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  • Irons
  • ​Waxed furniture
  • Stone countertops and floors
  • Hardwood floors
  • Washing Machines and Dishwashers
  • Carbon steel blades
  • Pans
  • Touchscreens
  • Clothing with vinegar and bleach
  • Greasy surfaces
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10 things you should never clean with vinegar

Vinegar is a cleaning marvel and it can also be used for many other household problems. There are a few times, though, when you need to put the bottle away and reach for a different cleanser.

Photo by: Taylor Martin/CNET

Irons

Have you seen this iron-cleaning trick? You are supposed to pour the vinegar through your iron's water duct, but this little tip can damage the iron. You're better off following the manufacturer's instructions in this case.

Photo by: Lori Grunin/CNET

​Waxed furniture

Vinegar will strip the wax off of your furniture, leaving it looking dull. Furniture polish designed for waxed furniture is a safer choice.

Photo by: Alina Bradford

Stone countertops and floors

Vinegar is an acid and can etch granite and marble. Liquid dishwashing liquid and warm water will do the trick without the damage.

Photo by: Vivos Indiana Kitchen

Hardwood floors

This one varies depending on your finish, so just don't take the chance. Only clean your hardwood floor with cleansers designed for hardwood.

Photo by: Colin West McDonald/CNET

Washing Machines and Dishwashers

So many online DIY sites tell you to put a splash of vinegar in with your clothing and dishes. While this may get your wearables and dishes clean, it can be hard on the rubber parts in your appliances. If you don't want to replace hoses and seals sooner then you need to, skip the vinegar.

Photo by: Denis Nilan

Carbon steel blades

Vinegar will turn your carbon steel blades black. So if you want to keep them shiny, don't get vinegar on them.

Photo by: TheFowndry

Pans

Some people swear by a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to clean pans, but it just doesn't work. There are many other ways to get your pans clean without vinegar.

Photo by: Alina Bradford

Touchscreens

Phones and touchscreens have a protective coating the can be eaten away by a vinegar wipe-down.

Photo by: Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Clothing with vinegar and bleach

Since vinegar is great at cleaning clothes, mixing it with bleach sounds like a great idea, right? Nope. Mixing vinegar with bleach creates toxic chlorine gas. When mixed with water the gas creates hydrochloric and hypochlorous acids. The gas by itself isn't good for you, but mix it with water and your clothing will be completely ruined.

Photo by: Alina Bradford

Greasy surfaces

Vinegar just doesn't work on removing grease from surfaces because it is an acid. Use an alkaline soap, such as dish soap, for oil spills and messes like your Fry Daddy. The University of Nebraska has a fascinating explanation of cleaning science that explains acid verses alkaline.

Photo by: Alina Bradford

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