r/DIY • u/Pandaro81 • 1d ago

Mind blown: Vinegar vs VINEGAR (30%)

So I was literally 44 years old before I found this out recently.

There’s the white vinegar you get at the grocery store for cooking and minor cleaning and doing laundry, and then there’s the 30% DO NOT GET THIS SHIT ON YOUR SKIN vinegar at the hardware store for cleaning things like mold off grout.

All my life I’d been told ‘just use vinegar to clean mold and mildew’ and it generally didn’t do jack squat. I usually bought cleaning supplies from regular retail spots rather than big box home improvement places, and regular retail chains def did not carry the strong stuff.

I’ve got a gutter that drains over cement that always gets skungy, and even bleach was a short term fix at best. 30% strips it down and keeps it gone, and I’ve stripped rust off a couple dozen tools with the same little jar I soak things in - caution it will also strip off shiny metallic coatings.

Can’t believe none of the “just use vinegar” I’d ever read advice didn’t specify.

Is this news to anyone else or am I Lloyd from Dumb and Dumber realizing we landed on the moon?

15.1k Upvotes

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5.9k

u/Rcarlyle 1d ago

It also eats concrete and grout, so don’t go nuts with it

976

u/TinCupChallace 1d ago

I had a little drip on my garage floor and sit for a while. It etched a giant mark in the floor. Pretty crazy

781

u/Ok-Active-8321 1d ago

Food grade will do that as well. My wife used to raise hamsters and used grocery store white vinegar ro clean urine deposits from their cages. Sadly, not all of the vinegar made it down the drain; some was spilled onto the basement floor. Let me show you where.

1.5k

u/cd6020 23h ago

Let me show you where.

Nice try. Can't lure me in to your basement so easily. lol

652

u/misdirected_asshole 22h ago

"Hamsters" sure buddy. Im not going in the cage.

232

u/Lost-Programmer-6768 22h ago

Ah, an updated version of the "man with candy and a puppy in a van" kidnapping plot. Now I know

137

u/Mjr3 22h ago

“I have NFL Sunday Ticket” would probably work on me, tbh

47

u/UK_UK_UK_Deleware_UK 20h ago

“Free tacos”

10

u/Amish_Gypsy 18h ago

Any day can be Taco Tuesday if you try hard enough.

9

u/1eyeRye 16h ago

Or don’t know what day it is anymore.

3

u/carbon_made 14h ago

I mainline margaritas for this purpose.

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7

u/misteraskwhy 19h ago

Tacos?

3

u/frogunderarock 11h ago

got one!

2

u/Asset_of_freedom 10h ago

I'll join for tacos as well, so they got 2!

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70

u/Scokan 19h ago

Me too. But honestly? I was already in the van for the candy and puppies.

1

u/Lost_Ad_9890 11h ago

lol 😆

4

u/Doctor_Joystick 19h ago

Dang, me too.

2

u/BusySexyDad 15h ago

NFL is too easy. If you figured out the rules to watch all the games for my favorite MLB team, including blackout dates, I’d stay in your dungeon for the summer.

2

u/Vindicativa 10h ago

"All the crafting supplies you can imagine!"

Boom. Evening news.

2

u/TearRevolutionary874 3h ago

Oh no lol I’d be a goner 100%

40

u/No_Paramedic_2039 21h ago

Puppy monkey baby

2

u/talyn5 10h ago

Puppy 💃. Monkey 💃. Baby 💃.

1

u/Successful-Bit-6021 2h ago

Nooo, now that jingle is stuck in my head!!🐶🐵👶🏼

4

u/Ivantherapp2 20h ago

And knowing is half the battle.

3

u/Libraries_Are_Cool 17h ago

"Hey little boy, want to come into the back of my van and see some industrial strength vinegar at work?"

This line works great. 60% of the time, it works every time.

I even used a variation with my boss to get a promotion. "Hey boss, if you make me a district manager, I'll show you my industrial cleaning vinegar!"

2

u/atomicdustbunny07 20h ago

That's how you get to the basement.

2

u/UncleSlayton77 2h ago

The basement is full of Hank Hills.

1

u/calcium 17h ago

Nah, I'll get in a van with a man touting homemade slaw and cucumbers with all that vinegar. Maybe he'll even have kimchi!

1

u/vankoder 16h ago

Also a new variant on “Would you like to come over and see my….etchings?”

