Vinegar is a fantastic household product that is inexpensive and can be used to clean and deodorize. It’s all-natural and pretty much all-purpose. We love that it can be used to clean almost everything. However, there are a few items that you should never use vinegar to clean!
Here are 6 THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER CLEAN WITH VINEGAR because the acid in the vinegar will do more harm than good.
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1. NATURAL STONE
Natural stone surfaces including granite, travertine, limestone, and marble should NEVER be cleaned with vinegar.
This encompasses countertops and tile floors! The acid in the vinegar can actually leave pockmarks and other damaging marks on the stone.
DO clean your natural stone with a mild detergent like your dish soap mixed with warm water. Use a soft cloth for your countertops and a mop to clean your natural stone floors. Be sure to thoroughly rinse your cloth or mop after cleaning the surface so that you don’t leave behind any soapy residue which can make your stone look hazy.
2. YOUR IRON
I was taught that the best way to clean my iron was to pour a mixture of water and vinegar into the reservoir and then use the steam function on an old towel to remove dirt and other debris from the iron.
However, vinegar is actually harmful to the internal parts of your iron.
3. YOUR WASHING MACHINE
The advice to never use vinegar to clean your washing machine, EVEN if it smells like mildew makes a lot of sense.
The vinegar can prematurely eat away the rubber seals and hoses that are needed to keep your machine running smoothly.
Instead of using vinegar to clean your machine if you notice a smell, try using a washing machine cleaner. Washing machine cleaners are single-use packets that you put in your soap dispenser and cycle through the wash cycle to help kill any odors and smelly residue that may be in your washing machine.
4. HARDWOOD FLOORS
Vinegar is very naughty to both hardwood floors and wood furniture. The acid can strip away the protective finish on the wood making it vulnerable to warping, discoloration, and scuffs.
5. YOUR ELECTRONIC DEVICES
I’m sure this seems like a no-brainer, but it’s actually not.
It stands to reason that a natural cleanser would be safe to use to clean your phone, iPod, and tablet screens, right? WRONG.
You actually shouldn’t EVER use ANYTHING on your electronic device screens with the exception of specially formulated electronic device screen cleaners. Vinegar, although fabulous for cleaning so many things, will ruin your electronic device screen if you use it. So, just don’t.
6. AN EGG
This one made me scratch my head. Why would vinegar be a no-no for cleaning up a raw egg that’s been spilled or dropped?
Well, the vinegar reacts with the egg and makes it coagulate or curdle, which is just kind of gross and even more of a mess to clean up.
Do you have any items to add to the list?
To put your vinegar to use, here are ways to use it instead…
20 Ways to Use Vinegar in Unusual Ways
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