Does vinegar work as a pesticide?

Vinegar can work as a limited, short-term pesticide for some pests, but it is not a broad-spectrum, long-lasting pesticide and has significant limitations compared to EPA-registered products. White distilled vinegar containing 5 percent acetic acid can kill or repel some soft-bodied insects like ants on contact because the acetic acid disrupts their exoskeletons and scent trails, and strong vinegar spray can kill weeds by burning foliage. For ants, spraying undiluted vinegar directly on ants and wiping away trails can deter them temporarily. For fruit flies, vinegar traps attract and drown them. However, vinegar does not have residual effect, meaning once it dries it stops working, does not kill colonies, and does not prevent new pests. It can also damage plants, stain surfaces, and irritate skin and eyes. Horticultural vinegar with 20 percent acetic acid is stronger but can cause chemical burns and is not approved as pesticide. For cockroaches, spiders, and termites, vinegar is largely ineffective. Professional pest control companies like Aptive use EPA-registered pyrethroids like bifenthrin that provide 60 to 90 days residual protection. Vinegar is best used as supplementary cleaning agent to remove ant trails and as part of integrated pest management with sanitation, sealing cracks, and removing food, not as standalone pesticide for infestations.