9 Things You Should Never Clean With Vinegar

Vinegar can be the unsung hero of house cleaning: A simple solution of equal parts white vinegar and water can go a long way toward removing stubborn stains, cleaning and descaling coffee makers, or washing windows around your home — all for a fraction of the price of name-brand cleaning solutions.

But just because you can use vinegar to clean some household items doesn’t mean you can use it on them all Household items: You risk damaging them instead of cleaning them, which saves you more work. Here are some things you may want to avoid cleaning with vinegar.

1. Washing machines
2. daub
3. Egg spots
4. Marble countertop
5. Wooden floors
6. Knives
7. Stainless steel
8. Irons and steamers
9. Phone, TV and other technical displays

Washing machines

It is not a good idea to use vinegar in the washing machine: For each spiralWhich manufactures machines, the acidity of vinegar may lead to corrosion of the machine components. You can use vinegar to pre-treat stains on white fabrics, just make sure to wash them before putting them in the washing machine.

daub

While many websites recommend using vinegar to clean grout, only professionals in the field Advise against itespecially if it is plaster Not sealed: Over time, vinegar can damage and corrode them.

Egg spots

Dropping an egg on your kitchen floor isn’t the end of the world, however according to Good housekeepingUsing a vinegar solution to clean it is a no-no: the acid in the vinegar may cause the yolk to solidify and make the job more difficult.

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Marble countertop

If you have countertops in your home that are made of natural stone like limestone or marble, keep the vinegar away. “Acids are the enemy of any stone, especially marble, which is a softer and more porous stone,” Wilberson DosSantos of NYC Marble Care. He said Architectural abstract. “The acids react with the calcium carbonate and eat away at the stone.” Instead, use a gentle, non-abrasive cleaning solution, such as water mixed with mild dishwashing soap.

Wooden floors

Vinegar can remove hard surfaces such as floors and furniture, and diluting it does not help; The acid can break down the wax layer, In words to Consumer Reports“Leave it looking cloudy, faded, or scratched.” And as Good housekeeping Note: You should also avoid using vinegar on unsealed wood as it may cause it to swell. Instead, use cleaners designed specifically for hard surfaces.

Knives

The Internet is full of stories that say it’s okay to clean your knives with vinegar, but it’s both Consumer Reports and Home summary Not recommended: Vinegar may leave your knives with pitted edges and possibly even damaged finishes. Kitchen knives should be cleaned with mild dish soap and warm water to keep those edges sharp, which is important for slicing and slicing foods.

Stainless steel

Skip using vinegar on stainless steel: according to Clean Treatment The material is “protected with a thin layer of chromium oxide that gives it resistance to corrosion. Acids like vinegar can break down that protective layer over time, especially when left for a long time.” To remove food stains and greasy smudges, use specialized stainless steel cleaners or… Dish soap instead of.

Irons and steamers

Some people put vinegar inside irons or clothes steamers, not to clean the clothes or help get rid of wrinkles, but to clean the appliances themselves. It is believed that passing distilled white vinegar through an iron or steamer can dissolve the mineral deposits remaining inside.

Despite the vinegar He does Get rid of mineral deposits, as this may also damage the internal components of the devices, which may cause them to not work properly again. Carolyn Forte, executive director of the Home Care and Cleaning Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, recommends “filling the water chamber of your iron or steamer, setting it to the highest temperature and steam setting, then blasting it away to flush out trapped minerals.”

Phone, TV and other technical displays

It may be tempting to clean your smartphone with vinegar, or an all-purpose cleaner that contains vinegar as an active ingredient, but that’s not recommended: the acids in vinegar can erode the anti-glare or protective coating on touchscreen devices. This can make your smartphone (and other technology) less responsive over time and eventually render it useless. Technology screens are best cleaned with a microfiber cloth and computer screen cleaning spray. You can also use cleaning wipes designed specifically for electronics.