In the universe of successful home tricks on TikTok or Instagram, there is one that has gained particular prominence, which is spraying white vinegar on and around the base of the toilet. It seems ideal, as it costs little money and promises to reduce odors, facilitate cleaning in dense areas and even resist moisture stains. But the question is compelling: Does it really work?
bad smell It is a great claim to apply this technique, since no one wants to enter the bathroom and it smells bad. And here, from a mechanical point of view, science supports this system, albeit with nuance. For example, the foul smell of rancid urine is primarily due to ammonia, and this compound is produced when the bacteria urease hydrolyzes the urea in the urine. This biological process not only causes a foul odor, but also raises the pH of the medium and precipitates salts, forming the dreaded “urine tartar” that is almost always embedded.
And here it works, Since acid-base chemistry is in our favor. If we become a little expert in chemistry, we know that vinegar converts ammonia, which is volatile and smelly, into ammonium ions, which are odorless.
Additionally, this acidic environment dissolves the calcium phosphate deposits that form tartar, giving a more clean feeling. However, it is important to note that the literature has not directly tested the effectiveness of vinegar in toilet bases. Therefore, we cannot strictly guarantee that it will always work ‘yes or yes’.
Total disinfection This will not be achieved with vinegar, since it does not replace a deep cleaning that we all do with some frequency. And this is something that has been proven, since vinegar was only able to eliminate such a small part of the bacteria S. aureus and E. coli, Shows that “natural” products are less effective than commercial disinfectants.
However, this does not mean that vinegar is useless, since a freshly prepared homemade mixture and 50% vinegar can significantly reduce bacteria, which is valid for cleaning ceramics and for general domestic use where the elimination of all microorganisms is not strictly necessary.
the problem In dosage, as the liquid we usually use for cleaning, vinegar lacks a disinfecting effect. To truly disinfect surfaces, vinegar must be used at a concentration of at least 5%, and its results are significantly improved when combined with citric acid.
invisible threat There is a scientific basis for recommending special cleaning “around” the toilet, since flushing the toilet creates a “plume” of bioaerosol, the concentration of which in the air depends on the lateral distance from the toilet and the time elapsed after flushing. For this reason, experts always recommend prioritizing the disinfection of the surfaces closest to the cup, where these aerosols will end up.
mold Another advantage of vinegar in this context is that it prevents the accumulation of moisture stains. Faced with this, what has been explored is that fungal growth can be prevented P. ChrysogenumBut it was completely ineffective against Aspergillus fumigatus. To combat these microorganisms, other natural compounds, such as tea tree oil, have proven to be more effective than vinegar.
warning If you eventually decide to add vinegar to your bathroom cleaning routine, it’s important to never mix it with bleach. And there is a big lack of knowledge that the ingredients can never be combined and bleach goes very badly with vinegar and ammonia. Something that should never be forgotten, because combining these ingredients can release toxic gases that threaten our health.
Through this OkDiario
Picture | kaboompics
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