If you're looking to make your own disinfecting solution at home (again, pros recommend going the chemical route if you can), combine vinegar with water in a 1:1 solution, according to the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF).
Vinegar can kill microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses and treat yeast infections. Due to its antimicrobial properties, vinegar has been used for the treatment of ear infections, warts, and nail fungus. It has also been used to treat certain skin infections and burns.
Acetic acid (a.k.a. white vinegar) can act as a disinfectant that can destroy some bacteria and viruses. Studies confirming vinegar's antibacterial properties: Household natural sanitizers like lemon juice and vinegar reduced the number of pathogens to undetectable levels.
Acetic acid (vinegar) is an effective mycobactericidal disinfectant that should also be active against most other bacteria.
We're sorry to say no, but vinegar does not kill germs to a high enough level to be able to disinfect.
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And you need to allow at least a half hour of exposure. Another study found that after 30 minutes, a 6 percent acetic acid efficiently killed the bacteria M.
“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.
Even undiluted vinegar doesn't kill viruses sufficiently to qualify as an EPA registered disinfectant, and it doesn't kill dangerous bacteria like staphylococcus.
Vinegar can be made from any alcohol — wine, cider, beer — but it's grain alcohol that gives distilled white vinegar its neutral profile. This vinegar tastes more assertive than most, but it contains roughly 5% acetic acid (about the same amount as other vinegars you use for cooking), making it perfectly safe to eat.
“Of course, vinegar does eliminate some things, but it's important to note it's not a complete solution to disinfectant. It is only 90% effective against bacteria and around 80 percent effective against viruses and mold or mildew. Bleach, however, eliminates 99.9% of bacteria, viruses, and mold or mildew.
Vinegar has been proven to have some disinfectant properties, however it's not nearly as effective at killing harmful viruses and bacteria as commercial cleaners. And because it does not kill 99.999 percent of bacteria and viruses, it doesn't meet the criteria required to be considered a disinfectant.
While vinegar, as a mild acid, is a great cleaner and does kill some pathogens, it is not a registered disinfectant. Specifically, vinegar can kill salmonella, E. coli, and listeria, which is good news for the kitchen.
“Unless the acetic acid concentration in vinegar is higher than 5%, there is very little that it can do to disinfect, which is hardly an effective method of keeping your family healthy.”
To clean mold, use regular white distilled vinegar, typically sold with 5% acidity. You can also use “cleaning vinegar” with 6% acidity. Both are effective at killing mold.
For average homeowners, distilled white vinegar is the best vinegar for cleaning around the house. The 5 percent acidity is powerful enough to cut through tough grime and dirt but presents few health concerns.
10% This is a high strength vinegar. Be careful consuming it as it is very acidic and can cause burns. Also wear gloves (latex or nitrile, not cloth) when handling since it can irritate your skin (especially cuts) and cause eye burning. This is the typical acidity of vinegar made in factories.
Vinegar is fine to use on food and when mixed with water, juice, or another liquid is safe to drink. However, with a pH between 2.4 and 3.3, vinegar is acidic enough to erode tooth enamel, inflame the esophagus and stomach, and trigger nausea and acid reflux.
Dosage for certain conditions. The purported health benefits of ACV and other types of vinegar are due to the main ingredient: acetic acid. A 2016 review found that drinking 15 milliliters (ml) or 1 tablespoon of acetic acid daily is usually enough for a person to see potential health benefits.
The only difference between cleaning vinegar and the distilled white vinegar is their levels of acidity. White vinegar is usually 95 percent water and 5 percent acid. By contrast, cleaning vinegar contains up to six percent acid and is around 20 percent stronger than regular white vinegar.
If you need another crunchy cleaning solution, you can soak your toothbrush in some white vinegar for a few minutes. Studies show that regular household white vinegar can kill microorganisms on toothbrushes, especially Streptococcus mutans and Staphylococcus aureus.
“Many cleaning products use either bleach or ammonia, and mixing them [with vinegar] can cause this reaction, which is why you should never mix any kind of cleaning product,” says Sansoni.
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.