Quick Tips: Easy Vinegar Cleaning Guide

What vinegar types should I use?

For cleaning usage, I recommend standard white distilled vinegar. It is inexpensive and contains around 5% acetic acid, which makes it relatively gentle but effective for sanitisation and getting rid of stains.  

I would advise staying away from pungent and coloured vinegars like malt vinegar and apple cider vinegar, as these may leave an undesirable odour and stains, especially on important surfaces like marble. 

Why vinegar works

Vinegar is acidic and has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, making it a cheap go-to for household needs like cleaning. It is not the strongest disinfectant out there, but does a great job in household settings. 

Vinegar’s acetic acid content allows it to disrupt the growth of many mould species by lowering pH and therefore disrupting mould cell walls and enzymes. While it is not effective on all mould, it is generally great for common household moulds. 

How to make a vinegar solution

For general cleaning, the exact ratio doesn’t matter too much as vinegar is generally safe to use, though I recommend always testing any homemade or unfamiliar products in an inconspicuous spot before use. I recommend a 1:1 ratio of vinegar to warm water for simplicity. 

What to clean with vinegar

One spot where vinegar excels is window / glass cleaning. You will find that many retail window and glass cleaners are a form of vinegar mixture.  

Vinegar is good at deodorising. One of my favourite places to use it is to clean your kitchen food waste caddy. After a rinse and scrub, spray vinegar inside and leave for 5-10 minutes to neutralise odour.

Vinegar is also an inexpensive and effective descaling product. It’s great for  faucets, shower heads, and even your kettle. For kettles, make a 1:1 water-vinegar solution, boil, then stand for 30-60 minutes. 

It can be used as a disinfectant, but won’t be as effective as tailored disinfectant solutions. 

It can also be used as a mild anti-mould treatment, for instance, in the bathroom, but should not be used on porous surfaces or grout.