Can You Bleach Porcelain Cookware?
Whether you’re a constant short-order cook or a weekend kitchen warrior, you might have given your porcelain cookware a run for its money. And now it shows, in the form of some stains or blemishes. As you look around your house for a remedy, who could blame you for reaching for a bottle of bleach? Sodium hypochlorite, the active ingredient in bleach, is a great stain lifter for many tasks, including the laundry. But think twice before using it on all shades of porcelain cookware. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Bleach
- Sponges or soft rags
- Cream of tartar
- Lemon juice
- Dish soap
- Baking soda
- Ammonia
Instructions
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Put your white porcelain cookware in the sink. Pour some bleach, sparingly, on a (non-abrasive) sponge or rag and test the porcelain on an inconspicuous spot. Rub it gently, then rinse with warm water and dry. Repeat the process, perhaps adding a bit more bleach, if the stain remains.
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Select another cleaning method for your colored porcelain cookware, as bleach, even diluted, runs the high risk of fading or ruining the finish. Start with the gentlest method first and work your way “up” the list.
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3
Sprinkle cream of tartar on the porcelain and rub it gently with a damp cloth. If the stain remains, mix the cream of tartar with a little bit of lemon juice and repeat.
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4
Mix a few tablespoons of dish soap that contains a grease-cutting agent with 1 gallon of hot water. Dip a sponge or soft rag into the soap mixture and scrub the stain. Rinse well.
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Combine 1 gallon warm water, ¼ cup baking soda and ¼ cup ammonia, then dip a sponge or rag in the solution and rub it on the porcelain. Rinse well with warm water and dry. Baking soda is slightly abrasive, but it is mild, and when diluted with water is safe on porcelain.
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Sprinkle salt on the stain, then squeeze a bit of lemon juice over it. Scrub the mixture with a sponge or rag and let it sit for 30 minutes, then scrub again, rinse with warm water and let it dry.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not use steel wool, wire brushes, metal scrapers or abrasive sponges on porcelain cookware, as they could ruin the finish. Do not use abrasive cleansers on porcelain, either.
White vinegar, though a great cleaning agent, should not be used on porcelain. It, too, runs the risk of damaging the finish.
Never mix chlorine bleach with any other household or cleaning products. Doing so can create chemical reactions that release toxic fumes.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Photos.com/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
