The Kitchen Tools You Should (and Shouldn’t) Clean With Vinegar

As much as I love working in the kitchen, the reality is that there's always something to clean. Good thing that white vinegar, a non-toxic alternative to commercial cleaners, can handle the majority of my kitchen cleaning tasks. Vinegar is a brilliant low-cost cleaner that will remove dirt, grime, and stains, and it's incredibly simple to make a scented DIY cleaner that leaves my kitchen extra fresh and sparkling.

While it's a cleaning powerhouse, vinegar is not the all-natural miracle solution that some people claim. Vinegar's acidity can cause irreversible damage, so it's critical to understand which kitchen tools and surfaces vinegar should never touch.

How to Use Vinegar as a Cleaner

White vinegar has the ability to clean multiple things in your kitchen, but you rarely want to use it at full strength. Instead, fill a spray bottle with an equal mix of white vinegar and water, and use it as an all-purpose cleaner. Don't worry about the vinegar smell because it disappears as soon as the surface dries.

There are a couple of types of white vinegar, distinguished by their acidity:

• Distilled white vinegar is typically diluted to around 5 percent acidity. It's primarily used for cooking but can make a decent light cleaner if that's the only bottle around the house.
• Cleaning vinegar is around 6 percent acidic. This is the best choice for household cleaning, but you definitely don't want to cook with it.

No matter the strength, vinegar is not on the EPA's list of approved disinfectant cleaners because it will not kill all types of germs and bacteria. For the cleanest kitchen, use vinegar for regular cleaning and a commercial anti-bacterial cleaner on surfaces that need to be germ-free.

Boost Your Vinegar Cleaner

It's easy to add a fresh scent to your vinegar solution. For instance, a few drops of tea tree, grapefruit, or lemon essential oils will give your homemade cleaner a bright scent that lingers after the vinegar smell dissipates. Just use essential oils in moderation, particularly if you have children or pets (generally, five to 10 drops of an oil is enough).

You can also infuse vinegar with natural citrus peel: Before juicing a lemon, lime, or orange, remove the peel with a vegetable peeler, let it steep in your bottle of cleaning vinegar for two to three days, then strain out the peel.

Coffee Pots and Tea Kettles

No matter how pure your water is, coffee pots and tea kettles need to be descaled regularly. Hardened calcium and other mineral deposits are a natural byproduct of heating water, slow down water flow, and will make your favorite hot beverages taste not so great.

Whether you have a standard drip coffee pot or single-cup brewer like a Keurig, descale it every three to six months, depending on how much you use it. To do so, pour equal parts of vinegar and water into the machine and run the regular cycle. Afterward, run two or three cycles of plain water through the machine to rinse it out before brewing your next cup of coffee.

Tea kettles and gooseneck pots for pour-over coffee are equally susceptible to mineral buildup. For a monthly cleaning, bring a kettle filled with equal parts of water and vinegar to a boil, then remove it from the heat to cool completely before rinsing with water. Buildup in the spout is also likely: Heat that vinegar and water back up in the kettle, then pour it into a deep bowl, stick the spout upside down in the hot liquid, and let it soak for at least three hours before rinsing with water.

Pots and Pans

Over time, fats and oils will blacken the surfaces of your metal pots and pans. Cooks often consider this a sign of many fabulous homecooked dishes and think the patina produces better-tasting baked goods. However, there are times when you want to shine up your pans: Cover the surface with a paste of baking soda and vinegar, let it sit overnight, then scrub away the grime.

Microwaves

Microwaves are prone to splatters and splashes. Before they get caked on, take a moment to clean them up with your vinegar-water spray bottle. It works just as well on the microwave's interior as it does on the outside and just needs to be wiped dry. Another option is to steam clean it: Heat a microwave-safe bowl filled with equal parts of water and vinegar for a couple of minutes, then wipe the interior clean.

What Not to Clean With Vinegar

Vinegar is a great cleaner but it's also acidic, so it can eat away at some materials. Before you start spraying and scrubbing, it's important to know when vinegar will do more harm than good. In some cases, the damage may not be immediate, and that's almost worse because it might lead to costly repairs.

• STONE or WOOD: Never use vinegar to clean stone or wood (including marble or stone counters and hardwood floors) because it can etch or compromise the surface and dull the natural shine. Some manufacturers will even consider your flooring warranty void if you use vinegar.
• ALUMINUM, COPPER, CAST IRON: Avoid using vinegar on aluminum, copper, or cast iron utensils, pots, and pans, any of which could become pitted.
• STAINLESS STEEL: Stainless steel is tricky because it comes in different grades, and vinegar's acid may damage the surface of one thing while leaving another looking fabulous. This applies to stainless steel appliances and knives; if you're not sure how it will hold up, it's best to use an alternative cleaner or do a spot test.
• RUBBER: Rubber parts in dishwashers and some small appliances can become worn out from repeated use of vinegar (especially when it's not diluted with water).
• DISPLAY/TOUCH SCREENS: Often used as a streak-free window cleaner, vinegar can compromise the anti-glare or touch properties of digital screens, which are ever-more common in modern kitchens. It's best to use screen wipes instead.