9 Things You SHOULDN’T Clean With Vinegar

Here at 101 Days of Organization, we’ve talked before about vinegar and all the things you can do with it. {See this post!} With all the things you can clean with vinegar, there are still some things you can’t, because of vinegar’s natural acidity. So, let’s bring you up to speed! Here are 9 things you shouldn’t clean with vinegar.

1. Don’t assume that since vinegar is awesome at removing hard water deposits that it’ll make your iron run like new again. It won’t! Vinegar can actually damage your iron’s internal parts. So to keep your iron from bogging down with mineral deposits, empty it between uses.
2. Really stubborn stains such as blood, ink and grass stains won’t come out with vinegar alone, no matter how much you try. Instead, use a pre-treater like Tide Boost or Shout.
3. Don’t use vinegar on granite countertops! The acids in the vinegar will etch the granite, and that will permanently damage the surface.
4. Any other natural stone surface, like quartz, can also be etched by vinegar. Use a mild dishwashing soap and water for a safe clean.
5. For stone tile flooring, use a commercial stone tile cleaner instead of vinegar. {Avoid ammonia as well!}.
6. If you ever drop an egg on the floor, don’t reach for the vinegar to help clean it up. Vinegar’s acidity only makes the proteins in the egg coagulate, and that makes it much harder to wipe up. Just use paper towels to soak as much of it up as you can, then mop the area with dishwashing soap and water.
7. There are some claims out there that vinegar can be used to clean hardwood flooring. Some homeowners say that vinegar worked great on their sealed hardwood floors, but others say it caused damage to theirs, so just avoid it to be safe. Stick with a cleaner specifically made for polyurethane-sealed hardwood floors, like Bona. {My personal favorite!}.
8. Just like hardwood floors, vinegar could damage your wood furniture. Use a cleaner made for the purpose instead.
9. Over time, vinegar’s acidity can damage your favorite kitchen knives. Always wash them by hand with mild soap and warm water.