The One Thing You Should Never Do When Cleaning with Vinegar

I use white vinegar to clean my cutting boards, bathroom sinks, and toilets, and to erase soap scum from my glass shower doors, among many other things. I love that I don’t have to worry about the kids getting into it and that it can be used in so many different ways all over the home.

Using it on everything, I always thought of vinegar as having disinfecting properties — then, I paused to ask myself: Does white vinegar really disinfect surfaces? And does it actually kill bacteria and viruses? I did some digging to find out exactly how vinegar can, and should, be used around the home. Here’s everything you need to know.

The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) puts it this way: “While vinegar does work as a disinfectant to some degree, it is not as effective as bleach or commercial cleansers when it comes to killing germs. If you are going to use vinegar as a cleanser, it’s important to decide whether your goal is to clean, or to disinfect.”

Cleaners physically remove dirt, debris, particles, and some germs from surfaces. They may kill some germs, but not all. Disinfectants kill germs on contact, including harmful pathogens, viruses, and bacteria that could make you and your family sick.

You should be disinfecting frequently touched surfaces on a regular basis such as door knobs, light switches, desktops, remote controls, and smart phones.

However, you don’t want to use vinegar on surfaces like granite, marble, cast iron, or wood as its acidic properties can actually damage them. You should also never mix vinegar with bleach because it can create harmful, toxic fumes. (Your home should always be well-ventilated when cleaning regardless of what you’re using.)

Good news! Yes, vinegar can kill salmonella, E. coli, and listeria, which is great for the kitchen as these bacteria are the cause for many food borne illnesses. However, it can’t kill viruses like COVID, so it’s always best to clean and then disinfect with another product or solution to make sure your surfaces are shiny and bacteria-free.

Next, make sure you use the disinfectant properly. Finally, read and follow usage instructions for the specific cleaning product you’re using, which you can find on the label or online.  

If you’re looking to disinfect, vinegar should not be your go-to, but you can mix it with something that is. Mix vinegar with equal parts rubbing alcohol, since rubbing alcohol is a disinfectant, and you can even add a few drops of essential oil to make it smell a little nicer. While this is an easy mix, it’s typically best to clean with your vinegar solution first and then disinfect afterwards.