Does vinegar kill bacteria?

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Yes, vinegar DOES kill many bacteria and viruses, including many very dangerous ones that can be in food such as E. Coli O157:H7 (see for example scholarly research that shows this http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iafp/jfp/1998/00000061/00000008/art00005 ). It is probably good to use in the kitchen and other places that you may be worried about harsher chemicals like bleach getting into food.

Vinegar can also increase the bacteria-killing power of bleach greatly if you don't mind using some of both for a spray to use on surfaces (see http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-02/asfm-vik021306.php). According to the article a mixture of 1 cup vinegar, 1 cup bleach and 1 gallon water will even kill dangerous bacteria such as anthrax in spore form and kills "virtually anything in 10 to 20 minutes."



http://chemistry.about.com/b/2009/02/02/why-people-mix-bleach-and-vinegar.htm


PLEASE READ ABOVE LINK BEFORE MIXING BLEACH AND VINEGAR, I have a friend who has irreparable lung damage from mixing these chemicals!!!!

First answer by Postcibal. Last edit by Jamiedawnpalmer. Contributor trust: 0 [recommend contributorrecommended]. Question popularity: 14 [recommend question].