Cleanliness is on the A-list for everyone. There are several cleaning products, such as Pine-Sol, that work as disinfectants, leaving a subtle, pleasant scent. As suggested by the EPA, there are several ways to use Pine-Sol, and recently, homeowners have wondered if they can combine it with vinegar for enhanced cleaning or disinfecting.
Vinegar is also a great disinfectant and cleaning agent, as it can cut through grime and grease, too. But can it be used with Pine-Sol? Let’s find out if mixing vinegar and Pine-Sol can be a good idea.
What Are the Ingredients of Pine-Sol?
Here are the ingredients of Pine-Sol -
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Colorant
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Surfactant
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Citric acid
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Fragrance
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Preservatives
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Xanthan gum
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C10-12 alcohol ethoxylates
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Sodium secondary C13-18 alkyl sulfonate
These ingredients are not known to have any harmful chemical reaction when mixed with vinegar.
Can You Mix Vinegar and Pine-sol Together?
Both Pine-Sol and vinegar have acids that help in cutting through dust and grime -
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Vinegar uses acetic acid
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Pine-Sol uses citric acid
When acids are combined, they won’t produce any harmful gas. However, there is a low risk of producing toxic fumes, which makes them unsuitable for mixing with each other. Also, citric acid is more potent than acetic acid, which again, doesn’t make sense to risk mixing vinegar and Pine-Sol. Hence, it is advisable to use Pine-Sol and vinegar separately, or you can mix vinegar with other agents for effective cleaning and disinfecting.
How to Use Pine-Sol and Vinegar Safely and Effectively?
The best way to use Pine-Sol and vinegar safely and effectively is to use them separately. Here’s how you can do it -
Pine-Sol
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Laundry - Add ¼ cup of Pine-Sol to the detergent to wash the load. Avoid adding directly to the drum.
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Bathroom - Add Pine-Sol to the bucket of water and clean the shower, tiles, walls, fixtures, and even plastic shower curtains.
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Hardwood Floors - Dilute Pine-Sol with water as directed on the label, and gently mop the floor. Scrub off the stains and shoe marks using a toothbrush or sponge.
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Kitchen - Dilute Pine-Sol with water as per the instructions, and clean the refrigerator, microwave, appliances, countertops, and trash cans
Vinegar
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Bathroom - Combine vinegar and baking soda for extra power to clean the gunk and dirt off the shower and tubs.
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Toilets - Pour 2-3 cups of undiluted vinegar into the toilet bowl. Allow it to rest for about 3 hours, and scrub the toilet to get rid of the rings around the bowl. It also deodorises the toilet.
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Floors - Add ½ cup of vinegar to ½ gallon of water to clean the floors. However, if you have hardwood floors, avoid using vinegar, as it can dissolve the finish of the floor.
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Kitchen - Mix equal parts of water and vinegar and spray inside the appliances. It is advised only to use a microfiber cloth to wipe down the solution.
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Laundry - Use distilled vinegar for removing odour and stains from clothes. Avoid using dark vinegar as it can leave stains on your clothes.
What Can You Mix With Vinegar?
List of Materials Required:
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Dishwashing liquid
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Cleaning vinegar
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Measuring cups and spoons
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Spray bottles
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Labels
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Baking soda
Here’s what to mix vinegar with -
Vinegar + Dishwasher Liquid
You can use vinegar and dishwashing liquid to clean windows, counters, kitchen fixtures, etc. To make the mixture -
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Mix ¼ cup cleaning vinegar with 2½ cups of water in a spray bottle.
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Add ½ tablespoon of dishwashing liquid.
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Shake well and spray on the surface.
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Wipe it away with a lint-free cloth.
Vinegar + Baking Soda
You can use vinegar and baking soda to clean drains and pipes. This mixture cleans up the scum buildup in the pipes. This mixture also helps remove garbage odour. Here’s how you can make it -
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Pour 4 cups of hot water down the drain.
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Add 1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of cleaning vinegar.
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Bubbles and fizz will form, and once the bubbles stop, flush the drains.
Vinegar + Rubbing Alcohol
You can clean glass window panes, countertops, tables, etc. Here’s how you can make the mixture -
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Mix 2 cups of water with 2 tablespoons of vinegar and 2 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol.
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Add 5 drops of peppermint essential oil.
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Mix it well and spray onto a microfiber cloth, and then clean the surface.
Conclusion
Pine-Sol and vinegar both work well when it comes to cleaning and disinfecting the surface. But as both are acetic acid, they won’t do any additional good. So, it is advisable to use them separately for effective results.
