House Cleaning and Stain Removal Forum

Hey there,

I read online that using cleaning vinegar is effective in removing limescale...is it also ok to use it on metal surfaces, such as taps and pipes without causing any damage? Also, can it also be used to remove mould on bathroom tiles ?

Thanks!

Hello Antheia and welcome to our forum.

Vinegar is a natural deodorizer; it is mildly acidic, assists in cleaning and kills mold and mildew.

The bathroom in your home not only serves you but your guests as well so we want to keep it as clean as we can and germ free. The germ fighting properties of vinegar are legendary and it’s very versatile. While it does leave an odor that quickly disappears, there are a lot of advantages in using vinegar as a household cleaner. It is also non-toxic to humans or pets.

Vinegar is a "green" environmentally friendly product. It comes in many colors for cleaning but you’ll want to use the white vinegar.

Word of caution: Never Use Vinegar on Marble or Natural Stone Surfaces! The surface will become permanently etched from the acid.

Removing mold from bathroom tiles and throughout your home:

Vinegar, which is acidic in nature, assists in reducing mold and mildew growth. Vinegar will not remove the black or green discoloration caused by mold, and for this reason we use bleach.

Bleach sterilizes and works best for mold removal:

Mix one cup of bleach with one gallon warm water.
Place the mixture in a spray bottle and you can store it this way.
Open windows or create a good amount of ventilation in the area in which you will be cleaning.
Spray the solution onto the area where mold or mildew growth is.
Use a scrub brush or a terry cloth to wash the area down using gloves.
Rinse the area with clean water.
Dry the area with a dry terry cloth.

The most common causes of mold & mildew include:

Not enough air circulation
Poor lighting or low lighting
Warm environments
High humidity
Damp areas

Cleaning your faucets:

Always test in an inconspicuous place before cleaning.

Vinegar is a mild acid so you have to be careful around metals such as iron, steel, or aluminum as it will cause oxidation, resulting in rust or corrosion.

You can use vinegar on most non-porous surfaces. Porous surfaces can be broken down by leaving vinegar on the surface so make sure to rinse completely when you are done.

Vinegar will remove the gunk build-up and help resist mold or fungus.

2 tablespoons of vinegar

Using vinegar and a toothbrush; for those tight spots, this is a nice solution to clean your faucets and keep them shining like new.

Cleaning the tub/shower, toilet, and sink:

If these are constructed of porcelain tile, glass, fiberglass or other manmade materials you’re fine to use vinegar, as stated above never use vinegar on marble or natural stone surfaces. The surface will become permanently etched from the acid.

Use vinegar full strength on a soft clean cloth to clean your toilet. Add full strength to the water in the toilet bowl allowing it to set then scrub and flush.
Using a dampened cloth with vinegar to remove soap film and mildew from your shower curtain. Rinse well and allow the curtain to hang dry.

Cleaning the countertops:

You can use vinegar full strength on your bathroom countertops.

Again, as stated above never use vinegar on marble or natural stone surfaces.

Vinegar is undoubtedly a very helpful cleaning agent. Just be sure you team it up with a deodorizer which you can apply after cleaning your place.

House Cleaning Oregon
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Thanks for your replies, very useful tips! Vinegar is my new favourite cleaning product