Experts warn against using popular cleaning hack – the 4 items to NEVER clean with vinegar and why

VINEGAR has become a holy grail in the DIY cleaning space, as it’s thought to be a safe and effective product to use on virtually anything around the house.

However, experts revealed that’s not the case and specifically warned against cleaning four items with the product.

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Vinegar is a popular cleaning agent, but it’s not safe for every material[/caption]

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Vinegar can dull the shine on stone like granite and marble[/caption]

STONE SURFACES

Vinegar is certainly a useful natural disinfectant, but it’s not safe to use on stone surfaces such as marble and granite.

White distilled vinegar, which is used in all sorts of DIY sprays and touted by cleaning gurus as a cheap multi-purpose cleaning tool, has an average pH level of 2.5.

According to Healthline, this makes it quite acidic, as liquids are thought of as neutral at a 7 pH rating. 

Vinegar’s acidity can dull marble, granite, and whitestone and even eat away at the sealants used to protect the stone.

The same may occur on hardwood floors and objects if they have a wax sealant.

ELECTRONIC SCREENS

According to Real Simple, you should never clean electronic screens with vinegar as it can also eat away at their protectant layer.

“Tech screens can be really fickle and experts recommend using the cleaning formula specifically formulated for your laptop, phone, or tablet,” the site explains. 

“Wiping down the device with a clean, dry microfiber will often do the trick.”

YOUR DISHWASHER

If you follow cleaning trends, you might have come across cleaning experts encouraging you to clean the inside of the dishwasher by running a cycle with nothing but a cup of vinegar present. 

While this can help your dishwasher appear sparkling clean, this may be doing more harm than good in the long run.

White vinegar won’t necessarily destroy a dishwasher, but it can eat away at its rubber seal if it uses one.

Not all dishwashers use a rubber seal, so it’s best to know the ins and outs of it by checking the owner’s manual.

The experts at Consumer Reports recommended using a cleaner that’s made specifically for washing the dishwasher for best results.

PET ODORS

It’s no secret that vinegar can be used as an effective deodorizer. 

In fact, a professional janitor revealed he uses it to make couch cushions smell as good as new.

And while vinegar may cover the smell of pet accidents on carpet or furniture for humans, it doesn’t completely destroy those odors for pets.

This may consequently encourage pets to dirty the same area to mark the territory with their own scent if they’re living with another animal.

Of course, vinegar can still be a safe and effective cleanser for other items.

For instance, one savvy woman revealed she prevents black mold from growing in her toilet with the help of vinegar.

Plus, a professional cleaner revealed she uses vinegar to get rid of human urine smells in the bathroom.

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Vinegar can help with the smell of animal feces and urine but doesn’t get rid of it completely[/caption]