Your Guide To The True Lifespan Of Cleaning Vinegar (And How To Know If It's Gone Bad)

Vinegar is a kitchen staple, found in pantries all over the country. From using it in recipes to sanitizing surfaces, it's no doubt a resourceful ingredient. Its high acidity makes vinegar a versatile cleaning tool, but what about that old bottle that's been sitting in the back of your pantry for months, or even years? Before you get to scrubbing, you might be curious to see if it's gone bad or past its expiration date.

Thanks to its high acidity, vinegar is self-preserving, which means it can prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. Because of this, it has a virtually indefinite shelf life — the "best by" date on the bottle is simply a quality guideline, not a safety expiration date. Even after the "best by" date, your vinegar remains safe and effective for its intended use, whether it's cooking or cleaning. However, anything past the "best by" date may indicate changes in quality and potency, which are harmless and do not significantly impact its cleaning power.

It's important to note that there is a difference between the standard white vinegar you have in your cupboard and authentic cleaning vinegar. While white vinegar is used for both cooking and cleaning, cleaning vinegar is specifically designed for cleaning purposes — it is not safe for consumption. This difference stems from the acetic acid concentration: regular white distilled vinegar contains 5%, while actual cleaning vinegar contains at least 6% acetic acid. Whichever option you choose, both are excellent choices for the top places in your home that you should be cleaning with vinegar.

While you can certainly use vinegar past its "best by" date for cleaning, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, there might be a few (harmless) changes to the look of it. You may notice that the once-clear vinegar you had is now becoming cloudy or developing sediments at the bottom of the bottle. This is an aesthetic change only, and it does not impact the effectiveness of the vinegar when cleaning. To remove, you can pour the vinegar through a coffee filter or simply shake the bottle well to redistribute the sediment.

If you have really dated vinegar, it's still safe to use, but it's important to know that the acetic acid in it can become diluted, especially if the bottle is opened and closed frequently. Overall, this can make the vinegar less potent and effective, but it should still be sufficient for most cleaning jobs. On a positive note, you can continue using the same bottle of vinegar for an extended period, unless you notice obvious signs of contamination, such as mold growth. In that case, it's best to throw away the whole bottle, since mold spores have likely spread throughout the entire liquid, even if you only see growth on the surface. To ensure your vinegar stays in good condition, consider the best way to store vinegar for cleaning, which is in the original container and in a cool, dark place.