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Today’s post is all about vinegar! We are answering frequently asked questions like does vinegar go bad? How to store vinegar properly and more! This is a complete vinegar guide you can reference forever.

I also want to go into detail about using vinegar for cleaning, even the truth about killing mold.

There are many myths online about things. It seems like a myth gets started, then people share it with others. Next thing you know, everyone has bad information! So, I like to start with the science first to make sure we understand how something works. Then, we can dig deeper into understanding what you can use things for.

Let’s get started on this complete vinegar guide.

Does Vinegar Go Bad? Plus Complete Guide on Vinegar

What Is Vinegar?

Vinegar is a solution of acetic acid. No matter what type of vinegar you have, it is all acetic acid. Each type of vinegar is produced by fermentation of alcohols (ethanol) or sugars.

How Is Vinegar Made?

According to this article from ThoughtCo (written by a PH.D), it is hard to write down a formula for vinegar because the chemicals involved depend on the source of fermentation. Distilled white vinegar is made from the fermentation of ethanol. This is the most common type of household vinegar, but there are many types (which we will discuss in a few paragraphs). All vinegar involves acetic acid, water, then whatever source the fermentation occurs from.

Different Types of Vinegar?

There are many types of vinegar fermented from different sources. Below are the most common types of vinegar:

• Distilled White Vinegar
• Red Wine Vinegar
• Balsamic Vinegar
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Cleaning Vinegar

If you head to this vinegar guide from Heinz Vinegar, you can see the source of each one. They also have a few more vinegar options listed, but the ones above are the most common. They are also the ones we get asked about from readers.

What is the difference between distilled white vinegar and cleaning vinegar?

If you notice above in our list of vinegar types, there is also one called cleaning vinegar. On Chemistry Cachet, all of our homemade solutions, like this ant spray, contain distilled white vinegar. This type of vinegar has an acidity of 5%. We use this because it is the most common vinegar found in the home, so readers don’t have to go buy anything special.

There is also a vinegar referred to as cleaning vinegar. This is diluted to 6% acidity, which makes it about 20% stronger. This type of vinegar cannot be used for cooking, it is strictly for cleaning. If you happen to have this one hand, you are welcome to use this in Chemistry Cachet’s solutions, but it isn’t necessary.

Is it better at cleaning? If you want something more acidic, you can try it. All of our DIY solutions that call for vinegar are made to work with the regular white distilled.

Does Vinegar Go Bad?

Some of our readers have reached out asking if vinegar can spoil. The short answer is no. Since vinegar in a fermented acid, it won’t spoil.  In fact, the Department of Food Science shares an important article about the care and packaging of acidic foods to prevent spoiling. Although it doesn’t go bad, it can change a little bit overtime due to oxidation and degradation. Especially if it isn’t stored properly.

If you are using different types of vinegar for cooking, you will notice they keep taste longer in the refrigerator.  While it doesn’t go bad, it can lose taste overtime. This isn’t necessarily true with white distilled vinegar.

Does the pH or Effectiveness Change?

The biggest issue with vinegar is the oxidation overtime. While it isn’t as common at home, it is still important to note that this can change the acidity of vinegar. This quote from Supreme Vinegar explains what can occur. Oxidation can gradually dilute the acetic acid, lowering the acidity level where bacteria and mold can thrive.

Can Apple Cider Vinegar Go Bad?

Everything mentioned above can still impact apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is usually in a raw form, so it will be more susceptible to mold or bacteria growth.

So, why does vinegar have an expiration date?

Manufacturers are required to add a best by date to products. This is a guaranteed date that your product will be at the best performance. However, if stored properly, you can continue to use your vinegar for years.

This is why it is important to store it properly. Which leads us to the next question…

How To Store Properly?

Since vinegar is acidic, it is best to store in glass. This is true with all acids. You can also use the container it comes in which can be a chemical grade plastic. DO NOT store vinegar in any type of metal!

Make sure the lid is always secured to avoid any air getting inside. Also, be sure to keep your vinegar in a cool, dry spot like a pantry or cabinet.

If you use vinegar for homemade solutions, you might be wondering does vinegar need to be refrigerated? Yes, vinegar can also be stored in the refrigerator. Fruit vinegar will keep flavor longer in the fridge too. Refrigeration is not necessary though.

I’ve had some readers ask Chemistry Cachet, “Does vinegar go bad if I left it open?”

Like we said above, it won’t go bad, but it will lose effectiveness with oxidation. It is best to keep it closed with a secure lid.

What happens if you get cloudy vinegar?

If you have left your vinegar open, you might notice cloudiness. This is bacteria growth. Cook’s Illustrated says it doesn’t impact usage. You can just strain it out!

Since most of our vinegar use on Chemistry Cachet is for cleaning, you can still use cloudy vinegar to clean. It will be best to strain it first, then use it as you normally would.

Does Vinegar Kill Mold?

This is another FAQ from readers. Scientifically, acidic products can kill mold growth. To understand this question, it is important to know if vinegar is truly an antimicrobial. Acetic acid does have antibacterial benefits, but you have to remember that the store bought vinegar we use is diluted to 5% acidity. According to the EPA, vinegar is not a registered disinfectant either. Stay tuned for an article we have in the works about cleaning vs disinfecting. There is a big difference.

I have actually tested using vinegar for killing mold. It did not work well. I had better luck with tea tree oil.

Vinegar Safety

There are some important safety tips to talk about with vinegar. Most of these are related to cleaning.

Vinegar is a great household tool for so many things, but it needs to be used with caution because it is acidic. It is also not safe to mix with certain substances. PLEASE save this post to reference if you like to use vinegar for cleaning.

Safety Tip #1

DO NOT mix vinegar and hydrogen peroxide together in a bottle. A chemical reaction occurs to form peracetic acid.  This can be dangerous to breathe in. If you need to use vinegar and peroxide, apply them separately like we do in this homemade carpet cleaner.

Safety Tip #2

DO NOT use vinegar on natural stone surfaces, stained wood, or unsealed grout. Due to the acidic nature, vinegar can be damaging to unsealed or natural surfaces. So many people use vinegar as an all-purpose cleaner. It is not all-purpose!

Safety Tip #3

Don’t combine baking soda and vinegar together in a bottle. Also, don’t combine them down a drain. Why? Together, they form a chemical reaction. The end result is a salt. There are specific ways to use baking soda and vinegar for cleaning. Be sure to read our post on cleaning with baking soda and vinegar to get the details.

We have many posts regarding vinegar on Chemistry Cachet! Feel free to visit our cleaning tab here.

 

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