Wholesale Matting

Can I use vinegar to safely clean vinyl martial arts mats?

I have been researching the many benefits of vinegar. I want to start using it to clean the mats on which we practice. I have read that vinegar is a great disinfectant and germ-killer. I was warned about its acidity. Will diluting the vinegar with water still be an effective disinfectant and not wear away the vinyl? Thanks so much!

Public Comments

1. i have a spray bottle mixed with 1/2 bottle of vinegar about 5 tablespoons of dish detergant and then rest of way with water although you could use just about 1/2 cup of water if you decide to keep the vinager stronger ive used this to clean my bathroom and kitchen for about 4 years because i have animals and a child and didnt want to use chemicals worked great for me if you use hope it works great for you to
2. Vinegar is acetic acid already diluted to between 3% and 5%, and the acidity should not harm the vinyl. But there are a lot of germs that are immune to acidity, including the ones that cause gastroenteritis (vomiting, diarrhea, etc.) As long as you used some soap with the vinegar solution, you should be able to wash most of the germs off the mats. But if someone got sick on a mat, I would definitely disinfect it with a bleach solution - a cup of household bleach in a gallon of water. Bleach is the only thing that will kill norovirus, which is the bug responsible for all those outbreaks of stomach flu in schools and on cruises.
3. Whichever solution you decide to go with, just be sure that you test it in a small, hidden area to be sure that it doesn't discolor or ruin your mats. I think that vinegar with water should be mild enough to disinfect without damaging the material though.