Cleaning vs Food-Grade Vinegar
Yes, there’s a difference—and confusing them could be harmful. Here’s how to spot the difference and use vinegar safely.
Food-grade vinegar
- Made for eating/cooking
- Typically ~5% acidity
- Produced under food safety regs
- Use for pickling, preserving, flavour
Cleaning vinegar
- Formulated for household use
- Often 6–8% acidity
- Not produced to food standards
- Use for limescale, windows, cleaning
How to tell them apart
- Label: Cleaning vinegar will say “for cleaning” and won’t list nutrition info.
- Acidity: >5% is common on cleaning vinegar.
- Where it’s sold: Cleaning aisle vs food aisle.
Pickling safely—get the complete guide
For precise brines, vinegar strengths, tested recipes, and storage safety, see “Pickling for the Absolute Beginner.” If you’re fermenting vegetables (not vinegar pickles), pair it with “Fermentation for the Absolute Beginner.”