12 Things to Avoid Cleaning with White Vinegar at Home

12 Things You Should Never Clean With White Vinegar

White vinegar is an excellent cleaning solution that you can use for various purposes, but it isn’t the best choice for every task. With certain household items, vinegar may do more harm than good. It may be your default cleaning solution, but you should know which items can’t handle the substance to avoid mishaps.

1. Wood Furniture

You want to keep your wood furniture in great condition, but cleaning it with the vinegar could cause irreparable damage. Vinegar, especially when undiluted, can eat away at the finish and leave unsightly streaks. It may be harmful to use a solution of vinegar and water, too. Instead, mix one-part vinegar with one part oil to safely polish your wood furniture.

2. Granite

Although spraying your granite countertops with vinegar may not cause noticeable damage right away, regularly applying vinegar can cause them to dull over time. Also, because vinegar is acidic, it may cause etching on the surface, which results in discoloration and roughness.

3. Ceramic

Keeping ceramic tiles clean is tough, but vinegar could cause even more problems. The substance may eat away at the finish on the tiles, and it can cause the grout to wear down. In most cases, it’s better to use warm water and dish soap to clean ceramic tiles.

4. Marble

Because marble is porous, vinegar can easily wear it down. Over time, cleaning your marble countertops with the vinegar could cause pitting, dullness, roughness, and other imperfections. Stick with gentle soap and warm water to keep marble surfaces looking shiny and new.

5. Knives

Vinegar can be effective for removing rust from kitchen knives, but you shouldn’t use it on your knives in any other circumstances. The acid will cause corrosion and dull the blade. You can keep your knives in great condition by washing them with soap and water and drying them thoroughly to avoid spots.

6. Hardwood Floors

Just like vinegar can damage your wood furniture, it can have the same effect on your hardwood floors. It’s important to be cautious when applying anything acidic to wood as it can cause the finish to wear away.

7. Rubber

Cleaning the rubber gaskets and hoses in your dishwasher, refrigerator, washing machine, and other appliances will help to keep the items in good working condition. However, white vinegar will eat away at the rubber, which could eventually cause leaks and other serious problems. Instead, use soap and baking soda to remove mildew and other grime from rubber surfaces.

8. Computer or Cell Phone Screens

Although vinegar may be an easy option for sanitizing your screens, it can damage the protective coating on cell phones and computers. Isopropyl alcohol is a better option for removing germs and bacteria on these devices.

9. Washing Machine

Some people clean their washing machine by running a cycle with white vinegar, but this can damage the rubber components of the machine. You probably won’t have any issues if you use vinegar once or twice, but frequent washing with the vinegar could cause leaks.

10. Dishwasher

Although vinegar can be a great product for cleaning and polishing certain dishes, adding it to your dishwasher is risky. Over time, vinegar will wear away at the rubber gaskets and other components of the machine. If you want to polish silverware or other dishware, complete the task by hand instead of adding vinegar to your dishwasher.

11. Iron

Filling up your clothing iron with vinegar is a popular recommendation for removing scale, but you should always consult the manufacturer’s manual before using cleaning products on your iron. Vinegar may cause serious damage to the appliance, so it may be better to use hot water.

12. Egg Spills

A spilled or broken egg is one of the most frustrating kitchen messes to clean up, but vinegar will make the problem worse. If you spray an egg spill with vinegar, it will harden and become almost impossible to clean. You can use salt to soak up egg spills instead.

Avoid Mixing Vinegar

Not only is it risky to clean these items and surfaces with vinegar, but it also can be dangerous to mix vinegar with other cleaning products. In many cases, combining vinegar and other common cleaning solutions can result in toxic gases. Be careful if you plan to use more than one cleaning product at a time, and always double-check before mixing substances.

Plumbing and HVAC Services in Knoxville

Proper maintenance and upkeep are the keys to keeping your home safe and comfortable. Pipe Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Inc. is here to help with any plumbing or HVAC problems you may encounter. Call us today at (865) 583-3957 to learn more about our services.