Dollar store cleaning vinegar vs. the name brand stuff - is there really a difference?

I've been buying the fancy brand cleaning vinegar for years at $4 a jug, but last week I grabbed a $1 bottle from the discount bin at a random thrift store just to try it. Turns out both worked the same on my greasy stovetop and shower grime, and I felt kinda dumb for overspending. Has anyone else tested cheap vs. pricey cleaning supplies and found the cheap stuff does the job just as good?

2 comments

2 Comments

riley_coleman25d ago

Hasn't this same logic played out with basically everything we buy, from overpriced face wash to fancy coffee creamer? The cheap stuff gets the job done like 90 percent of the time, it's just the packaging and marketing that make us feel like we're missing out. I say stick with the dollar store vinegar and use that extra cash on a nice loaf of bread or something.

hall.charles26d ago

Man, I hear you on feeling dumb about overspending. But here's the thing - did you check the actual acidity percentage on both bottles? The name brand stuff is usually 6% acetic acid while some of those dollar store bottles are only 4-5%, which means you gotta use more cheap stuff to get the same cleaning power. So is it really saving you money if you end up dumping half the bottle on the same job?

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