Can You Use Vinegar on Car Paint?

By Trevor Spedden 06/22/2023 8:00am

Yes. White vinegar effectively and safely removes water spots and mineral deposits. The vinegar sold at grocery and wholesale stores has a 5% concentration in the bottle. When diluting it 50/50 with distilled water, it is even safer for your car’s paint. Always start with the least aggressive cleaning method and increase the concentration if the 50/50 vinegar solution isn’t removing the mineral deposits from the car’s paint.

You can also find vinegar in an industrial strength concentration of 75%. However, it’s best to use extra caution when handling this type. Industrial vinegar is 15 times more potent than consumer vinegar, and using it at full strength isn’t recommended for any application, including automotive. Don’t allow the vinegar to dry on the paint; never apply products to the paint in direct sun or when the panel is hotter than 90 degrees Fahrenheit. If you’re interested in learning other uses for white vinegar, check out the DIY car cleaning hacks list.

PRO TIP: I’ve seen the cleaning power of white vinegar first-hand, and it even saved one vehicle owner from needing a partial repaint. During a rainstorm, the vehicle was in a parking garage, and the deteriorating concrete left horrific mineral deposits all over the car’s front end (hood, bumper, and fenders). A body shop inspected the car and recommended that repainting would be necessary to remove the mineral deposits. With nothing to lose at this point, it was time to test the effectiveness and safety of white vinegar on car paint, and the outcome was nothing short of miraculous.