I'm a cleaning expert, everyone is using this cheap viral product but there's three surfaces it should never touch
Experts come up with amazing tips using ingredients you normally find in your cupboard or fridge to get the
work
done cheaper.
2
Cleaning hacks are a godsend for many households
2
Using anything acidic on some surfaces could ruin your home
But one pro says a popular viral cleaning recommendation could be ruining your
home
.
Joseph Passalacqua, CEO of
Despite its growing popularity on social media platforms like TikTok, he says some surfaces can be permanently damaged by the acidic substance.
And he said it could cost householders thousands to repair.
READ MORE IN FABULOUS
Joseph said: "Natural stone surfaces like marble, granite, and quartzite should never come into contact with white vinegar.
"The acidity eats away at the calcium carbonate in these materials, permanently etching the surface."
The cleaning expert says stone surfaces are damaged by acidic solutions, restoration often requires professional intervention, which can cost hundreds or even thousands.
He added: "Many homeowners think vinegar is safe because it's natural, but so is lemon juice, and both will destroy a marble countertop just as quickly as any harsh chemical.
Most read in Fabulous
For stone surfaces, the expert recommends pH-neutral cleaners specifically formulated for the material.
And while many cleaning videos suggest vinegar for stainless steel surfaces - like draining boards or hobs - Joseph says this is a big no.
Inside filthiest house cleaned up by Kim Woodburn on How Clean Is Your House?
The cleaning guru said: "Vinegar can cause pitting on the surface of stainless steel over time.
"If you must use it, always dilute the solution with
water
to minimise damage."
The expert pointed out that repeated use of vinegar on stainless steel dishwashers and oven tops can also lead to a dull finish and eventually permanent spots that cannot be buffed out.
He said stainless steel should be cleaned with mild dish
soap
and
water
or dedicated stainless steel cleaners.
The third category of household surfaced to keep vinegar away from is anything with electronic components, the expert says.
He explained: "Spraying vinegar directly on screens or electronic interfaces can make touch screens less responsive and damage internal components.
"Many people spray vinegar directly on their TV screens or computer monitors thinking it's safer than commercial cleaners, but they're actually risking permanent damage to expensive equipment."
He recommends using specialised cleaners designed specifically for electronics as well as microfibre cloths.
But where can you use vinegar safely?
The cleaning expert explained that vinegar's popularity stems from its effectiveness on many other surfaces and its low cost compared to commercial cleaners.
Joseph explained: "Vinegar works wonderfully on glass, ceramic tile with sealed grout and porcelain fixtures. It's also excellent for removing mineral deposits from showerheads.
"Just keep it away from those three key surface types."
"The rule of thumb is simple. If something is porous, sensitive, or high-end, verify that vinegar is safe before applying it. When in doubt, test in an inconspicuous area first or simply use something else."
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Gentle parenting centres, critics believe, around never saying no to your child because, as advocates would have it, 'adultism' is a structural discrimination that results in children being marginalised with their needs sidelined. Of course, children's rights are important. There is a growing, much-needed awareness in the legal sphere that children are separate entities with rights and voices. Yet, the idea that you should not say no to your child is bonkers. It will have consequences not only for the child and the adult they become, but also for society as a whole. A London friend shared an amusing story with me about an intergenerational family lunch she attended. The five-year-old nephew bit his three-year-old first cousin. The grandfather of both children told the five-year-old in no uncertain terms that biting was bad and that he was a bold boy. The parents of the biter took this very badly. They didn't commiserate with the victim; instead, they asked the biter how he felt and if he was okay. This was a laborious process. The parents of the biter ended up leaving in high dudgeon because nobody else agreed with them. Side note: Everyone was thrilled that they left and went on to have an enjoyable day. I wonder what happens to the biter in the long run, and more importantly, what happens to us when he leaves his cosy burrow where he reigns as a Pasha. When he graduates from biting his younger relatives in years to come, will he be doling out the dead stare? Will he be refusing to answer a work query at two minutes past six because he is the most important person in the universe? Team Human The voices of adults don't matter more than those of children, but young people need guidance and boundaries that make them feel more secure and help them navigate life. It's also what the wider society and the economy need; human beings who grasp that they are slotting into a bigger picture, although hopefully not as mindlessly as we did. Part of this is learning to understand that while at a given moment you may wish that your boss or the person you're serving would fall off a cliff, you need to maintain a minimum level of social grace and self-regulate. This needs to be taught with respectful but plain speaking. There's a quid pro quo for being paid. And there are hierarchies, explicit and implicit, at work. Best to figure this one out early. We're all part of Team Human. A valuable lesson in our increasingly individualised society is that collaboration and the collective good are worth something both inside and outside of work. A dead-eyed stare doesn't cut it. I've read other journalists suggesting that Gen Z don't have specific characteristics, and suggesting so is lazy stereotyping. But this is clearly untrue if you're an employer who is dealing with this behaviour on the frontline. When the recession arrives, as it always does, lessons will be learned. Competition for jobs may end up resting on the social skills Gen Z has dispensed with. Best to get ahead of the pack now, and start learning how to make eye contact and small talk. Read More
