Overview
- A social media tip promotes spraying vinegar on house keys to remove odors and grime.
- Vinegar’s acetic acid can dissolve surface films, producing only short-lived freshness.
- Materials experts note many keys are brass or nickel-plated, which acidic cleaners can discolor or corrode with repeated use.
- Guidance advises never spraying vinegar into locks or onto key fobs because moisture and acid can harm mechanisms and electronics.
- Authorities recommend washing keys with warm water and dish soap, or if vinegar is used applying it sparingly to a cloth then rinsing and drying thoroughly, with the BfR noting proper cleaning removes over 90% of surface germs.