning promptly so citrus residue does not dry on, corrode or stain. Done this way, a lemon squeezer is quick and easy to keep clean, hygienic and in good condition, ready to press cleanly next time.

The short answer

Clean a lemon squeezer by rinsing it under running water straight after use, before the juice and pulp dry on, then washing it in warm soapy water with a small brush to clear the pulp, membrane and pips out of the perforations and the bowl and to get into the hinge where the parts join, working the brush over the holes from both sides, and rinsing it well. Most lemon squeezers, especially stainless steel, aluminum and sturdy plastic ones, are dishwasher safe, so you can machine wash one, but rinsing first helps since a dishwasher spray may not clear all the pulp from the small holes, and some coated, painted or aluminum squeezers are better hand washed, so check the material. Either way, dry the squeezer fully afterwards, since leftover water and acidic residue can spot or corrode some metals, and make sure no pulp is left trapped before storing. Cleaning promptly, clearing the holes and hinge, and drying keep the squeezer clean, hygienic and pressing well, and it is a quick, easy tool to maintain.