Vinegar is widely used in different parts of Asia as well as eastern Europe. Several biblical stories show how vinegar was used in food and physical uses. So, does vinegar Purify the Air? The short answer is both yes and no at the same time. It is a scientific fact that vinegar has strong disinfecting qualities. In this article, I will discuss how you can use vinegar to sanitize your house from contamination.
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Vinegar as an odor remover:
Vinegar is a form of acetic acid that neutralizes the odorous molecules from the air. Placing a bowl of pure vinegar in the room can have the same effect as the activated carbon filter of an air purifier. The alkaline odorous molecules are attracted by the acetic acid and get neutralized. However, vinegar has a natural odor that can irritate some people. The good news is that the smell is gone as soon as you remove the vinegar from the room. So, you can use vinegar to trap the odor from the room and then remove it to stop the sour fragrance.
Another method to remove odor from the house is to place the vinegar in a spray bottle. Spraying allows you to capture maximum alkaline molecules from the air in a minimum amount of time. So, there is no need to wait for several hours after introducing vinegar to the environment. In short, vinegar is one of the best natural odor removing agents that is easily accessible everywhere in the world.
Vinegar as a disinfectant:
Recent scientific studies show that vinegar has some disinfecting qualities. Chinese understood the importance of vinegar long before science started its study. In fact, the 2003 pneumonia outbreak in China was tackled by white vinegar spray in households. So, how does vinegar disinfect the room?
Vinegar is polar in nature and thus attracts most of the organic compounds from the air. You can boil white vinegar to break down dirt and debris from the air. However, it is best to dilute the vinegar by adding a cup of water before boiling to minimize the natural acidic odor. Another study shows that 10% malt vinegar can efficiently destroy the Influenza virus.
How to use vinegar as a disinfectant?
Many folklore dictates that boiling vinegar has a disinfecting effect on the room. As a result, the historical record shows how vinegar was widely used as a natural air purifier in medieval times. On the contrary, EPA has rejected this claim by saying boiling reduces the disinfecting effect of the acetic acid. But this also shows that acetic acid can efficiently disinfect the room if used with proper equipment.
The first method to disinfect the room is to boil the vinegar with some water till it starts bubbling. Place the boiling vinegar in a clay pot and move from one room to the next. You have to wait at least 15 minutes in one room to disinfect it. The vinegar steam will leave a sour odor in the room, but it quickly dissipates as soon as you leave the room. The problem with this method is that you have to boil the vinegar several times because a single boil is suitable for a single room, and then the vinegar stops steaming.
Another method of using vinegar as a disinfectant is to use a diffuser in the house. It is the most efficient method to produce steam without diluting the acetic acid of the vinegar. Moreover, you can also tackle the sour odor of the vinegar by adding a few drops of your favorite aromatic essential oil to the vinegar. So, you will not only disinfect the room using vinegar but make your home naturally aromatic as well.
What happens when you boil vinegar?
White vinegar is available in different acetic acid-water ratios ranging from 5% to 20%. The higher the acid content, the more strong your vinegar will be. Therefore, if you want to disinfect the room, it would be best to use strong vinegar. When you start boiling white vinegar, the water starts evaporating way before the acetic acid. The water catches the dirt and debris from the room and settles to the ground. Similarly, acetic acid removes odor and germs from the air before settling.
Odor is produced by different organic compounds, including chemical fumes and gaseous particles. The human nose detects all these molecules and produces an irritating feeling. This natural defense mechanism ensures that you don’t inhale harmful fumes for extended periods. The acetic acid content of the vinegar attracts the chemical fumes and neutralizes the airborne viruses and germs. Moreover, the acid is also a germ killer because it destroys the protective cell membrane.
How to use vinegar to kill germs and bacteria efficiently?
Vinegar is a well-known disinfectant that kills around 40% of the airborne microorganisms from the air. However, you are still at risk of catching a viral disease if you use just vinegar. The most efficient way to cleanse your house is to use an air sanitizer with a built-in diffuser. As a result, the ultraviolet rays from the air sanitizer kill up to 97% of germs at the DNA level.
The sanitizers don’t have an activated carbon filter for removing the odor and dust from the room. Therefore, the diffused vinegar acts as a natural carbon filter for your sanitizer. It will destroy all the remaining germs, kill the odor and break down the dust and debris particles from the air. Moreover, you can also add your favorite essential oils to produce the best aroma that you can get. In short, this method is the most efficient way to remove germs, dust, and odor from the house.
Choose an air purifier
Air purifiers have become extremely popular in recent years. However, with so many different variations on the market, it can be difficult to pick the right unit for your home. Click on this link and I’ll walk you through how to choose an air purifier. I’ll also look at some of the pros and cons of each type of air purifier. Click on the link to learn more!
FAQs:
What does boiling vinegar do to the air?
Vinegar consists of 5-20% acetic acid, and the rest is pure water for diluting the acid. When you boil white vinegar, the water evaporates faster and traps most of the dust and debris from the air. At the same time, the acetic acid neutralizes the odor and kills some germs and airborne viruses from the air.
Can I use vinegar in a diffuser?
Yes, you can use an air diffuser to disinfect your house using vinegar. Furthermore, you can also add a few drops of essential oil to produce your favorite aroma in the house.
Is air sanitizer better than air purifier?
Both the devices are efficient for different purposes. For instance, if you only want to remove the germs and bacteria from the house, an air sanitizer is the best choice. Similarly, an air purifier is suitable for trapping dust, chemical fumes, and pet dander. Some air purifiers also come with sanitizing features for killing microorganisms as well.
Is vinegar steam harmful to humans?
No, vinegar is made by diluting acetic acid, which is a natural compound. Chinese and Europeans have been using vinegar steam as a natural disinfectant for many centuries. Therefore, boiling vinegar for cleaning the air in the house is not harmful to humans.
Does vinegar remove odor from the house?
Yes, acetic acid is a well-known natural odor remover. It removes the chemical fumes, VOCs, and smelly molecules from the air. However, vinegar leaves its own odor when placed in the room. The smell goes away as soon as you remove the vinegar pot from the room.
Conclusion:
Vinegar has many applications besides cooking; you can use it as a natural deodorizing and disinfecting agent in the house. However, the best way to boil vinegar is to use an air sanitizer or an air purifier with a built-in diffuser to remove all the pollutants from the house efficiently.
