Preface
Limestone and vinegar will experience a reaction when facing together. For example, bubbles start to show up, and heat will be seen. Both will yield various compounds after the mentioned reaction.
How Reaction Occurs
These two are very different; therefore, we will see such a reaction. Vinegar is a kind of acid, and Limestone has calcium carbonate. The presence of an acid formula with a base cause such a coincidence.
Products
What we call bubbles is carbon dioxide moving to the surface. In this part, vinegar turns to water, forming a calcium salt known as calcium acetate. .
Bonds
Bonds are the reason behind the existence of chemical compounds. For these two chemicals, this story is the same; between vinegar and Limestone, there will be a bond break. Subsequently, new bonds will be formed.
Result
If you use vinegar, lemon juice, or other cleaners, you will see acid formations on marble, Limestone, travertine, or onyx surfaces!
So what should we do?
- For cleaning surfaces, you must use neutral cleaners such as stone soap or dishwashing detergent with warm water.
- On the other side, using these neutral cleaners repetitively for a short time will show some streaks on the stone.
- Using scouring powders or creams on the surface is not recommended due to leading to scratches.
Vinegar is the enemy of Limestone.
According to the information above and the vinegar formula, their confrontation will be a disaster because we will have a kind of salt after the reaction.
Others
In addition to vinegar, all food products can cause damage.Scrubbing pads can be one of the destructive reasons.
What is the best cleaner for Limestone?
- Using a pH-neutral stone cleanser which is made specifically for Limestone, can be very helpful.
- Using a toothbrush can be a good aid for removing most stains.
Overall, we have to know the reasons why vinegar is harmful to stone cleaning:
Reasons for Not Using Vinegar on Natural Stone for Cleaning
- This chemical will damage the seal and polish layer.
- It can lead to structural damage.
- When used to remove stains, it will act vice versa.
- Sometimes, it can cause etching on the stone surface.
Removing vinegar stains
You can make a paste of baking soda and acetone to remove vinegar stains. After applying, leave it for 24 hours.
