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.
Vinegar, or acetic acid, is a weak acid and will not dissolve plastic. However, it may cause discoloration or etching on some types of plastic. It is also important to note that not all plastics are created equal and some may be more susceptible to damage from vinegar than others.
Container Cleaning Method 1: Vinegar Bath
The method: Make a solution of water and vinegar using 1 tablespoon vinegar per 1 cup of water. Pour into the container and let the solution sit for 1 to 2 hours. Wipe clean, rinse, and dry.
Vinegar is good at removing grease, mildew, and hard water stains as well as disinfecting hard surfaces. Wipe the plastic. Use a clean cloth or sponge to wipe the vinegar solutions around the plastic. Spray more vinegar solution on areas with built up grime, and scrub them liberally until the dirt is removed.
HDPE is strong, light, resistant to chemicals and moisture, and permeable to gas. It is safe for storing many liquids (including cider vinegar!) and after use it can be washed out and reused for many purposes.
Freedman favors distilled white vinegar as a stain-buster: Fill the stained plastic with 1 part water and 1 part vinegar. Soak overnight or until you see the stain fade.
Marble, granite, and other natural stones, like slate, whether used as home finishes, such as countertops, floors, and shower walls, or household goods like tabletops or serving pieces, should not be cleaned with vinegar.
Do You Have to Rinse after Cleaning with Vinegar? Rinsing is not necessary! If you're simply using a vinegar and water solution to wipe and disinfect, you won't need to rinse. However, if there's also plenty of dirt and grime you're wiping away, you may also want to rinse with some extra water.
The only difference between cleaning vinegar and the distilled white vinegar is their levels of acidity. White vinegar is usually 95 percent water and 5 percent acid. By contrast, cleaning vinegar contains up to six percent acid and is around 20 percent stronger than regular white vinegar.
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.
Use a nonabrasive, all-purpose cleaner. Rinse with clean water and dry with a clean, soft cloth. Avoid using abrasive cleanser that may scratch the plastic. Use a tub/tile/sink cleaner; nonabrasive, all-purpose cleaner; or a paste of baking soda and water.
If you have concerns about using bleach in your containers, vinegar is a great alternative that is food-safe. Lemon, vinegar, and baking soda are all natural cleaners that will lift discoloration from plastic.
Vinegar is a solid workhorse when it comes to cleaning. However, it is acidic and can cause damage to some surfaces, including when it's used for cleaning floors.
Most fading is a result of oxidization, which causes plastic to wear down and develop a rougher texture. Fortunately, you can easily remove oxidation with sandpaper, vinegar, or a bleach solution.
As a general rule, wherever you find rubber, keep the vinegar away. The vinegar's acid can eat away at rubber just as it does natural stone. Soap and water or a solution of soap and baking soda are the best grime busters for rubber parts.
Pour equal parts of vinegar and Dawn into a spray bottle. Gently shake, then spray liberally onto the surface to be cleaned.
“Vinegar is a good cleaner because it's acidic, but when you add dishwashing liquid/dish soap to it (which is a base or neutral) - you neutralise the vinegar. You take away the very thing that makes it work well. “The dishwashing liquid works that well on its own. Adding the vinegar is a pointless step.”
Bleach is great for disinfecting. A registered disinfectant, it will, by definition, kill 99.9 percent of germs that it comes into contact with, within five or ten minutes of contact. In contrast, the germs that vinegar does kill often need half an hour of contact to be affected.
Hydrogen oxide (separately, a great cleaning agent and antiseptic), if mixed with vinegar, creates peracetic acid, as vinegar contains acetic acid. This combination of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide is potentially toxic and corrosive, which can break down or damage the surface it is applied to.
Hydrogen Peroxide and Vinegar
“Combining these two creates peracetic acid or corrosive acid, an irritant that, in high concentrations, can harm the skin, eyes, throat, nose, and lungs,” says Bock.
The species most frequently reported in vinegar production comprise Acetobacter aceti, Acetobacter cerevisiae, Acetobacter malorum, Acetobacter oeni, Acetobacter pasteurianus, Acetobacter pomorum, Gluconacetobacter entanii, Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens, Gluconobacter oxydans, Komagataeibacter europaeus, ...
Despite looking much like glass, clear plastics are polymers with complex structures that respond poorly to glass cleaners. Traditional cleaners such as Windex, Formula 409, or denatured alcohol can cause irreparable damage to clear plastic.
Vinegar should only be stored in glass, plastic, or non-reactive containers. It is important that the lid is secured and replaced immediately after use to reduce the amount of oxygen coming in contact with the vinegar. The acidity of vinegar does not change unless moisture or water gets into the container.