A vinegar mother is just bacteria that feeds on alcoholic liquids, and the fact that one developed in your vinegar just means that there were some sugars or alcohol that weren't completely fermented in the vinegar process.
Studies confirming vinegar's antibacterial properties: Household natural sanitizers like lemon juice and vinegar reduced the number of pathogens to undetectable levels. Vinegar can inhibit growth of and kill some food-borne pathogenic bacteria. Plus, vinegar's bactericidal activity increased with heat!
Normal vinegar concentration (usually around 5% acetic acid) is too acidic to grow mold in the vinegar itself. Mold can sometimes grow on the bottle or on the surface of the vinegar. It isn't dangerous and can be wiped/skimmed off. What you are seeing is called the mother.
Specifically, vinegar can kill salmonella, E. coli, and listeria, which is good news for the kitchen. But the kitchen contains other pathogens as well, as does the rest of the house. The bottom line is that vinegar may kill some pathogens, but don't make the mistake of counting on it to do much more than clean.
“Set time,” or the time a disinfectant must rest on a surface in order to work effectively, is also important. The set time for vinegar can be up to 30 minutes.
The acidic nature of vinegar is so powerful it can dissolve mineral deposit, dirt, grease, and grime. It's also strong enough to kill bacteria.
“Vinegar can kill some bacteria, but it's not a disinfectant. If you want to disinfect a surface where you've had, say, raw chicken, you need to use something like bleach,” Gayman says. “Also, vinegar needs to sit on a surface for up to 30 minutes in order to reduce bacteria.
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, ...
How does it work? Vinegar, be it white or malt or rosemary-infused, is about 5 per cent acetic acid. The acid kills bacteria and viruses, by chemically changing the proteins and fats that make up these nasties and destroying their cell structures.
Even though vinegar is produced by fermentation, it is surprisingly not a probiotic food that contains beneficial bacteria. However, certain vinegars like apple cider vinegar which contains pectin may act as a prebiotic, or food for beneficial bacteria.
Once opened and exposed to air, however, harmless “vinegar bacteria” may start to grow. This bacteria causes the formation of a cloudy sediment that is nothing more than harmless cellulose, a complex carbohydrate that does not affect the quality of the vinegar or its flavor.
As vinegar ages, it may undergo aesthetic changes, such as becoming hazy or separating. You may also notice cloudy sediments or fibers at the bottom of the bottle.
Mother of vinegar is a colony of bacteria (don't gasp). These are the good bacteria called Acetobacter. They perform the same purpose for making vinegar as yeast does to make wine. They form the mother on the surface since they require oxygen to convert wine to vinegar and the surface is where the air is at.
It has powerful antimicrobial properties that may help ease skin infections and soothe irritation. As a mild acid, ACV may also help restore the natural pH balance of your skin.
Vinegar is often used as a cleaner because it contains sulfites which helps slow the growth of bacteria. Lemon juice is very acidic, which again hinders the growth of bacteria and is often used as a cleaner. Sodium, such as salt, is also often used as a preservative.
To be used on surfaces contaminated with feces, vomit, urine or blood. Slowly add ½ cup (125 ml) of bleach to 4 ½ cups (1125 ml) of water. (e.g., environmental cleaning, body fluids, etc.). Acetic acid (vinegar) is not a disinfectant.
HEAT - The easiest, effective way to control microbial growth is to use a FLAME. BOILING - Will not kill bacterial spores, so may not be sterile. AUTOCLAVE - Spores are killed with exposure to autoclave. Autoclave achieves higher temperatures than boiling water.
Turbatrix aceti is a non-parasitic nematode commonly found in raw (unpasteurized) vinegar. They look like tiny worms, about 1/16 inch or 2 mm in length.
The mother of vinegar contains mainly acetic acid bacteria (ref.). These bacteria convert alcohol into acetic acid, the scientific name for 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.
If you need to resurrect items from your wardrobe that have become dull and faded, here's her pro tip: "Soak [your clothing] overnight in a vinegar and water solution. Then wash using half to a full cup of vinegar in the rinse cycle," she says. This should be especially helpful from fulling darker colors.
Vinegar is a bold mold killer. According to ServiceMaster Restoration and Cleaning, the mild acid in vinegar kills about 82% of known molds and can help prevent future outbreaks. You can clean small amounts of mold with vinegar yourself, but be aware of when you should call professionals.
While not necessarily appetizing in appearance, mother of vinegar is completely harmless and the surrounding vinegar does not have to be discarded because of it. It can be filtered out using a coffee filter, used to start a bottle of vinegar, or simply ignored.