What NOT to clean with vinegar!
Jeanne Frey
So, vinegar is one of my very favorite cleaning ingredients, for several reasons!
First, it’s natural and non-toxic. I don’t have to worry about strange cleaning chemicals when I’m using vinegar to clean my house! Second, it’s incredibly cheap to buy. You can get a gallon
of vinegar at most stores for just a few dollars. And third, it’s really versatile!
You can use it to clean all kinds of things, such as
- windows
- glass
- shower heads
- suede
- denim
- microwave
- sticky stuff
- toliets
- dishwasher
- washing machine
- mold
- mildew
Vinegar works great as a natural and affordable cleaner, but you shouldn't use it on everything!
DON’T Clean This With Vinegar
Vinegar makes a great cleaner because it’s acidic, which helps it to cut through tough grease, grime, and mineral deposits. But vinegar’s acidity can also damage
certain surfaces, so it’s important to know which ones to avoid. Porous surfaces like wood, stone, and grout are susceptible to damage from acidic cleaners like vinegar.
Here’s a list of items to avoid when cleaning with vinegar, as well as details on what kinds of cleaners you can use instead!
- Granite, marble, and soapstone countertops. Acids don’t mix with natural stones like granite, marble and soapstone. It can cause pitting and make them lose their shine. Here's what I use: Thieves household cleaner and a damp cloth.
- Kitchen knives. If you want to keep your knife like new, acids are to be avoided. Here's what I use: Thieves dish soap and water.
- Egg-based messes. Vinegar will cause the proteins in the egg to coagulate, creating a gluey substance that is even more impossible to clean up. Here's what I use: A damp washcloth and Thieves spray.
- Clothes iron. Vinegar can actually damage the inner workings of your iron. Here's what I use: just water and a few drops of lemon essential oil.
- Solid wood furniture. It isn’t a good idea to clean wood with pure, undiluted vinegar. In addition to leaving water marks, the acid in the vinegar could “eat” certain kinds of finishes. However, for polishing wood, a homemade treatment of half olive oil and half white vinegar can buff up stained and oiled wood finishes nicely. Here's what I use: 4 drops of orange essential oil from Young Living with a 12 spray bottle of water. Lightly spray mixture onto furniture and immediately wipe up with microfiber cloth.
Clean With Caution!
Use your best judgment when cleaning with vinegar!
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