Is Vinegar Useful As A Household Disinfectant?

Do you use vinegar for everything, even for disinfecting? Be careful because it is not as effective as we thought. Here we will find out the pros and cons of this substance for use at home.

Many of you have probably heard that in addition to being a fantastic culinary supplement,  vinegar is useful as a disinfectant in the home. It is thus used to clean the kitchen, the sink or other surfaces in the house.

Vinegar as a cleaning product is very effective in removing unpleasant odors, removing dust and dirt that is most difficult to remove. We often mix it with other substances, like baking soda, to get a better result.

However, we must be careful because the fact that it cleans does not mean that it disinfects the surfaces  on which we apply it. Let’s see now in which cases we can use vinegar well and when it is better to opt for a conventional disinfectant.

Can vinegar be used as a household disinfectant?

Yes and no. Although they may sound synonymous, there is a difference between cleaning and disinfecting. Cleaning products remove dirt, garbage and some germs from a surface.

Disinfectants, on the other hand, kill or neutralize harmful bacteria, viruses and germs. Now that this clarification has been made, we can say that vinegar is an excellent natural cleaning product. It contains around 5% acetic acid, which is enough to get rid of grime, dust and grease remnants.

As a disinfectant, we can make some reservations. Its use is indeed quite limited  because it only reduces certain types of microorganisms such as E. coli and Salmonella . Here we are going to present two case studies that demonstrate the ability of vinegar to eliminate them.

1. Disinfection of toothbrushes

It is one of the most common uses of vinegar in the home. Some comparative studies confirm that  vinegar has better results than triclosan (a type of mouthwash) in disinfecting toothbrushes. The test consisted of immersing the brushes for two minutes in these two liquids, to then determine which bacteria were eventually eliminated.

It is important to point out that the effectiveness of vinegar only applied to the bacteria Escherichia coli . However, it failed to completely neutralize the other bacteria present in the brush.

2. Hygiene of raw plants

According to research, immersing lettuce leaves in a vinegar solution  reduces the presence of E. coli  bacteria  in this plant. In addition, the leaves show no change in texture or flavor. However, as a disinfectant, its use is quite limited. We therefore do not recommend it in this form.

What are the best disinfectants?

When it comes to disinfectants, it is important to stress that they  should kill 99.9% of harmful germs, between 5 and 10 minutes after their application. These types of products contain substances such as ethanol (ethyl alcohol), isopropanol, hydrogen peroxide (hydrogen peroxide), phenolic compounds and bleach or hypochlorite.

The products are available on the market in the form of spray, liquids, lozenges, gels or wet wipes. The important thing is to make sure that some of these substances are indicated on the label.

Is vinegar useful for cleaning?

Yes, definitely. Even though it is a limited disinfectant,  vinegar is a great natural product that does not harm the environment  and will help us with household stains. We can, with him, clean windows, surfaces, sinks, pipes, kitchen, appliances and showers, among others.

However, the acid it contains is not recommended for all surfaces. It can damage waxed wood, granite, marble, wrought iron and aluminum. Now here are some ways to use vinegar as a cleaning product.

1. It unclogs the pipes

With this tip, you won’t just unclog your house’s pipes: you’ll also remove all the mold and mineral deposits on sinks or sinks. Pour three cups of boiling water down the drain and add a cup of baking soda. After that add a cup of vinegar mixed with water. Wait ten minutes and pour in two cups of boiling water again.

2. It removes stains from containers

To get rid of stains on kitchen containers,  place a spoonful of baking soda and another spoonful of vinegar in them. Shake, leave to act for a few minutes and, finally, clean the container with a sponge.

3. It cleans the microwave thoroughly

To clean the microwave, you don’t need a strong degreaser: a cup with a quarter of vinegar and water is enough. Place it in the microwave for a few seconds or until you see steam. Finally, remove the remains of dirt with a rag.

Never mix vinegar and bleach because dangerous gases emanate from this mixture.

Home cleaning product recipe with vinegar

To prepare your own vinegar-based cleaning product, you will need:

• Half a cup of distilled white vinegar .
• Two cups of distilled or filtered water .
• A spray bottle  or spray.

Mix everything together and spray on the surfaces. Then wipe with a clean cloth.

Vinegar is useful as a household disinfectant, but beware!

As we have seen throughout the article,  vinegar is not a disinfectant that can be trusted for the home. However, it is indeed an effective maintenance product. Here are some recommendations for cleaning and disinfecting your rooms at the same time:

• First of all,  ventilate the rooms well before using products  to disinfect.
• Remember to  sterilize the things we touch the most and sometimes forget to clean,  like handles, switches, remotes and phones. For this you can use 70% alcohol.
• Read the labels of cleaning products before using them and  always follow the manufacturer’s advice.

So where are you going to use the vinegar in your home?