What to add to water to restore shine to stainless steel pans

What to add to water to restore shine to stainless steel pans

You won’t believe it, but there are people who type the query “stew for cleaning stainless steel” into search engines!

Of course, even the most delicious canned goods won’t help you tidy up your pans and remove stains, grease and burnt food from them. You need completely different ways, but before we talk about that, let’s start with the main thing: here’s what you need to do before you start washing the dishes.

Preparing stainless steel for washing

According to experts, when cleaning stainless steel, you need to know two main rules. First of all, let your pots and pans cool before washing them. “Never immerse hot dishes in cold water: thermal shock can cause permanent warping,” says Megan Mahan, vice president of the appliance and kitchenware company.

Professional cleaner Jacqueline Stein points out that polishing paste for stainless steel pans should not be abrasive. “This can leave scratches on the metal that will ruin the appearance of the cookware. Make sure you use gentle cleaning products, it’s a good idea to check the manufacturer’s recommendations on this,” says Jacqueline.

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How to clean a stainless steel pan: the best ways

Soap + water

What to add to water to restore shine to stainless steel pans

According to Megan, this combination is optimal – the soap will definitely not discolor the metal or leave scratches on it. Do you feel like it’s not strong enough to remove dirt? Soaking will change everything! Here’s how to do it:

  • Rinse the pan with warm water to remove any leftover food.
  • Pour hot water into it, add soap or dishwashing detergent.
  • Wait 5 to 15 minutes, then scrub the pan with the soft side of the sponge.
  • Rinse the pan and wipe it dry to avoid hard water stains.

Soda + water

baking soda to restore shine to stainless steel

You certainly have baking soda in your kitchen, this ingredient alone will be enough to restore the shine to the stainless steel. It can be used in two ways: in the first case, the bicarbonate replaces the cleaning powder.

  • Rinse the pan with warm water to remove any leftover food.
  • Sprinkle the bottom and sides with baking soda, spreading it evenly over the surface.
  • Add a little water until the baking soda turns into a paste.
  • Gently rub the baking soda with a damp sponge, don’t go too hard.
  • Leave the pan covered with batter for a few hours.
  • Rinse the baking soda from the pan, rinse it with clean water, then dry it with a cloth.

Have you ever heard that you can use milk to restore shine to stainless steel by simply boiling it in a pan? Most likely, this hack appeared due to an error – in fact, you need to heat the soda solution.

  • Fill a saucepan with water, add two or three tablespoons of baking soda.
  • Bring the water to a boil, simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Turn off the heat and let the water cool. If you are in a hurry, pour it immediately.
  • When the pan is no longer hot, wash it with soap then dry it.

Stein recommends using this method only for stubborn stains and burnt food. “Don’t use this tip for regular cleaning. Using it regularly could damage your pan or pot,” she says.

Check out a tip for completely cleaning a stainless steel pan from professional cleaner Michael Sullivan: “cook” it completely with baking soda in another, larger pan.

Soda + vinegar

Vinegar to shine stainless steel pans can be used separately: it is very effective on stains that appear on dishes due to overheating.

  • Pour a little 9% white vinegar into the pan.
  • Scrub the pan with the soft side of a sponge or silicone washcloth.
  • Rinse the pan and dry it with a clean or microfiber cloth.

If you don’t have to deal with discoloration, but with dirt and burnt food, you need to act differently.

  • Sprinkle the sides and bottom of the pan with baking soda.
  • Spray the soda with 9% white vinegar from a spray bottle.
  • Let the mixture sizzle for a few minutes and rinse it with clean water.
  • Wash the pan with dishwashing liquid and dry it.

Have you ever heard that you can use oil to remove stains from stainless steel? Do not rush to rub stains with olive oil: we are talking about mineral oils, which are included in commercial cleaning products – ordinary oils will not help.

Lemon juice + soda

Lemon juice to clean stainless steel

Lemon juice to clean stainless steel is used in the same way as in the previous case: you just need to replace the vinegar with it. According to Stein, sometimes just the juice is enough: apply it to the stains, leave it on for a few minutes, then rinse. “If you have stubborn stains, sprinkle them with baking soda, then rub it with half a lemon, like a sponge,” advises Jacqueline.

Read also: Not just vinegar: what to replace the different detergents with

Citric acid + mustard powder

Citric acid works great for removing stains from stainless steel, either alone or in tandem with mustard powder. Here’s what to do if you need to treat stains:

  • Mix citric acid and mustard powder in a 1:1 ratio.
  • Add water to the resulting mixture and you should obtain a liquid paste.
  • Apply the product to the hard side of the sponge and rub the stain with it.
  • Leave the pan with the lemon-mustard porridge for 10-15 minutes.
  • Rinse the product with water, rinse and dry the pan with a towel.

If powdered mustard is not available, use another recipe.

  • Add two tablespoons of citric acid to the pan.
  • Fill it with tap water – the liquid should completely cover the burned area.
  • Boil the water until the dirt comes off the bottom.
  • Drain the water, cool the pan, wash it with soap and dry it.

Source: The Voice Mag

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