Vinegar is often considered a trusted ally for household cleaning. It’s recommended for mopping floors, degreasing ovens, eliminating odors from carpets, and revitalizing faucets. However, behind this apparent universal solution lies a lesser-known reality: vinegar, despite its reputation as an eco-friendly cleaner, is actually a polluting agent.
The heart of the problem lies in acetic acid, the main component of vinegar. Contrary to expectations, this acid is not environmentally friendly, especially concerning the life of aquatic animals, but this information is not widely known. This happens because the concept underlying the eco-friendliness of a detergent (whether natural or not) goes beyond its ability to be biodegradable and instead includes its toxicity, but – precisely – not everyone knows this. In recent years, the concept of VCDtox (volume of critical toxic dilution) has been introduced to evaluate how much water is needed to neutralize the harmful effects of a detergent. Comparing vinegar and citric acid, Fabrizio Zago, founder of Ecobiocontrol and expert in eco-friendly detergents, revealed an alarming fact showing that a liter of vinegar pollutes 100,000 liters of water, while a liter of citric acid solution pollutes “only” 1,875 liters. This means that acetic acid pollutes 53 times more than citric acid, a less known but more environmentally friendly alternative, and this information has also been ratified by the European Union!
The story becomes even more complicated when we consider the reaction of vinegar with stainless steel surfaces, such as washing machines, dishwashers, and pots. Inox 316, commonly used in these objects, reacts poorly to acetic acid, causing potentially serious damage.
Despite vinegar being promoted as the traditional cleaning remedy of grandmothers, many online recipes and generationally passed-down tips may have negative side effects. Acetic acid is corrosive, promotes the release of nickel from metals, and promotes the onset of SNAS: systemic nickel allergy syndrome.
So, what’s the alternative? Citric acid emerges as the superhero of eco-friendly cleaning because, without the drawbacks of vinegar, it can be used for various purposes, such as floor cleaning, removing unpleasant odors from carpets, and sanitizing mattresses, but also for cleaning the fridge, removing bad odors from dishes, removing limescale from faucets or showerheads, and even cleaning glass!
If you want to clean your home without harming the environment, it’s time to consider citric acid as a valid alternative. The next time you hear vinegar recommended as the remedy for all cleaning tasks, consider citric acid as a more eco-friendly and environmentally respectful choice. Your home will be clean, and the planet will thank you.
Ig – @fairness_mag
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