Vinegar and wood - bad?

[imported_Jimmy]

While recaulking my decks I accidently tipped over a container of vinegar which, of course, immediately poured into every nearby open seam. I wiped up and vacuumed out as much as I could, but I was wondering if it is bad for the wood and if I should try to wash it out or neutralize it. There is a 3/4" fir subdeck under the 1" teak deck so it won't just drain through and I am hesitant to wash it out if I don't have to since I have to have it all sealed up again in a week when we leave on a 10 day trip. Anybody know it the vinegar that has seeped between the planks is going to cause me grief in the future?

[David123]

don't know, but i do know that vinegar has acetic acid in it. Baking Soda will neutralize the acid....

Dave

[ 08-21-2005, 10:02 PM: Message edited by: David123 ]

[Bob Cleek]

Vinegar is about the same as oxalic acid, which is used to bleach teak decks. I've bleached a lot of teak decks with oxalic acid and it never caused any problems. As said, baking soda will neutralize it. You can simply swab on some water with baking soda dissolved in it, or not. (I just wash oxalic acid off with soapy water.) I wouldn't sweat it at all.

[Lucky Luke]

No problem at all, don't worry anything....it actually is quite good, excepted that the red vinegar stains the wood. White vinegar nothing, for the wood (it is used as a bleecher on decks as said hereabove), but bad for iron fastenings!

[ 08-21-2005, 10:47 PM: Message edited by: Lucky Luke ]

[imported_Jimmy]

I was thinking of trying to wash it with a little seawater which I was thinking might netralize the acid. Maybe I will add a little baking soda to some seawater.

[ 08-21-2005, 11:53 PM: Message edited by: Jimmy ]

[Jay Greer]

Not to worry. A good rinse is all that is needed. A forgotten fact is that decks were once scrubbed with acetic acid and salt water. This is available in powder form from chemical supply houses. Acetic acid, also lime juice, is less corrosive on wood fibers and will produce a fine bleached white deck surface without railing the grain as teak cleaners do.

[Dave Carnell]

Oxalic acid and citric acid are reducing agents that are effective bleaches of colors in any way related to iron. Acetic acid is not a reducing agent or really a bleach.

[Gary E]

Someone else spilled oil, you spilled the vinegar, now all we need is the lettus, tomatoes, and onions and someone to toss it...

WHatz up with using the boat as a workbench anyway...
:D

[imported_Jimmy]

Thanks for all the replies. I gave the area a quick rinse then placed a fan blowing on the area so it will hopefully be dry when I caulk it in a day or two.

[Thorne]

If there is any fresh epoxy in the area you might have a problem, but otherwise it should be fine.

Vinegar makes a great "solvent" for cleaning up fresh epoxy from tools, planks and the odd hand or hair that might get coated. Don't know the chemistry but it works...

[Alan D. Hyde]

The old ships-of-the-line would clean up and disinfect after a bloody sea battle by first mopping profusely with vinegar, and then by burning brimstone (sulpher).

Alan

[gert]

I talked to a lady at the wooden boat show in Vancouver and she mensioned they put viniger in the bilge when it got stinky.