The seven household items you should never clean with white vinegar

A cleaning expert has warned people to never clean these seven household items with white vinegar as it can actually make the problem worse.

White vinegar is a popular homemade cleaning solution that comprises of water, acetic acid and trace amounts of vitamins and minerals. Many people use this solution to remove limescale and mould as well as fixing stiff towels, reports the Express.

Despite the liquid's many helpful uses, there are certain things that you should never clean with white vinegar.

Baqir Khan, cleaning expert and director at Extreme Cleaning, has spoken to the Express about the seven items that white vinegar should "never be used on".

He said: "While white vinegar is a versatile and effective cleaning agent for many surfaces, there are some objects which you should avoid cleaning with it to avoid damage."

1. Carpet stains

These stains can be a common occurrence but they can be tackled with DIY solutions - but not white vinegar. The expert warned that that white vinegar may "set certain stains" on carpets or even "affect the colour".

Baking soda is a better option when combined with water to clean up the carpet. All you have to do is mix one part baking soda with three parts water and leave this to sit on the stain until it dries before hoovering it up.

Baqir suggests using a carpet cleaner or follow manufacturer recommendations for stain removal.

2. Painted surfaces

White vinegar can not only strip carpets of its colour but also paint from the walls. You should instead try cleaning painted surfaces with a soap and water mixture or a cleaner that is suitable for it.

3. Silicone sealants

White vinegar and bleach has long been recommended for cleaning silicone sealants but while they work to some degree, they also have the ability to damage it.

Baqir said: "Vinegar can degrade and damage silicone over time. Instead, use a gentle soapy water solution for cleaning silicone sealant."

4. Grout

Similar to the above, white vinegar can "break down and damage the grout", causing it to "deteriorate".

Instead, the expert recommends cleaning the area with baking soda and water or instead using a professional grout cleaner.

5. Plastic containers

White vinegar can actually affect the taste of the food stored in plastic containers instead of getting rid of stains.

Baqir warned: "Vinegar's strong smell may linger in plastic, affecting the taste of food stored in the containers."

It has instead been suggested to wash them with baking soda and water or just some dish soap.

6. Electronic devices

White vinegar can "damage sensitive internal components and rubber seals" so it is best to follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions.

Baqir said that this advice often involves using water and citric acid or "specific descaling solutions".

7. Gold-plated items

You should finally avoid using white vinegar on gold-plated items as the acid can "wear away" the thin layer of golf on these products.

You should instead use a soft cloth and some soapy water instead.

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter here.