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by GERALDINE CAMPBELL
Image Credit: Ashley Poskin
Vinegar is great for cleaning many things. Its acidic nature makes it a powerful force for cutting through all sorts of dirt and grime. It even kills some surface bacteria, but you’ll want to choose a gentler, less acidic cleaning agent for these five things.
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Materials like limestone, granite, and marble are more delicate than they look. Vinegar’s high acidity can etch the stone, leaving marks you’ll never be able to get rid of. Instead, use dish soap and warm water.
Over time, vinegar will degrade anything made of rubber like gaskets and hoses. Look for products specifically made for cleaning your dishwasher.
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If your smartphone comes in contact with a spill, resist the urge to clean up with vinegar. The screen has a fingerprint-resistant coating that can be damaged with vinegar so a microfiber cloth dampened with water is better.
Over time, the strong acid can eat away at the finish and cause your floors to look dull, instead of shiny. Use a diluted Pine Sol solution instead.
Image Credit: Joe Lingeman
Image Credit: Joe Lingeman
Vinegar will get rid of rust on your knives, but it will also corrode the metal and dull the blade. Soap and water are an effective alternative.