All the Things You Should Never Clean With Vinegar

If you spend time searching for cleaning tips and hacks on social media, you’re very familiar with vinegar. There’s nothing wrong with TikTok; in real life, however, this is quite possible. Although promoted as an economical and environmentally friendly alternative to other cleaning products, vinegar is also acidic and should not be used on certain surfaces and materials. Here’s when you shouldn’t use vinegar.

Don’t clean these things with vinegar.

If you want to clean rather than corrode , then avoid getting vinegar on the following surfaces:

• Anything made from wood, especially hardwood . The finish on a hardwood floor can wear off from the acidic vinegar, and unprotected wood can absorb it, causing swelling and possibly even cracking. Soap and water works best for your entire tree.
• Anything that has a waxy surface for the same reason: vinegar can dissolve the coating. However, if you want to dissolve an old layer of wax to apply a new one, vinegar can help.
• Granite or marble countertops are also on the vinegar no-no list. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: granite is porous, so it will absorb whatever you clean it with, and you don’t want any acid in there.

According to PuroClean , you also shouldn’t use vinegar to clean grease or protein stains. Vinegar doesn’t remove grease, and for protein-based stains, vinegar can cause coagulation, turning the stain into a sticky goo that’s even harder to get rid of.

In general, many things you use every day have some kind of protective coating on them, from stainless steel appliances to electronics, and vinegar will wear down the coatings. You can use diluted vinegar to clean glassware —and maybe a few other things you’ve never thought of before —but be mindful of everything else.

Be careful when mixing vinegar with other cleaning products.

Yes, diluting vinegar allows you to use it for some household tasks, but you can’t just mix it with something. According to Merry Maids , you should never mix it with bleach (or any other product containing bleach) as it can release a deadly toxic gas. Sunrise Industrial Cleaners goes even further, warning against mixing it with hydrogen peroxide or even baking soda.

In general, it’s best to use a mild, natural, store-bought cleaner or DIY recipes for anything that may have a coating or be porous.