Cleaning Hacks: 9 Things You Should Never Clean With Vinegar

Using vinegar to clean the inside of your iron can corrode the heating element and permanently damage the inside of the appliance. Most steam irons have a protective coating inside the chamber, but acid can gnaw away at that lining and then the metal parts are next. Your best bet is to read your iron’s manual and follow the cleaning recommendations and never use vinegar to clean it.

If you want to keep your stone countertops looking beautiful, don’t reach for vinegar. The acid etches and dulls natural stone such as granite, marble, and soapstone. It can make them lose their shine and cause pitting or scarring. Instead, wipe down these types of countertops with a sponge or dish towel dipped in mild detergent. Use only plastic scrub pads to remove stubborn spots.

You may have heard that running a dishwasher with a bowl of vinegar in it will help get rid of hard water film and lingering odors. Some people even use vinegar as a rinse aid. However, the vinegar acidity can damage the rubber parts of the appliance and should be avoided on dishwashers with seals made from polyacrylate, fluorosilicone, and Buna-N. In case the vinegar sits on the surface of these types of seals for a long period of time, it can cause failure. Better try using a rinse aid that you’ll find at the store to get your dishes clean—it will prolong the life of the hoses and seals in your dishwasher.

Electronic Screens
Vinegar’s great at leaving windows streak-free, but never use it on an electronic screen like that on your computer, smartphone, tablet, or TV. Vinegar can damage a screen's anti-glare properties and even make a touch screen less responsive. Instead, use a soft sponge or cloth dampened with plain ole water instead. For stubborn spots, try a solution of dish soap highly diluted with water, applied to the cloth and not to the screen itself.

Knives
You want to keep vinegar away from metals. Tools with exposed edges, like kitchen knives, are especially vulnerable. Not only can vinegar damage the finish on knives, but it can also leave the knife’s edge pitted. Other common metals in the kitchen that you should keep away from vinegar include aluminum and copper. The best cleaning option is dishwashing liquid and warm water.

Hardwood floors
This one varies depending on the finish of your floors. Diluted vinegar can dissolve the finish that protects the wood and leave it looking cloudy, dull, or scratched. (The same goes for wood furniture.) Follow the manufacturer's cleaning recommendations or pick a cleaner that’s made specifically for hardwood flooring.

Egg spills
Cleaning egg messes with vinegar solution will cause the protein enzymes in the egg to coagulate and will make the stains even more impossible to clean up. So, if you drop one on the floor while cooking, it’s better to wipe them up with something else. Better use some soap and warm water instead.

If you have natural stone tiles anywhere in your house, avoid cleaning them with vinegar, lemon, or ammonia. The acidity in the products etches and dulls the stone. To repair, it will require a very expensive re-polishing process.

Using vinegar to clean your waxed furniture will dissolve the wax and leave the surface looking dull. Use a wax cleaning solvent to maintain the surface of your furniture instead.