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6 things you should never clean with vinegar

It could make things worse. - by Livia Gamble
  • 29 Apr 2021

When it comes to cleaning, it's no wonder that many reach for all-natural vinegar. Vinegar not only fights germs, it banishes bathroom mould on contact, wards off bad odours, cuts through soap scum and can even soften your towels!

WATCH: DIY bathroom jobs you can do yourself

While you can clean virtually every surface in your home with vinegar, there are some things even this wonder cleaner cannot do. 

Here are 6 things you should never clean with vinegar.

1. Iron

Don’t use vinegar to clean the inside of your iron. Instead, follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions 

2. Phone or computer screen

Using vinegar to clean your phone or computer could remove the coating on the screen. 

Phone and laptop on bed with orange and white bed linen
Vlada Karpovich via Pexels

3. Spilt egg

Vinegar is the secret to perfect poached eggs for a reason; it helps to keep it together. Using vinegar to clean up eggs will only make things more difficult.

4. Natural stone or marble benches

According to Good Housekeeping, the acid in vinegar can discolour natural stone and etch marble.

Marble kitchen bench with timber chopping board and black tap
Getty

5. Stone, ceramic or hardwood floors

The acid in vinegar can damage your floors. Always read the care instructions for your type of floor.

6. Remove rust spots on certain metals

Vinegar reacts differently with certain metals. Submerging steel tools in vinegar should be to remove rust spots; however, it may cause stainless steel and enamelled cast iron cookware to corrode.

There's not much vinegar can't clean around your home! Don't believe it? Check out our guide to cleaning your entire home using vinegar, 5 cleaning recipes you can make with pantry staples and our guide to using vinegar in the garden.

  • Better Life
  • Cleaning
Livia Gamble
Based in Newcastle, Livia Gamble will not sleep until she has discovered every possible way to use bi-carb soda and vinegar. When she isn’t reporting on ways to improve your home and garden, she can be found knitting socks (by choice) and will never say no to pizza.

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