Vinegar: Friend or Foe?

Hi there! Richard Carpenter again, with post-holiday spotting tips.

I'm sometimes asked about using vinegar as a cleaning agent. It can be an excellent cleaner - for some surfaces and situations.

Vinegar works very well to clean up pet urine stains. After blotting up as much as possible (if fresh) apply a mixture of 2parts water/1 part white vinegar, and blot, then use plain water and re-blot or rinse. On dry cat or dog stains you may need to allow a few minutes dwell time for the vinegar to dissolve the urine residues (which turn to alkaline salts as they dry.)

It also works well, in moderation, to clean Ceramic tile and grout. Just a capful or two in a bucket of hot water is all you need. For heavily soiled tile use a good neutral floor cleaner first (Kim at Tile Art here in Durango sells this.)

HOWEVER...

Do not use it on Saltillo Tile or Natural Stone floors and counters, especially soft stone like Marble, Travertine and Limestone. It will permanently etch the surface! (So will other common kitchen acids, like lemon juice - so be sure your counters have been well-sealed before use, and clean up spills promptly. You'll want to professionally clean and re-seal the counters every 2-3 years under normal use.)

I cannot recommend any "Store-Shelf" products either, as most of them have been blamed by my clients for damage, discolorations, or residue build-up at some point. Check with a local tile and stone seller for a quality neutral floor cleaner, as mentioned above.

If you have any stone, tile or carpet care questions here in Durango, call us at 385-8444 and we'll be happy to answer them! Thanks for your attention, and have a happy, prosperous New Year!



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