Comments | poor_skills: Cleaning products?

meleth in poor_skills

Cleaning products?

Jan 03, 2007 20:20

So my roommate and I share her cookware in the apartment. However, I cook a lot more than she does, and I've been a bit hard on her pots and pans. Does anybody know any good homemade sorts of things to get off burnt bits, etc? I was going to try baking soda and vinegar, and possibly put the pans in the oven with vinegar in them to boil that and ( Read more... )

cleaning

Comments 18

peradouro January 4 2007, 02:17:44 UTC

Do you know what the pans are made of? Cast iron can be etched by vinegar if it's left in too long. Aluminum can be stained with some treatments. I have no experience with copper. Best remedy I've ever used on metal cookware that had old food burnt on was steel wool like the soap pad Brillo. Try to use an even pressure so there's not spots left rough where you had to scrub in one place a lot.

00goddess January 4 2007, 02:28:23 UTC

It's really not wise to use steel wool on most modern pots and pans. Modern stainless steel pans, for instance, have a polished finish that keeps the metal intact. Steel wool will damage that finish, making the pans harder to clean and also likely to release nickel into one's food, which can be toxic in the long run.

Plus, it's just not necessary. Steel wool is overkill on modern pots and pans.

peradouro January 4 2007, 04:06:00 UTC

Good to know. I've never had stainless pans.

00goddess January 4 2007, 02:26:43 UTC

It depends on what kind of pans they are- what are they made of?

I've used a soak in borax and water to get stains off of my stainless steel pans. Boiling was not necessary. Borax is much more effective than vinegar.

tamie_m January 4 2007, 02:57:27 UTC

If you have spray oven cleaner - that works on pots and pans too!

mi_nion January 4 2007, 03:26:21 UTC

Are they a name brand? I would check the manufactors web site for care instructions.

renewedme January 4 2007, 04:26:13 UTC

I just got Calphalon pans (they are pretty expensive) and they suggest Bar Keeper's Friend. It's a bit expensive, but it's better than buying new pans.

By the way, why can't you be my roommate? My old roommates destroyed a $300 set of pans that I got for Christmas. They were pissed when I left just the pans that they destroyed and kept the other ones in my locked room.

mindiloohoo January 4 2007, 04:29:52 UTC

I was thinking the same thing...I hated starting to make pasta and going...wait, what are those black flecks? Oh damn, the roomies used metal utensils on my pans again! I finally saved my "good" pans that I got for Christmas until I moved in by myself, and I taught my hubby how to use them.

lapenn January 4 2007, 04:36:48 UTC

ugh. I've got nice cookware, but it's still packed away in boxes for the day when I move out. After my roommates couldn't follow a simple request with my semi-decent knives (please don't put them in the dishwasher), I was so happy I hadn't unpacked any of my nice stuff yet.

We muddle along just fine with their cookware, and I'm already making plans to live on my own once my lease is up in 7 months.