Bleach and vinegar are two household cleaning staples, each with a devoted following. But which one is effective for cleaning? They’re two very different ones and we want to say outright that no one cleaning solution is better than the other.
We want to argue that the best, or rather, better cleaning solution is whatever you find more effective based on anecdotal evidence or which is safer.
Here’s a quick comparison table outlining the main differences between bleach and vinegar:
| Feature | Bleach | Vinegar |
|---|---|---|
|
Active Ingredient |
Sodium hypochlorite |
Acetic acid |
|
Cleaning Power |
Disinfectant & Cleaner; Effective at cleaning fungi, bacteria, and viruses like COVID-19 |
Cleaner & Mild Disinfectant (when combined with citric acid); Typically used as a household cleaning solution for small-scale cleaning jobs; not usually for disinfection, more for cleaning dirt and grime |
|
Suitable Surfaces |
Non-porous surfaces (tile, porcelain, glass) |
Most surfaces, but avoid natural stone and wood; |
|
Safety Considerations |
Toxic fumes, corrosive, can damage fabrics, skin, and can have a corrosive reaction with other chemicals; Needs proper ventilation |
Generally safe, mild irritant. Usual acetic acid/vinegar household concentrations sit within the 4%-6% range which is relatively safe for household use. |
|
Cost |
Inexpensive; Readily available in supermarkets, grocery stores, hardware stores, etc. |
Very inexpensive; Readily available in supermarkets, grocery stores, hardware stores, etc. |
|
Environmental Impact |
Can be harmful to the environment. Bleach contains the active ingredient chlorine which is known to be harmful to human and aquatic life. It also releases CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) |
Eco-friendly; Vinegar is naturally-occuring in the body and in certain plant/flower saps. |
How Vinegar And Bleach Stack Up Against Each Other On Various Cleaning Concerns
This section compares vinegar and bleach, specifically how effective they are at cleaning different types of dirt/grime cleaning issues.
The statements here are based on a collection of anecdotal evidence and opinions from professionals in the cleaning industry.
Mold
Vinegar: Mold’s tricky – it’s like an iceberg, you only see the tip. Vinegar can clean what’s visible, but it might not reach deep enough to kill all the mold. That means some could stick around and come back later.
Therefore, vinegar is not recommended to clean most household mold including dangerous black mold.
Bleach: Bleach is a heavy hitter when it comes to mold. This is reaffirmed by a study published in the National Library of Medicine, An investigation into techniques for cleaning mold-contaminated home contents.
The study compared the effectiveness of gamma irradiation and bleach in reducing fungal spores found in most household items.
The result was that washing these items with bleach or detergent was more effective compared to gamma irradiation (and also steam cleaning). This isn’t to say the other cleaning techniques were ineffective— the study affirms that they are but only to a certain extent.
Produce
Vinegar: Evidence points to varying levels of acetic acid or vinegar concentration and its effectiveness in killing bacteria off produce.
The study Microbial quality of fruits and vegetables sold in Sango Ota, Nigeria looked into how varying strengths of vinegar/acetic acid (0.5% to 2.5%) and different soaking times (0-10) minutes could reduce germs and bacteria on vegetables.
The study found stronger vinegar concentrations and longer soaking times worked better, with the best results at 2.5% vinegar for 10 minutes. This shows that vinegar can help clean vegetables, but it’s important to use the right strength and let them soak long enough.
Bleach: Currently, the most common chemical used in disinfecting fresh produce is chlorine, in the form of sodium hypochlorite (bleach). It’s popular because it’s cheap and effective at killing bacteria and other microbes.
However, chlorine is known to react with stuff on the produce which could potentially lead to harmful byproducts that might not necessarily fit for our consumption.
So yes, in terms of cleaning and disinfecting produce, bleach is effective but the concern is more towards it being safer. This is especially true for leafy greens where there may be residual bleach.
Stain Removal
Vinegar: Vinegar is widely used as a stain remover on fabrics and some even combine it with baking soda to create a “fizzing” effect that’s able to dissolve the stain. Here’s a quick and simple explanation of why this might be the case:
Stains and odors occur due to chemicals that are either acidic (lemon juice) or alkaline (soal scum).
Vinegar is acetic acid, a form of mild acid that can neutralize or balance out alkaline stains. This is what makes it effective on hard water stains or soap scum, which are alkaline.
However, vinegar might not be the best choice for acidic stains. For example, some stains or dyes are treated with vinegar. So it wouldn’t make sense to treat them with more vinegar. It might just even make the stain worse by setting the color in.
In some cases combining vinegar with baking soda can remove acidic-based stains, but you may probably get better results by combining water with baking soda.
Bleach: Like vinegar, bleach has a long history as a go-to for removing stains and dyes from textiles, paper, and even hair. The “bleaching” effect we see is essentially an oxidation reaction. Bleach, or sodium hypochlorite, acts as a powerful oxidizer, breaking down the chemical bonds in dyes, and effectively removing their color.
This same chemical reaction explains why bleach is also used to whiten clothes. However, while bleach is undeniably effective, its safety is a major consideration.
Mixing bleach with other household cleaning products can be extremely dangerous. For instance, combining bleach with a toilet bowl cleaner containing hydrochloric acid can produce chlorine gas, a highly corrosive substance that can severely damage the respiratory system and even be fatal.
In this case, bleach acts as a potent remover for most stains (might not work as well on grease and oil-based stains), but handling it with care is crucial.
Grease
We’ll keep this short and sweet: neither vinegar nor bleach is particularly effective against grease. It’s like trying to wash oil off with water – they just don’t mix! If you’re battling greasy messes, your best bet is a dedicated degreaser.
But, if you want to give your cleaner a fighting chance, you can try soaking the greasy area in hot soapy water first. The dish soap will help to break down the grease, making it easier to remove.
The Verdict: The Jury’s Out!
Bleach and vinegar, both potent cleaning agents, excel in different arenas. Bleach’s superior disinfecting power makes it the top choice for battling mold, mildew, and harmful bacteria.
On the other hand, vinegar’s natural, versatile nature shines in everyday cleaning and stain removal. It’s a safe, albeit less potent option for basic household cleaning tasks.
Again, the ideal choice depends on your specific cleaning needs, considering factors like the type of surface, severity of the mess, and your priorities for safety and environmental impact.