Vinegar is one of the favorite ingredients to use in the kitchen, as it has numerous virtues and works as a salad dressing, for making pickles, and is a good preservative, but above all, it is also a powerful and effective natural cleaner. Therefore, we explain why to use vinegar for disinfection.

“Vinegar is well known not only for its versatility in the kitchen but also for its properties as a cleaner, as it is very effective for removing mineral deposits, such as limescale, that accumulate on surfaces,” explain experts from the Vinegar Institute, who have also demonstrated that vinegar disinfects food by eliminating bacteria such as Shigella sonnei and Escherichia coli, which are abundant on herbs and fruits.

Regarding domestic disinfection, some disagree about the effectiveness of vinegar for cleaning; however, toxicology and bioconstruction experts from Ecologistas en Acción recommend it due to its 5% concentration of acetic acid in water and compounds of tartaric acid and citric acid, which are highly disinfectant: "Homemade eco-friendly cleaners, like vinegar, are effective products for cleaning the house according to their uses, but they are also healthier and cheaper and do not pollute the environment.”

The Association of Detergent and Cleaning Products, Maintenance, and Related Companies (Adelma) recommends mixing vinegar with other natural substances to strengthen the disinfectant action of the product, such as combinations of vinegar with lemon.

If you are still unsure about how to use this natural disinfectant or what to clean with it, here are some ideas.



Kitchen surfaces

The antibacterial properties of vinegar make it the ideal product for disinfecting kitchen surfaces. Mix equal parts white vinegar with water and get ready to leave your kitchen sparkling and germ-free.

Pipes

Vinegar is one of the most effective disinfectants for bathrooms and pipes, as it eliminates mold and bacteria. Its properties eliminate mineral deposits from sinks, faucets, toilets, showers, and bathtubs, in addition to preserving the shine of materials.

Sterilize sponges

You can sterilize the sponges you use for cleaning and thus ensure that you do not spread bacteria by mixing water and vinegar in a container, soaking the dirty sponges in a container with the mixture, and heating them in the microwave for five minutes.

Disinfect electronic devices

Devices like cell phones, remotes, screens, and tablets are full of germs because we frequently touch them with our hands; therefore, you can disinfect them by dampening a microfiber cloth with a little vinegar and distilled water.

What do you disinfect with vinegar?