Guests Always Notice This Area in Your Home First—Why Vinegar Is the Best Way to Clean It

Your entryway is the space that makes a powerful first impression on guests when they visit your home. It’s also one of the places that gets filthy fast. Dirt, grit and road salt all get dragged in on boots and muddy pet paws daily. That’s why regularly cleaning floors, walls and glass with the right solutions is important to keep the space sanitary and streak-free.

Eco-friendly and inexpensive vinegar can be a powerhouse home cleaning product, and it’s invariably in your pantry. But is it the right product for this part of your property?

If you’re wondering when and how best to use vinegar to clean entryway surfaces safely and effectively, read these expert-approved tips.

Why Is Vinegar An Effective Cleaner For Home Entryways?

“Vinegar is very effective in entry hallways as it can cut through grime and dirt that typically builds up near doorways,” Lisa Macqueen, CEO and co-founder of Cleancorp, explains.

The acetic acid in this cleaner is what helps to neutralize odors and break down stubborn mud and grease buildups without leaving any sticky residue behind.

Unlike many commercial multipurpose cleaners, vinegar is also cheap, nontoxic, eco-friendly, and pet-safe.

When to Use Vinegar to Clean Entryways

Both experts recommend using vinegar on sealed, hard-surface entryway floors such as ceramic, tile, vinyl, and linoleum.

“Diluted vinegar works well for routine maintenance and cutting through that gritty residue you get from people tracking in dirt,” Diana Ciechorska, CEO of Park Slope Cleaning, says. “It’s also useful for removing water spots and salt stains in winter, which is a big deal in entryways specifically.”

Macqueen suggests vinegar is also handy in glass-heavy entryways. She explains that it wipes away fingerprints and smudges on glass doors and mirrors with minimal effort, leaving no streaks or cloudy residue.

Are you also worried about that wet dog smell left every time your soggy dog shakes in the entryway on return from a walk? Vinegar’s natural deodorizing properties help to neutralize bad smells rather than just masking them.

How to Use Vinegar to Clean Entryways

The beauty of this cleaner is that it’s safe, and it’s easy to make a homemade vinegar cleaning solution. All you need is plain white distilled vinegar diluted with water, which you can spray on the surface, wipe of,f and then buff up.

“For general cleaning, I recommend a 1:1 ratio with water—so equal parts,” Ciechorska says. “For windows and glass, you can go a bit stronger, maybe 2 parts vinegar to 1 part water, since you’re wiping it off immediately anyway.”

Ciechorska also recommends using vinegar at room temperature or slightly warmer. “Cold vinegar doesn’t cut grease as effectively,” she says.

When Not to Use Vinegar to Clean Entryways

Vinegar might be versatile, but there are some entryway cleaning exceptions. While it’s great for everyday sanitation and does have some disinfectant properties, vinegar can’t kill or deactivate as many germs as EPA-approved disinfectants.

Vinegar is known for protecting against pathogens that can cause foodborne diseases like E.coli, Salmonella and Listeria. However, these are not the types of germs you commonly find in entryways.

“In entryways especially, where everyone’s touching door handles and tracking in who-knows-what, you need an actual disinfectant for high-touch surfaces,” Ciechorska says.

There are also several common entryway surfaces you should avoid cleaning with vinegar. This includes natural stone like marble, limestone, travertine, slate and granite, as well as unsealed grout.

“The acid etches the surface over time,” Ciechorska says. “I’ve seen gorgeous marble entryways get dulled because someone thought vinegar was ‘gentle’.”

Vinegar can also break down the protective layer on waxed or polished surfaces and dull hardwood surfaces (even sealed ones), according to Macqueen.

Alternative Entryway Cleaners

When your entryway includes surfaces that vinegar can damage, there are plenty of appropriate substitutions you can consider for cleaning.

For stone floors, Macqueen suggests a pH-neutral stone cleaner, like Hagerty Natural Stone Care, which cleans without etching.

“For hardwood floors, make sure you use a wood-safe cleaner such as a Bosisto’s Floor Cleaner or Earth’s Choice Floor Cleaner, “ Macqueen says. “Even soap diluted with water works well if you’re worried about vinegar dulling your floors over time.”

Ciechorska recommends using an EPA-registered disinfectant for cleaning high-touch areas like door handles and light switches.

“Quaternary ammonium-based cleaners are what we use commercially—they’re effective and don’t have the harshness of bleach,” she says. “For home use, something like a Lysol or Clorox disinfecting wipe works fine for those surfaces.”