6 Things Not To Clean With Vinegar

When it comes to organic cleaning, there is a lot of discussion about the beneficial effects of vinegar. However, the results may not be as good with some objects or surfaces. In this article, we will tell you what things you should not clean with vinegar.

Unlike industrial chemicals, vinegar is a natural ingredient that can be used to clean many things. Together with baking soda, lemon and salt, it is part of a range of daily ingredients with many other uses.

However, like everything, vinegar has its drawbacks. There are some things that should not be cleaned with vinegar if you do not want to ruin them. Do you know what they are? This article explains what we mean.

6 things or materials that should not be cleaned with vinegar

The low pH of vinegar makes it a very effective and quite acidic substance. While it may work well on some things, it may not work on all.

Here are the things and surfaces you shouldn’t clean with vinegar:

1. Hardwood floors

Although vinegar may work on some surfaces, its use can  cause irreparable stains or discoloration on hardwood floors.

Thus, the best proactive measure you can take to avoid unnecessary problems is to procure cleaning products specifically designed for such floor types. This may not be a natural option, as there are very few such options.

However, this advice does not apply to wooden furniture. Vinegar combined with olive oil can be a useful remover of stains and dirt on wooden furniture.

2. Stone surfaces

Natural stones such as granite or marble do not react well with acidic substances. Thus, it is best not to apply vinegar to these surfaces. You should also not use lemon or baking soda.

Same with stone floors. It is better to use special cleaning products designed for these surfaces.

3. Household appliances and electrical appliances

Despite its polishing properties, you should not use vinegar to clean your TV or computer. It should also not be used to clean a microwave, coffee machine or iron, much less touch screens such as tablets and phones.

In addition to removing their natural luster and surface wear, this material can modify its components. As a result, you may end up getting technical problems caused by vinegar.

4. Food stains

Whether it’s clothes, the floor, car seats or a couch, vinegar doesn’t remove food stains.  On the contrary, its ingredients react to food residues and make their removal even more difficult.

5. Bleach

Never mix vinegar with bleach. Combining these two ingredients can be fatal as they form chlorine gas. It is a very toxic vapor-releasing substance.

6. Iron boilers and pans

These beloved kitchen utensils are on the list of things you shouldn’t clean with vinegar for two reasons. The first is that acetic acid removes the non-stick surface. As you know, this greatly limits the functionality of pots and pans.

Iron also does not react well with these acidic ingredients. The pot or pan may stain as a result.

Things you can clean with vinegar

While you shouldn’t use vinegar to clean certain things, it has a lot of benefits in cleaning. Some of the surfaces you can clean with this ingredient are:

• Wooden furniture
• All bathroom items : toilet bowl, bath, faucet, hand basin
• You can also use it to remove rust from various objects
• In addition, you can use it to disinfect the refrigerator
• Mirrors

In summary, it could be said that this can be either a good cleaning aid or a double-headed sword with irreversible results. If you are aware of it and pay attention to the components of each item to be cleaned, you can avoid ruining the things you love.