I’m a cleaning expert – the four things you shouldn’t clean with ‘miracle product’ white vinegar, including mirrors
YOU WILL find many cleaning hacks online nowadays thanks to the likes of Mrs Hinch, the original cleaning queen.
Many people have used white vinegar, a natural cleaning product, for various cleaning tasks around the home but experts warn it could be damaging to some household items.
Cleaning experts from Which warn that although it can be a great cleaning product, its acidic nature can damage certain materials.
The experts have revealed the four places around your home you should avoid using the cleaning product.
They told the : "A quick Google search on how to clean will bring up results hailing vinegar as a natural, non-toxic, sustainable and cheap store-cupboard cure-all for just about anything.
“But while it’s good for cleaning some things, it could cause irreparable damage to others.
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“You could be causing serious and permanent damage to your home and your appliances.”
Despite many people using it on their mirrors, the experts warn this could actually be causing them harm.
In fact, you should avoid anything acidic on them such as lemon juice or vinegar as they are corrosive.
They can seep into the thin coating and corrode the silver backing which gives all mirrors their shine.
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Instead, the experts advise using a gentle cleaner with a microfibre cloth to keep your mirrors in good condition.
Online, you see plenty of people using vinegar to clean their washing machines or as a natural fabric softener.
But it can corrode the rubber and plastic parts, potentially leading to leaks.
Instead, use a product dedicated to cleaning your washing machine the experts say.
The same goes for using it to clean or descale your dishwasher, over time vinegar can break down the rubber seal on the door and the stainless steel.
In addition, if vinegar mixes with salty residue it can discolour metal dishware and utensils.
Using dishwasher salt should prevent limescale build-up as it softens the water, so stick with products specifically meant for your dishwasher.
White vinegar can be a great way to break down limescale but you should always think about the materials your using it on.
Many people say it's a great way to flush out irons, but this can also corrode the protective coating inside.
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The experts say you should always check the instruction manual of your iron to see the best way to clean it.
They add if your model has a self-clean function, you'll probably just need to use water.
