Vinegar has so many uses and is great for cleaning windows, carpet, and produce. But there are a few things you should never use vinegar to clean. Stay safe and steer clear of these surfaces when cleaning wth vinegar.
1) Hardwood
Vinegar can break down finishes on hardwood floors, leaving it susceptible to scuffs. So your grandmother may have used vinegar on her floor, but now we have specialty floor cleaner that should be used whenever you clean your floors.
2) Waxed Furniture
Just like hardwood, waxed furniture is coated in substances that can break down. One that wax is deteriorated, your furniture won’t look the same and it will easily scratch. Stick to soapy water with furniture like this.
3) Irons
While you may have been told that vinegar is safe for irons, the fact is that it is only safe for the metal part of it. Underneath the iron, there are mechanisms and chemical compounds that will break down and cause your iron to stop working if washes with vinegar.
4) Products You Bleach
When in doubt, don’t mix cleaning substances or chemicals. You know about ammonia and bleach, well, vinegar and bleach have a similar reaction. It creates a toxic gas. So don’t use vinegar to clean pool toys, laundry, or other bleached things.
5) Pet Messes
While vinegar may seem to cover up the smell of pet messes, it doesn’t for your pets. They can still smell the residue on the floor and will use it to go in the same place again. Plus, it has to soak the bottom fibers of the carpet to really neutralize it.
6) Fallen Eggs
When cleaning up an egg, it’s best to use soapy water. If you use vinegar, you’ll end up with a sticky mess that is even harder to clean up. Sometimes, it’s best to use soap and water for your mess rather than a more advanced product.
7) Electronics
Now you know that vinegar to break down many materials, electronics included. The inside of the computer, as well as the screen, can break down with vinegar. It’s best to stick with electronic cleaner or rubbing alcohol.
8) Pearls
The calcium carbonate in pearls will react to the vinegar and deteriorate over time. Here’s another time when warm water and soap is your best bet. Be gentle with the pearls even then and avoid any chemicals.
9) Granite/Marble
Granite, marble, and other natural stones should never be cleaned with acid-based substances. You should use cleaners designated for natural stones to clean your countertops and leave the acid for the windows.
10) Pots and Pans
Baking soda and vinegar is a great mixture for some things, but not cleaning your pans. The grease is too strong and doesn’t react correctly. Plus, you definitely want something that kills germs when cleaning your dishes.
11) Grease
Like with pans, cleaning greasy surfaces just doesn’t work with vinegar. Dish soap is amazing for grease! Haven’t you seen the Dawn commercials? You can scrub all you want with vinegar but the two just don’t mix.
12) Grout
Non-sealed grout can break down easily and quickly with vinegar. But even sealed grout can break down, just slower as it has to penetrate the finish first. Just to be safe, you should clean your floors with tile cleaner.
However, we all know vinegar is a wonderful cleaning agent for many other things around the house. To learn some ways you might not have thought of to use vinegar watch the video below!
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