Shoutout to the old timer who told me to try vinegar on a pump motor

Had a dishwasher pump seized up tight. Customer said it was a goner. An old guy at the parts counter said to pour a cup of white vinegar in the sump and let it sit overnight. Did it as a last try. Next morning, the motor spun free like new. I learned not to write off a part before trying a simple clean. Anyone else have a weird cleaning trick that actually works?

4 comments

4 Comments

jesse_smith102mo ago

How often do we overthink a fix when the answer is in the kitchen cabinet? That vinegar trick is solid. I've used it on showerheads and coffee makers too. It's crazy how a cheap bottle of acid can beat a fancy cleaner. Makes you wonder what other simple stuff we're missing. What's the weirdest thing you've fixed with a household product?

lisas782mo ago

Hold up, vinegar is actually a mild acid, not a base. It works because it dissolves the mineral scale, like limescale, that's jamming things up. Bases are more like baking soda, which is better for cutting grease. It's a common mix-up, but knowing the difference helps you pick the right tool. That's why vinegar is perfect for hard water messes in appliances.

garcia.mila2mo ago

Actually, I've always heard it's the acid in vinegar that does the cleaning. Doesn't that make it a base, not an acid? I'm pretty sure bases are the ones that cut through grease instead.

anthony_jackson312d ago

28 years of working on old houses taught me that vinegar is definitely an acid with a pH around 2-3. What @garcia.mila might be mixing up is that both acids and bases can clean, they just tackle different things. I've used straight vinegar on a clogged shower head that was caked with calcium, let it soak overnight, and it was practically new again. For grease though, you want a base like baking soda or those heavy duty degreasers at the store. Just make sure you never mix vinegar with bleach or baking soda thinking it will work better, that just makes a mess or dangerous fumes.