I've wondered about vinegar drying out rubber seals too, but honestly, I've used diluted vinegar on my dishwasher gasket for years without issues. Maybe it's more about how often or how concentrated you use it rather than the rubber type itself...just a thought.
I've been using diluted vinegar on my fridge door seals for probably five years now, maybe once every couple months or so. Honestly haven't noticed any drying or cracking yet. I think you're onto something with the concentration idea—too strong might be the real culprit. Also, wiping it down with plain water afterward probably helps too...at least that's what I've always done. Seems to work fine for me.
Yeah, diluted vinegar is definitely gentler. I've done something similar—usually about a 50/50 mix—and always rinse afterward. Another tip: occasionally rubbing a tiny bit of coconut oil on the seals keeps them flexible and prevents drying out...works great for me.
I've tried the coconut oil trick too, and it really does help. I was skeptical at first because I thought it'd leave things greasy, but nope—just a tiny bit rubbed in gently does wonders. Another thing I've found useful is baking soda paste for tougher grime. My oven door had some stubborn spots that vinegar alone couldn't tackle, so I mixed baking soda with just enough water to make a paste, spread it on, and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Came right off afterward with minimal scrubbing.
Honestly, I used to buy all those fancy appliance cleaners from the store, but after seeing how well simple kitchen ingredients work (and how much cheaper they are), I'm pretty much converted. Plus, it's nice knowing exactly what's going onto surfaces where food is prepared...makes me feel better about the whole cleaning process.
Totally agree about the baking soda paste—it really works wonders on tough oven grime. I was skeptical at first too, thinking it might scratch the glass, but nope, gentle enough yet effective. Haven't tried coconut oil myself though...might give that a shot next time.
One thing I've noticed from experience is that natural cleaners tend to work great for regular maintenance and smaller messes, but sometimes store-bought cleaners do have their place. Like once when remodeling a kitchen, we had to deal with some serious grease buildup behind an old range hood—years of neglect. Tried vinegar and baking soda first, but eventually had to resort to a stronger degreaser just to save time and elbow grease.
Still, for everyday cleaning and upkeep, it's reassuring knowing exactly what's on the surfaces where food gets prepped. Plus, saving money never hurts either...