While harmless for most metal and PVC pipes, prolonged exposure to the acidic nature of vinegar might corrode certain metals, like copper. PVC pipes, on the other hand, can withstand these substances without damage.
Pour about 1 cup of white vinegar into the drain, let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour, and then rinse with hot water. For more stubborn clogs, using the baking soda and vinegar mixture is advisable.
Assuming your piping is PVC, vinegar is fine.
The plastic and glass surfaces on most small kitchen appliances, such as blenders, coffee makers, and toasters, are safe to clean with vinegar, but you want to avoid any rubber parts or metal that vinegar can corrode. This includes stainless steel.
PVC pipe can be cleaned with paint thinner, turpentine, or any other serious solvent cleaner. Then clean any residue with soap and water. Some pipe lettering will clean up with Propanol, but not rubbing alcohol. If you want to paint it, use Krylon Fusion paint and let it cure for a week.
Effects on Metal and PVC Pipes
While harmless for most metal and PVC pipes, prolonged exposure to the acidic nature of vinegar might corrode certain metals, like copper. PVC pipes, on the other hand, can withstand these substances without damage.
"The white cleaning vinegar is a pH of 2.5, which is a very strong acid," she explains. "And while it may eat away the gunk that is on the showerhead or faucet, it can also dissolve the finish from the hardware leaving it dull or a different color altogether."
Vinegar and Warm, Soapy Water
Apply a nontoxic solution of warm water, white vinegar and mild dish soap. Soak a clean cloth or paper towel in the warm vinegar solution and rub it over the adhesive. Let it sit for five minutes. Then remove the towel and scrape away the residue.
Vinegar. Pour one cup of vinegar down the pipe immediately after putting baking soda. Vinegar reacts with soda, causing it to sizzle and bubble. This solution will agitate frost build up and slowly start to clear your frozen shower drain.
Yes, hydrogen peroxide is safe to use in drains. It's gentler than many commercial drain cleaners and does not cause pipe corrosion, making it a reliable choice for routine drain maintenance.
Things to Avoid When Cleaning uPVC Windows
To clean, don't use cream cleaners, bleach, white spirits, WD-40, scouring pads, nail varnish remover, or methylated spirits. These can scratch the windows or remove their glossy finish.
The only real side effect from leaving vinegar to its own devices is that its acidity will gradually decrease over time, making it less potent. This is why a "best by" date can be found on the bottle, but it's still perfectly fine long past that — it isn't an "expiration date," by any means. Vinegar does not expire.
You can use straight or a diluted vinegar cleaning solution for the bathroom to clean bacteria, especially around the toilet. Cleaning with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar in the bathroom can work really well. To clean your toilet with vinegar, pour a cup of vinegar in the toilet bowl and let sit overnight.
The answer is that vinegar will not harm your pipes if used in small doses as recommended in many of the recipes that you find online. No matter what your pipes are made of, pex, pvc, copper, etc. Vinegar will not harm your water pipes.
Just take a can of WD-40 (preferably one with a long flexible hose) and spray it inside of your faucet. The WD-40 will loosen up the hard water and make the diverter work as smoothly as day one. The same goes for a hard to turn shower knob, a sprits of WD-40 and it will work like brand new.
Marble, Granite, and Other Natural Stone Surfaces
This includes countertops, floors, and shower walls with stone finishes, and household goods like tabletops or serving pieces. The acid in vinegar can cause pitting in natural stone.
White vinegar, also known as distilled vinegar or spirit vinegar, is made by fermenting grain alcohol (ethanol) which then turns into acetic acid. Water is then added to the vinegar, so white vinegar is made of five to ten percent acetic acid and ninety to ninety-five percent water.
Takeaway. While vinegar might seem like a miracle cleaner, its acidic nature can, over time, significantly damage sealants and sensitive surfaces.
You can also use vinegar – it's a magic ingredient for cleaning in the home. Mix ½ cups of vinegar with 2 cups of water and a few drops of washing-up liquid. Use a soft cloth to apply to the windows and then use old newspaper to rub in a circular motion to dry to a sparkly finish.
Safe and Gentle: Enzyme-based drain cleaners use natural bacteria and enzymes to break down organic matter, such as hair, grease, and food particles, without harming plastic pipes. Examples: Products like Green Gobbler or Bio-Clean are popular enzyme-based options.
Clean it yourself by immersing it in carburetor cleaner. There should be no gummy deposits or discoloration on a clean valve. If your PCV valve must be replaced, buy a new valve, remove the old one, and insert the new one in its place.