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What Is Cleaning Vinegar, and How Should You Use It?
It's actually different from distilled white vinegar.
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- Kitchen & Home
- Cleaning
What Is Cleaning Vinegar, and How Should You Use It?
published 1 day ago
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[A bottle of Heinz's All Natural Distilled White Vinegar and Aunt Fannie's cleaning vinegar on kitchen counter]
Credit: Sarah Crowley
How many types of vinegar do you have in your kitchen right now? I’ve got three in rotation: balsamic vinegar, distilled white vinegar, and apple cider vinegar. I don’t, however, have cleaning vinegar — a type of vinegar formulated specifically for cleaning. But what exactly is cleaning vinegar, and how does it compare to plain old white vinegar? I asked an expert to help explore and explain the world of vinegar.
Quick Overview
What Is Cleaning Vinegar?
Cleaning vinegar is distilled vinegar at a higher concentration specifically for cleaning, up to 6% or 7%, whereas typical distilled white vinegar is concentrated at 5%.
In This Article
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What Is Cleaning Vinegar?
Cleaning vinegar is essentially distilled vinegar but at a higher concentration, according to Steve Evans, owner of Memphis Maids. They’re made the same way — through fermentation and distillation — but cleaning vinegar is more acidic. That makes it an ideal product for cleaning up messes of all types, because the acidity breaks down dirt and grime. It’s also a great option for people looking to use more natural cleaners rather than store-bought chemical cleaners.
[Aunt Fannie's Extra Strength Cleaning Vinegar
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Credit: Cat Meschia
How Is Cleaning Vinegar Different from White Vinegar?
The main difference is that white vinegar is meant for cooking and human consumption, because it’s less concentrated than cleaning vinegar. White vinegar is only 5% concentrated, as opposed to 6% or 7% concentrated like with cleaning vinegar.
What Is Vinegar and What Makes It a Good Cleaner?
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“This makes [white vinegar] good for cooking and [salad] dressing and still powerful enough for cleaning,” Evans says. “Having less concentration also means it’s less abrasive than other types of vinegar or cleaning products in general.” So yes, you can clean with distilled white vinegar!
Credit: Amelia Lawrence
What (and How) Can You Clean with Cleaning Vinegar?
Cleaning vinegar is your housecleaning workhorse, which can be used on nearly every surface to leave it sparkling. “Cleaning vinegar is extremely versatile,” Evans says. “It evaporates quickly and doesn’t leave any film or soap scum so it’s good for areas like bathroom tiles, laminate tables and countertops, or for mirrors and windows.”
The easiest way to use cleaning vinegar is to make a 1-to-1 mixture of vinegar and water. Pour it into a spray bottle, spray the surface you want to clean, and then wipe it dry. Note, though, that this mixture is unlikely to cut through greasy messes. For that, add a few drops of dish soap to the bottle.
[Tillbrook Cleaning Vinegar
$15](https://www.amazon.com/Tillbrook-Cleaning-Vinegar-Concentrated-All-Natural/dp/B0DJRWK2MQ/?asc_campaign=KT-23772246&asc_refurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thekitchn.com%2Fwhat-is-cleaning-vinegar-23772246&asc_source=%7BREFERRAL_SOURCE%7D&tag=kitchn-20)Buy at Amazon
What Should You Not Clean with Cleaning Vinegar?
Avoid using cleaning vinegar on hardwood and natural stone surfaces. Even regular white vinegar can scratch these surfaces due to its acidity, so you can imagine the damage something more concentrated could do to countertops and floors.
Is Cleaning Vinegar Safe to Use Around Food?
Evans says you should not use cleaning vinegar around food. Not only is it noticeably stronger than white vinegar, it’s also not produced in a food-safe environment. Cleaning vinegar could have additives or cross-contamination with other products that could potentially make someone ill. When in doubt, read the bottle — if it says “not a food product,” as most cleaning vinegar does, then keep it away from the kitchen except to clean.
Did you know the differences between white vinegar and cleaning vinegar?
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Kitchen
cleaning