The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Vinegar is a powerhouse in the home cleaning arsenal.

It can cut grime from stovetops and soften towels with ease.

But believe it or not, there are some things around your home better left untouched by vinegar.

Mixing a vinegar solution to clean stainless steel

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Meet the Expert

Becky Rapinchukis the owner and expert behind the cleaning website, Clean Mama.

Instead, choose aneutral, mild cleaner for marblelike diluted dishwashing liquid for daily cleaning.

Want more cleaning and organizing tips?

Marble Countertop

ExperienceInteriors / Getty Images

The best cleaning option is hot water and dishwashing liquid.

The acid levels in vinegar can cause pitting and etching that cannot be buffed away.

Use a neutral, gentle cleaner for stone floors andshower enclosures.

Cleaning supplies for hardwood floor

Margot Cavin / The Spruce

The seasoning is necessary for keeping the cookware’s non-stick properties and to prevent the iron from rusting.

Most cast iron bakeware can be wiped out with a damp sponge.

If you mustwash the cookware, use a mild dishwashing liquid and hot water.

allowing cast iron to cool down before cleaning

The Spruce / Jorge Gamboa

Dry well and reseason the pan.

If it is left unsealed, the acidity of vinegar can cause the mixture to crumble.

Cleaning Tip

How to tell if your grout is sealed?

person cleaning a tv screen

​The Spruce / Ana Cadena

If beads form when the grout is sprayed with water, it’s sealed.

If the water soaks in and the grout darkens, it is unsealed.

Vinegar can corrode or damage some components and discolor some metals.

How to clean a Cuisinart coffee maker

The Spruce / Adelyn Duchala

One of those combinations is vinegar and chlorine bleach.

When chlorine bleach is mixed with vinegar, chlorine gas is formed.

Repeated use of undiluted vinegar can dry the rubber and cause it to crack.

The acid in vinegar causes the eggs to coagulate and makes cleaning more difficult.

The acidity can cause eggs to coagulate, making the mess more difficult to clean.