Green Cleaning Myth: You can use vinegar for everything and anything!
NOT REALLY! – A lot can be done with vinegar, but it is certainly not the supernatural home cleaner some people would have you believe. As summarized in “Does Vinegar Disinfect?” it really is not all it is cracked up to be, especially when it comes to cleaning up dirt and grime.
A study published in the Journal of Environmental Health found that vinegar was the worst at soil (dirt) removal in kitchens and bathrooms when compared with all of the different conventional and alternative cleaning products tested.
They reported “Vinegar was more effective in reducing microbial contamination than the other alternative cleaners tested but was least effective in removing soil. All of the cleaners, including water, could conceivably have removed the soil with enough cleaning strokes.” that is, “apply elbow grease.”
Vinegar can be used for cleaning hard non-porous surfaces, mopping, in the laundry as a stain treatment, to clean trash cans, for bathroom cleaning, to wipe down walls, for dishes, as a fabric softener.
Additionally it works really well for certain things, like degreasing the range hood in the kitchen, descaling the coffee maker, and replacing Jet-Dry as a rinse aid in the dishwasher.
That said, it is not the ‘be all end all’, even when used at full strength! Because vinegar is a mild acid, however, be mindful of what areas in the home or office that it is being used on.
Andy Warhol stated: “I think having land and not ruining it is the most beautiful art anybody could ever want to own.” While vinegar is cheap, the damage it can cause is not! Thus do not inadvertently damage your expensive furniture and other surfaces.
The CleansGreen® Bathroom Cleaning Kit contains non-toxic, non-corrosive, and safe cleaner concentrate that is slightly acidic to counter the build up that is common in a bathroom, along with a top quality green color matched plush microfiber cloth.
For a sparkling, green clean use the cleaner concentrate to create a quart of ready-to-use nontoxic product that will keep basins, showers, toilet bowls and bathroom surfaces (even urinals) spotless and sanitary. Couple the CleansGreen® color matched large microfiber cloth with your eco natural cleaner for a fresh result in one easy step.
Mild food grade acidic formula removes soap film, body oils, makeup and mineral deposits from any washable surface without damage. Excels at removing the difficult stains from ceramic tile floors and grout. One step cleaner cuts through grime and requires no rinsing.
Vinegar is an acetic acid solution, as a result it can damage porous surfaces like stone and unsealed grout (i.e., etch), wax floors (i.e., not give the light sudsy action needed to get no wax vinyl clean), hardwood floor finish (i.e., dulling the surface while dimming and darkening the floors with age and repeated use).
Green Cleaning Products Shares the Bottom Line
Using vinegar on some surfaces causes damage but provides very little clean. There is no single product out there that will work for all of your needs. As such do not expect vinegar to be IT.
“The Bottom Line: Cleaning Myths Busted by CleansGreen®” provides more information about common myths. To learn more about other myths, sign up for the eBook by Green Cleaning Products LLC.
