How to Make Cleansers for Pots and Pans
Why spend the extra cash when you can make cheap and environmentally friendly cleaning supplies at home? Here are a few tips for polishing your brass or copper pots and pans, cleaning your silverware and aluminum and removing rust from your pots. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Clean your unlacquered copper or brass with tomato juice, catsup, hot buttermilk, hot vinegar or equal parts vinegar and salt. Pour the liquids right into the pot and scrub with a stuff brush or textured sponge.
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To remove tarnish, dip half of a lemon into equal parts vinegar and salt, then use the lemon as a sponge. Scrub the pot until the tarnish is removed.
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Clean lacquered or ornamental copperware by rinsing it in soapy water and wiping it dry.
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To remove rust, fill the pot or pan with hay, and add water to the top. Boil the hay/water for a few hours or until all rust is removed.
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Clean silver by using a soft cloth dipped in ammonia. Dab it in whiting, and polish. Or mix 2 cups warm water with 4 oz. whiting. Add ammonia after the mixture cools, and keep it stored in an airtight container.
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To clean and restore luster to aluminum pots and pans, first immerse them in water, then add stalks of rhubarb or tomatoes and bring the whole mix to a boil. If you don't have the vegetables, you may mix equal parts of vinegar and water, then boil. Wipe the pots and pans dry once the discoloration has been removed.
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Tips & Warnings
To remove old lacquer, boil the pot in water, and cool it thoroughly before peeling off the coating.
Don't rub silver plates too hard; the soft plating may deteriorate.
- Photo Credit imagine