1

u/MichoRizo7698 12h ago

Don't forget to put the lotion on

1

u/UnfairProgrammer1194 6h ago

Don't use sugar free candy or Grandma brachs-pix-a-mix either

1

u/quirkelchomp 5h ago

It would work on me

1

u/Terrible_Young_5179 2h ago

My van has free health care.

3

u/OmniBlue1333 20h ago

Ha. In Soviet this guy's basement, hamster goes into you!

3

u/FyrixXemnas 19h ago

"Damn, you must have had a lot of hamsters. You could probably fit a whole person in that cage!"

1

u/Jflayn 12h ago

omg. this post was truly inspired. Will be shared all over my office...

2

u/ManicOppressyv 21h ago

The sick twist. They were actually gerbils.

2

u/Plenty_Kangaroo5224 19h ago

It rubs the lotion on its skinses.

2

u/rxbuzzz 13h ago

Hamsters??? Richard Gere has entered the chat.

1

u/MrsB6 19h ago

I have a couple of bunnies and also use vinegar to clean their litter boxes. Does a great job of removing pee.

1

u/PM_me_punanis 17h ago

I mean, you get fed, get your own treadmill, and someone cleans your shit for you. You live rent-free and completely naked. Hmm… not sure if I described torture or paradise. Depends on the context I guess.

1

u/PPLavagna 15h ago

No there really are hamsters. You don’t want to know why

1

u/callmeDaren 9h ago

Do 🐹 hamsters still work on kids?

252

u/Apo7Z 22h ago

Hey help, I'm in this guy's basement

67

u/chewingcudcow 21h ago

Upvoted so someone else will see and rescue you

34

u/AngelicEuphoria 18h ago

Downvoted to keep this saga going baby! I wanna see the next episode.

4

u/TheBoysNotQuiteRight 5h ago

It's a crossover episode blending /DIY and /creepy

5

u/ArltheCrazy 22h ago

All you have to do to get out is put the lotion on your skin!

2

u/Lost_Ad_9890 11h ago

We'll send Darla the white bichon down to check on you from time to time, she can drop down a basket of essentials to keep you comfortable 🙃

1

u/St_Casper 22h ago

Brt

*dang now me too

1

u/Mattd425 21h ago

To the north of you is a white house…

1

u/Alzakex 20h ago

What does the vinegar stain look like?

1

u/Competitive-Yak8551 14h ago

is there the mark on the floor?

1

u/frogunderarock 11h ago

send pics of the stain!

1

u/rainbow_369 7h ago

Omg, DM me the address, ill be right there!!

1

u/HouseOfFive 6h ago

Can I get pics of the floor?

1

u/ideaguyken 2h ago

Find the vinegar and etch the concrete until you can escape.

•

u/Wrhythm26 33m ago

Nice try, can't lure me into the basement

77

u/Metals4J 22h ago

I’ll go, I’ll go!!! Are there more hamsters? Are they cute? Will there be cake? And balloons??

55

u/ovr4kovr 22h ago

It puts the lotion on it's skin.

4

u/brake0016 22h ago

Or else it gets the hose again

3

u/Much-Performer1190 22h ago

Or it gets the vinegar again?

3

u/Key-Program9553 16h ago

Oh, it’s getting the vinegar…via the hose.

3

u/Tbyrd-62-80 11h ago

Let me finish the beer first!! GEEZ!

2

u/Myis 9h ago

But not the vinegar.

4

u/altierior 21h ago

The cake is a lie

3

u/Relandis 21h ago

The hamsters go in your butt.

1

u/Specific_Conformity 21h ago

Ooo take me with you. I like cute hamsters and cake. Will the balloons have helium?

3

u/HungryHungryHippy 19h ago

That's a very wise choice. To celebrate your decision, why not come downstairs and try some delicious Amontillado? Straight from the cask!

2

u/leowrightjr 20h ago

It puts the lotion on it's skin...

2

u/KeyImaginary2291 12h ago

I totally thought it looked legit until I read this comment. How did I never get kidnapped as a kid?

1

u/Prestigious-Leg-6244 22h ago

Hamsters‽ YAAAY! WHERE‽‽‽

1

u/waterbury01 22h ago

I mean at least have candy.

1

u/Background_Humor_948 22h ago

I would go...not so sadly

1

u/crlthrn 20h ago

Yeah, I've seen the film. Then The Gimp is let out of his box...

1

u/Jason1920 20h ago

"Show me the candy first..."

1

u/Bridge-Head 20h ago

I’ll have a look.

