Pros and cons of using white vinegar to clean stuff.

[BlueIris]

Last edited Wed Mar 7, 2012, 01:55 PM - Edit history (1)

At my house, we find that white vinegar is a great natural deoderizer and eco-friendly cleaner. Lately, though, I've been worried about whether it has any long term, er, drawbacks, especially as a drain cleaner or a cleanser on things like shower interiors. Anyone with experience using vinegar throughout the decades want to weigh in?

[lbrtbell]

1. I've had one bad experience with it

I used it to clean the stopper of the bathroom sink, and it left a discolored, whitish circle around the drain.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. My plumber told us to put white vinegar down the drains once a week.

I have not had any problems with it.
I use in instead of the rinse aid in the dishwasher, use it in washing machine to clean soap scum, use it in dish water when cleaning the pet dishes ( makes them squeaky clean),
wipe the counters and cutting boards with it, spray it ( mixed with water) in the shower stalls.

[Whisp]

13. I add a bit of baking soda

plop a teaspoon or so in the drain then pour in a bit of vinegar and it fuzzes up like alka seltzer.

I love vinegar, I use it now for most of my cleaning.
vinegar, ammonia and bleach replace a lot of the commercial cleaners that really are just a cash grab.

[Irishonly]

3. I have never had any problems

I have some major health issues and try my best not to use chemicals.

[beac]

4. I've been using it as a detergent booster for a while w/great results.

I switched to all-natural detergent a couple of years back, but found that sometimes it wasn't up to the challenge of gym clothes, stinky socks or dog bedding. Adding a glug or two of white vinegar to the wash cycle (I keep a gallon by the machine) makes everything come out fresh.

I also use apple cider vinegar and baking soda to keep my bathroom sink draining well.

[Ruby Reason]

10. Haven't tried it yet, but I've heard it help soften the clothes too.

Overall I've never had any trouble with it as a cleaner.

[Sienna86]

5. I use vinegar with alcohol and water and a general cleaner

I add 10 drops of an essential oil - right now I use clove oil - and it makes everything smell so good. I keep a bottle in every bathroom for cleaning the mirrors and counters.

I don't like using chemical cleaners either.

[JDPriestly]

7. I think I'll try that.

How much alcohol to how much vinegar and how much water?

[ThoughtCriminal]

6. I don't like the smell

But other than that, I haven't had any problems.

[Little Star]

8. I've washed my windows with..

straight white vinegar. It did a good job.

[Whisp]

14. yes, it's every bit as good as Windex and all those products.

Vinegar makes my windows laugh.

[CottonBear]

9. I use it to to rinse my son's clothes and cloth diapers after the wash cycle.

I use perfume and dye free detergent for the wash cycle. I add vinegar to the clothes during the rinse cycle. (I use one cup for clothes and two cups for diapers.) I run a separate hot water vinegar wash and rinse for the diapers after the initial wash and rinse. The vinegar removes any detergent residue and leaves the clothes and diapers super fresh and clean. I can't stand perfumed clothes and my child has very sensitive skin. A vinegar rinse also works great for sheets, towels and blankets. The fabric comes out of the wash very soft without the use of fabric softener. A big bottle of store brand white vinegar doesn't cost very much at all.

[RebelOne]

11. It is a great cure for the hiccups.

Whenever I get the hiccups, I just take a swig of vinegar, and the hiccups are gone. Don't wrinkle up your nose at this remedy because it always works for me.

[gkhouston]

12. I use a vinegar/water solution to clean produce.

1 part vinegar to 3 parts water. For smooth things like apples, you can spray it on and then rinse it off right away. For something more "textured" like broccoli or cantaloupe, I leave it on for 2-3 minutes, then rinse.

[HeiressofBickworth]

15. We have an Old-Girl Kitty

who sometimes forgets her manners and pees on anything cloth laying on the floor. We use 1 cup of white vinegar in the wash and it takes the smell of kitty pee right out of whatever was washed. We buy it a gallon at a time, and it's very cheap.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

16. I've been cleaning with vinegar for at least 15 years

No problems at all. It's more gentle than using commercial scale removers, and it's an excellent deodorizer too boot!

I even use a weak solution of vinegar and water as a rinse on my hair to help keep the minerals from building up on it.

[ginnyinWI]

17. you can make homemade air freshener with it

Mix 1/2 c. white vinegar, 1 cup water, and 20 drops essential oil of choice--citrus, lavendar, whatever. Put in a spray bottle and use to freshen the bathroom. Works as well as a regular spray, and has a nice clean effect. I find the commercial sprays to be really irritating and annoying.

[vanboggie]

18. Great Pergo cleaner

We've had Pergo flooring for several years, and my daughter recently discovered that vinegar and water makes a great homemade Pergo cleaner. She researched it online before using and now even the Pergo site recommends it (they used to say you had to use Pergo cleaner only). Mix 1-cup vinegar to 1-gallon water and put in a spray bottle. It really brought back the shine to our heavily used flooring.