9 Things You Should Never Clean With Vinegar

Susan Parker

12 minutes ago

White vinegar has a reputation as the cure-all in the cleaning cabinet. It is cheap, it smells like grandma’s kitchen, and everybody swears by it.

But a good cleaner for one job can quietly wreck another. In its list of 9 things you should never clean with vinegar, Consumer Reports (2020) names the surfaces and appliances where that jug of white vinegar can do more harm than good.

Here is the rundown, so you can keep your pretty things pretty.

The Clothes Iron Can Suffer Inside Where You Cannot See It

Consumer Reports says vinegar can corrode the heating element and damage the inside of a clothes iron. It is a tempting fix for that crusty plate, but the acid goes to work on the guts of the appliance.

The magazine says the best way to clean an iron depends on the model, so the owner’s manual is your first stop.

Your Granite, Marble And Soapstone Countertops Will Dull

According to Consumer Reports (2020), vinegar’s acid can etch and dull natural stone such as granite, marble and soapstone. That pretty shine is hard to bring back once it is gone.

The magazine recommends mild detergent and a plastic scrub pad instead.

Your Dishwasher Test Found Vinegar “Didn’t Do A Thing”

Many folks pour vinegar into the dishwasher to fight the cloudy film on glasses. Consumer Reports tested it, and Larry Ciufo, head of the magazine’s dishwasher lab, said, “It didn’t do a thing.”

There is a bigger worry. Acetic acid can degrade rubber parts, and chemist Joe Glajch put it plainly: unless the manual says vinegar is fine for the rubber in your appliance, leave it out of the machine.

Phone, Tablet And TV Screens Lose Their Protective Coating

Consumer Reports (2020) warns that vinegar can damage the anti-glare coating on electronic screens and make a touch screen less responsive. Antoinette Asedillo, an electronics product tester at the magazine, said, “Vinegar can damage a screen’s anti-glare properties and even make a touch screen less responsive.”

For screens, the magazine suggests a cloth dampened with water or highly diluted dish soap.

Hardwood Floors Can End Up Cloudy, Dull And Scratched

Here is a mistake a lot of us have made with the mop bucket. Consumer Reports says many manufacturers, including Lumber Liquidators, warn against vinegar on hardwood, and some will void a warranty if you use it.

Even diluted vinegar can dissolve the protective finish and leave wood looking cloudy, dull or scratched. The same caution applies to wood furniture and stone tile flooring, according to the magazine.

Good Knives Can End Up With Pitted Edges

Vinegar can damage the finish on a knife and pit the edge, Consumer Reports says. Jim Nanni, who heads appliance testing at the magazine, is cited on the knife risk.

The article also advises keeping vinegar away from aluminum and copper. For knives, plain dishwashing liquid and warm water is the recommended route.

Greasy Ranges Need A Different Kind Of Cleaner

Vinegar will not necessarily harm a range or cooktop, but Consumer Reports found it ineffective on greasy messes. Glajch said, “Acids make for lousy degreasers.”

He suggests an alkaline cleaner such as ammonia or Borax for the greasy stuff, which is the opposite end of the chemistry from vinegar.

Small Appliances With Rubber Or Metal Parts Are Risky

Consumer Reports (2020) says vinegar is generally fine on plastic and glass parts but not on rubber or metal, including stainless steel. Nanni noted that the lower-quality stainless steel used in small appliances is less resistant to rust, and acid can speed that rust along.

When in doubt, the magazine says to reach for diluted dish soap.

Washing Machines Can Spring Leaks From Melted Hoses

This one surprised me most. Steven Grayson of Foothills Appliance Service told Consumer Reports, “With continual use, vinegar can literally melt hoses, causing leaks.” He says front-load washers are especially susceptible.

The American Cleaning Institute’s senior vice president of communications, Brian Sansoni, said vinegar is not very useful on set-in stains either, so the risk buys you very little.

Think about what that means for a busy week at home. A quick vinegar splash feels harmless, yet the damage shows up months later as a dull floor, a leaky hose or a screen that will not respond to your finger.

So where does vinegar still belong? Keep the jug in the pantry. The Consumer Reports advice is to match the cleaner to the job.

A smart habit is to check the manual before you try any homemade cleaner on an appliance. Manufacturers often spell out what is safe, and some tie their warranty to it.

If you have already used vinegar on one of these spots, do not panic. Rinse the area with plain water, stop using it, and switch to the mild dish soap and cloth routine the magazine recommends.

Your home is full of expensive surfaces, and the right gentle cleaner costs only a few dollars. Keep the vinegar for the jobs it is good at and spare the iron, the stone, the floors, the screens and the washer.