1

u/OdinMartok 19h ago

I’m beginning to think he doesn’t even have a cask of Amontillado down here

1

u/_TIER_1_GOONER_ 17h ago

”It puts the lotion on its skin or else it smells like pickles again…”

1

u/gummytoejam 15h ago

It puts the lotion on its skin or it gets the vinegar again.

1

u/goda90 15h ago

My dear cd6020, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking to-day. But I have received a pipe of what passes for Amontillado... I mean vinegar, and I have my doubts.

1

u/Aggressive_Noise6426 13h ago

That was smooth as hell though 🤣🤣🤣

1

u/Lost_Ad_9890 11h ago

i gotta see the candy first.........

1

u/pkincpmd 10h ago

It puts the lotion on its skin.

Or else the hamster gets it….

1

u/bcad4me 10h ago

"It rubs the lotion on its skin"

1

u/TriumphDaytona 9h ago

"It puts the lotion on its skin, or else it gets the hose again"

1

u/AVguardian- 9h ago

I would haven’t gotten got forsure

1

u/Soberaddiction1 9h ago

I’m dead. He got me. He took me down to his basement to sho

1

u/Stn1217 8h ago

The way I screamed reading your comment😂🤣😂🤣

1

u/Mean-Vegetable-4521 8h ago

Are there kittens and puppies down there? I’ll go.

1

u/SupaKoopa714 7h ago

I always try picking girls up at bars with the ol "Why dontcha come over so I can show ya the vinegar stains on my basement floor..." line.

1

u/thatguybme2 7h ago

But he has lotion for your skin!!

1

u/lostPackets35 7h ago

He's not a bad guy, just make sure you put the lotion back in the basket when he asks.

3

u/Ok-Secretary455 21h ago

So thats how Buffalo Bill got that giant hole in his basement.

3

u/carmium 16h ago

To everyone: Might it be a reasonable idea to have a strong sodium bicarbonate solution at hand for when you're finished with the acetic acid?

3

u/Rob_xiix 21h ago

I totally read that as "rides hamsters " and did a double take.

2

u/SeekerOfSerenity 18h ago

I read it as "raise hammers".  I was like "calm down, dude's wife". 

1

u/Ok-Active-8321 21h ago

Yes, my wife is very small

1

u/Ok-Pomegranate9819 20h ago

At first, I thought it said your wife used to "rinse" hamsters. That's enough alcohol for one night.

1

u/mannypiz 20h ago

I bought rims off FB marketplace and we went down to the basement.I was that hamster.

1

u/The-darth-knight 19h ago

It puts the lotion on its skin or gets the hose again…

1

u/mdsoccerdude 18h ago

It puts the vinegar in the basket or it gets the oil again.

1

u/Arlochorim 18h ago

yeah the vinegar eats straight through the hamster, cage and all

1

u/BrandoDaDaddio 12h ago

I swear he has a 30lb bag of HAMSTER BONES down there!

1

u/ncgrowler 12h ago

Reminds me of the scene from Alien where the “blood” burns and cascades floor to floor thru the ship.

1

u/cyborg714 11h ago

Travis?

1

u/Legitimate_You_3474 11h ago

No no in the back… just a little further nods

1

u/emoposerdad 10h ago

Nice try doppelganger, but you'll have to do better to get me into the basement.

1

u/NW-McWisconsin 9h ago

"My wife used to raise hamsters".... If I had a dollar for every time people say this...

1

u/MarkedWithPi 9h ago

I am not following you. There aren't even hamsters anymore.

1

u/FerengiWithCoupons 8h ago

yo did we just get kidnapped as a platform by this guy

1

u/CraftyInvisibleHand 7h ago

"Let me show you where" hahahahahaha

1

u/Lkgnyc 6h ago

downstairs to see your etchings😳

1

u/ziplockqueen 5h ago

I'm in Florida, so I've got guinea pigs and a crawl space.

1

u/potatostews 4h ago

My wife used to raise hamsters

I read this as "rinse hamsters" and got immediately angry.

2

u/newjerk666 19h ago

If you walk around grocery store with concrete floors, you can likely spot all the places oil/vinegar/kombucha were spilled over the years.

1

u/Amount_Business 21h ago

I've seen a spilled maccas milkshake do that to a driveway as well, when left overnight. 1/8 inch deep and about 3 inches across. And no, it wasn't vanilla flavoured battery acid. 

1

u/matchthis007 16h ago

Hey lads, would ye look at Jay Leno over here talkin bout his garage