Unfortunately, there's no way to eliminate the white vinegar smell completely if you use it as a cleaner. It's one tradeoff of going the natural route. However, there are a lot of ways to reduce and even mask the smell. So, don't take cleaning with vinegar off the table until you've given these a try.
Don't worry about the odor; it's never long lasting since vinegar evaporates once it dries.
'Leave a bowl of vinegar out overnight,' advises Saskia Gregson-Williams, cookbook author and founder of Naturally Sassy. 'In the morning, the vinegar will have absorbed all the unsavory smells and your kitchen will be as fresh as a daisy. '
If you know which surface you cleaned with vinegar, you can try cleaning it again with baking soda to neutralize the odor. Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1¾ cups of water, and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice in a spray bottle. Spray the vinegar-drenched area with the baking soda solution, and wipe it dry.
While the acidity of vinegar makes it such a good cleaner, this property unfortunately also adds a pungent smell.
Using white vinegar to get rid of odors
' Cleaning expert Cristy Harfmann agrees. If you're wondering how to wash towels or clothes that may have a bad odor, then adding 1/4 to 1 cup of vinegar to the washer during the last rinse cycle will get rid of the scent quickly.
When vinegar evaporates, you get vapor of acetic acid as well as water vapor. You can easily smell that the acetic acid evaporates too. “Pure” vinegar evaporates completely, leaving no residue in the bowl.
So, does boiling vinegar actually clean the air? The short answer is no, as far as current scientific research is concerned. Acetic acid, the active component of vinegar, is capable of killing pathogens, but only through direct contact.
Long answer: While it only has 1% more acidity, cleaning vinegar, well, it's made for cleaning. Always read the instructions on the bottle. Depending on the brand, some may have scents included, but most have a regular white vinegar smell.
Vinegar will lock in color so that your clothes don't fade quite as fast—but don't worry, it won't seal in that pungent vinegary smell along with. It will completely wash out by the end of the cycle, just leaving the crispest, most vibrant clothes without the lingering odor.
Mix 2 cups of warm water with four tablespoons of vinegar. Spray the water and vinegar solution on the stain and leave to dissolve for 30 minutes. Use the piece of cloth to blot the area gently until the stain gets absorbed into the fabric. If the stain is a little bit tough, scrub gently.
Once opened and exposed to air, however, harmless “vinegar bacteria” may start to grow. This bacteria causes the formation of a cloudy sediment that is nothing more than harmless cellulose, a complex carbohydrate that does not affect the quality of the vinegar or its flavor.
Almost Indefinite Shelf Life
And while changes can be observed in other types of vinegars, such as color or the development of a haze or sediment, this is only an aesthetic change.
Vinegar is frequently recommended as a household cleanser, and can be effective on some stains and surfaces. Vinegar is inexpensive, easy to obtain and environmentally friendly. Cleaning vinegar or white vinegar – not apple cider vinegar or wine vinegar – is most commonly chosen for cleaning.
The only real side effect from leaving vinegar to its own devices is that its acidity will gradually decrease over time, making it less potent. This is why a "best by" date can be found on the bottle, but it's still perfectly fine long past that — it isn't an "expiration date," by any means. Vinegar does not expire.
White distilled vinegar will remain virtually unchanged over an extended period of time. And, while some changes can be observed in other types of vinegars, such as color changes or the development of a haze or sediment, this is only an aesthetic change. The product can still be used and enjoyed with confidence.”
All vinegars — plain and specialty types like balsamic or tarragon — are stable at room temperature.
Neither the residue nor the smell is permanent and both should go away after one wash.
To use white vinegar to deodorize a couch, pour white vinegar into a spray bottle and get to work on cushions and armrests! If you're concerned about the vinegar altering the upholstery, spray a small amount of white vinegar on your couch in a discrete location and wait overnight.
There's no set time that the vinegar smell will linger. It depends on the air flow in the space. However, vinegar actively looks for things to bind to. In most cases, it won't take more than 5-15 minutes for the smell to go away.
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.
At room temperature, vinegar will take about an hour to evaporate. Because of this, you should keep the bottle closed while using vinegar.
Spraying vinegar in the air works just as effectively as using any fancy spray that can cost $5 or more for one bottle! Vinegar is much cheaper but equally effective at removing virtually all odors but for a small fraction of the price.
Vinegar is a solid workhorse when it comes to cleaning. However, it is acidic and can cause damage to some surfaces, including when it's used for cleaning floors. Avoid using vinegar on these 12 surfaces and items in the home.