15 Things You Should Never, Ever Clean With Vinegar

15 Things You Should NEVER You Should NEVER Clean with Vinegar Clean with Vinegar

1. Knives 1. Knives Instead, wash your knives with soap and water, and always dry them thoroughly before putting them away. Instead, wash your knives with soap and water, and always dry them thoroughly before putting them away.

2. Marble 2. Marble Vinegar will react with natural marble and cause defects in the surface. Avoid cleaning marble with bleach and other harsh chemicals as well. Vinegar will react with natural marble and cause defects in the surface. Avoid cleaning marble with bleach and other harsh chemicals as well.

3. Granite 3. Granite Spraying your granite countertops with a vinegar solution can make them dull and cause them to lose their shine over time. Spraying your granite countertops with a vinegar solution can make them dull and cause them to lose their shine over time.

4. Ceramic Tiles 4. Ceramic Tiles While most glazed ceramic tile can probably stand up to vinegar , the acidic liquid can eat into grout and dissolve the finish on tiles. While most glazed ceramic tile can probably stand up to vinegar , the acidic liquid can eat into grout and dissolve the finish on tiles.

5. Eggy Spills 5. Eggy Spills Hold off on spraying the sloppy mess with vinegar, which can cause the eggy goo to thicken and harden. Hold off on spraying the sloppy mess with vinegar, which can cause the eggy goo to thicken and harden.

6. Wood furniture 6. Wood furniture Instead, use a 50-50 mixture of oil and vinegar to clean and polish finished wood furniture. Instead, use a 50-50 mixture of oil and vinegar to clean and polish finished wood furniture.

7. Dishwasher 7. Dishwasher If vinegar mixes with salty residue during the cycle, it can discolor metal dishware and utensils. If vinegar mixes with salty residue during the cycle, it can discolor metal dishware and utensils.

8. Phone and Computer Screens 8. Phone and Computer Screens Isopropyl alcohol is best for wiping out germs, but always check manufacturers’ instructions first. Isopropyl alcohol is best for wiping out germs, but always check manufacturers’ instructions first.

9. Rubber 9. Rubber Soap and water or a solution of soap and baking soda are the best grime busters for rubber parts. Soap and water or a solution of soap and baking soda are the best grime busters for rubber parts.

10. Washing Machine 10. Washing Machine Though laundering your clothes with vinegar is a cost-effective, natural way to soften and deodorize fabrics, avoid using it too frequently. Though laundering your clothes with vinegar is a cost-effective, natural way to soften and deodorize fabrics, avoid using it too frequently.

11. Clothes Iron 11. Clothes Iron To cut down on scale buildup, use only distilled water in the reservoir and empty it out after every use. To cut down on scale buildup, use only distilled water in the reservoir and empty it out after every use.

12. Waxed Hardwood Flooring 12. Waxed Hardwood Flooring Don't take any chances. Choose a cleaning product that’s specially formulated for waxed wood floors. Don't take any chances. Choose a cleaning product that’s specially formulated for waxed wood floors.

13. Stone Floors 13. Stone Floors Instead, sweep or vacuum regularly, and for deeper cleaning use either warm water and mild dish soap or cleansers specifically formulated for natural stone. Instead, sweep or vacuum regularly, and for deeper cleaning use either warm water and mild dish soap or cleansers specifically formulated for natural stone.

14. Unsealed or Damaged Grout 14. Unsealed or Damaged Grout Your best bet is to reach for less acidic alternatives, such as hydrogen peroxide or oxygen bleach . Your best bet is to reach for less acidic alternatives, such as hydrogen peroxide or oxygen bleach .

15. Mirrors 15. Mirrors Vinegar can seep behind the glass and corrode the metal beneath that gives the mirror its reflective quality. Vinegar can seep behind the glass and corrode the metal beneath that gives the mirror its reflective quality.

[{"selector":"#anim-2aeadc03-b8d4-4647-8234-4fe4b75ba5a9","keyframes":[{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":0},{"transform":"scale(1.5)","offset":0.33},{"transform":"scale(0.95)","offset":0.66},{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":1}],"delay":0,"duration":1450,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-45982fce-8cf4-44fd-820e-480ac6664f78","keyframes":[{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":0},{"transform":"scale(1.5)","offset":0.33},{"transform":"scale(0.95)","offset":0.66},{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":1}],"delay":0,"duration":1450,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-113acff7-4726-4504-946a-61e3202a1ab2","keyframes":[{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":0},{"transform":"scale(1.5)","offset":0.33},{"transform":"scale(0.95)","offset":0.66},{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":1}],"delay":0,"duration":1450,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-ecf5f497-9c0f-453a-8ecf-9b54e56d30c6","keyframes":[{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":0},{"transform":"scale(1.5)","offset":0.33},{"transform":"scale(0.95)","offset":0.66},{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":1}],"delay":0,"duration":1450,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] More on 10 Clever Ways to Use Baking Soda for Fresher Indoor Air Get the Newsletter 10 Homemade Carpet Cleaning Remedies Sign up to receive the best tips and tricks, the latest news and giveaways, and the most inspiring home improvement ideas from Bob Vila, America's Handyman since 1979. Subscribe Now