This “divine” cleaning product can cause serious damage to household appliances and certain other household items.
Just do a Google search on how to clean anything in your home and you’ll see tons of results suggesting “distilled white vinegar”. After distilling with water to an acidity of about 5%, distilled white vinegar becomes a non-toxic natural cleaning product that kills many types of bacteria, decomposes residues from hard water, and blows away. a wide range of dirt that costs only a fraction of that of famous cleaning products.
“Don’t believe the hype. People often think that vinegar can clean everything, but it’s not as versatile as you might think,” said Brian Sansoni, a senior vice president at Apple Inc. American Cleaning Institute.
White vinegar isn’t as versatile as you might think.
Distilled white vinegar can be effective at descaling coffee machines and removing paint stains from windows, because ” the acid reacts with the organic chemicals in the stain and breaks them down” – chemist Joe Glajch, also the owner of JLG AP Consulting, said. ” But just as it destroys coffee scum, imagine it doing the same to other surfaces in your home.”
Here are 9 cases where you should not use vinegar but replace it with another cleaning chemical for better effect.
Never pour vinegar into the water tank; it may permanently damage the inside of the device. Most steam irons have a protective coating on the inside of the water tank, but acid can corrode the lining and subsequently the metal components.
The best way to clean your iron depends on the type of iron you are using, so read the instructions carefully. If your model has a self-cleaning function, in most cases just fill the tank with water, heat up the iron, unplug the power cord, and hold the iron above the sink with the bottom of the iron. directed downwards. Press and hold the self-cleaning button, and hot water and steam will be released from the bottom of the iron along with any impurities.
If you want the stone top of your kitchen countertop to stay beautiful, don’t clean it with vinegar. Acid will cause marks and tarnish natural stones such as granite and limestone. It can cause them to lose their shine. With highly durable stones like granite, vinegar can corrode any surface coatings above the stone.
Instead, clean these types of countertops with a sponge or dish cloth dipped in mild soap. Only special cleaning plastic pieces should be used to remove stubborn spots.
You’ve probably heard the advice that putting a bowl of vinegar in a working dishwasher will help remove the hard water film and eliminate odors. Some people even use vinegar as a cleaning solution.
However, according to Larry Ciufo, head of dishwashers at Consumer Reports’ lab, ” it didn’t do anything. In the old days, it was probably better than nothing, but today there are bleach solutions available. dishwasher detergents are specially formulated and they work really well”
Vinegar is also ineffective in removing water spots.
Ciufo recommends using a dishwasher detergent, such as Affresh or Finish, to remove the hard water film.
Vinegar is also ineffective at removing water spots, and some manufacturers warn that acetic acid can corrode rubber components in household appliances. “There are dozens of rubber components with different chemical compositions, some of which react with vinegar and some that don’t. If you don’t know what kind of rubber exists inside your home appliance. , and the manual doesn’t say you can use vinegar, so don’t use it,” says Glajch.
When mixed with water in the right proportions, vinegar is extremely effective in cleaning window stains. But never use it on an electronic screen such as a computer monitor, smartphone, tablet, or TV. ” Vinegar can damage the screen’s anti-glare components and even make the touch screen less responsive,” says Antoinette Asedillo, an electronics product tester.
It is better to use a sponge or soft cloth soaked in water. For stubborn stains, use dishwashing liquid diluted with water, and blot on the cloth instead of spraying directly on the screen (Panasonic recommends mixing water – soap in a ratio of 100: 1).
Many laminate flooring manufacturers warn against using vinegar to clean hardwood floors. Some will even void the warranty if any indication is found that you have used vinegar on the floor.
Diluted vinegar can fade the protective coating of wood and leave wood surfaces blind, opaque, or scratched (wooden furniture too). Follow the cleaning instructions of the manufacturer of the laminate you are using, or choose a cleaning solution specifically designed for hardwood floors.
If you use stone floors, of course you shouldn’t touch vinegar either (mentioned in the Countertops section above).
You shouldn’t let vinegar get on some types of stainless steel. Tools with sharp edges, like kitchen knives, are especially susceptible to damage. Vinegar can damage the surface of the knife and cause pitting on the edge of the knife. Other common metals in the kitchen where you shouldn’t use vinegar include aluminum and copper. The best way to clean them is with laundry detergent and warm water.
Vinegar may not damage your cooktop (metal on top is usually ceramic, and countertops are made of glass), but if you’re looking to clean up clutter, simple vinegar simply doesn’t work. ” Acids are terrible at cleaning fats. Instead, choose alkaline cleaning solutions, like ammonia or Borax,” says Glajch.
Plastic and glass surfaces on most small kitchen appliances, such as blenders, coffee makers, and toasters, can be safely cleaned with vinegar, but you should avoid getting vinegar on them. any rubber or metal parts, as this can cause them to rot or rust. Even stainless steel. “There are many grades of stainless steel. Low-quality ones are often used in small appliances and have poor resistance to rust, which can be damaged by acids,” Nanni said.
If you’re confused, here’s a hint: use a diluted dish soap solution.
Vinegar is sometimes used as a fabric softener or to remove stains and deodorize during laundry. But like in the case of dishwashers, it can damage the rubber seals and hoses inside some washing machines, causing water leaks. This problem is quite common, and according to Steven Grayson, owner of a home appliance repair service in New York, ” if used continuously, vinegar can cause water pipes to melt, causing leaks and subsequent leaks. is all sorts of other damage to your home.” According to him, front-loading washing machines are especially easy to “stick” if vinegar is used.
Don’t make this mistake!
And yet, vinegar may not be as effective as we think. ” Vinegar isn’t very effective on stains that are already firmly attached to clothes, including food stains and blood stains,” says Sansonin.