How to Clean Steel, Stainless Steel, Chrome and Aluminum Cookware

Lime and mineral deposits are made of calcium and other salts, and thus they dissolve well in acid. Vinegar is your best friend to get those white deposits or water stains off your cookware. Some homemade pot cleaners - -

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Vinegar
• Water
• Citrus or pickle juice (optional)
• Cookware, bakeware

1. 
   Aluminum cookware

   Aluminum Cleaner. Fill cookware with hot water and add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar per quart of water. Bring the solution to a boil. Then let it simmer for 15 minutes. Wash and dry cookware as usual. You can brighten a dull or burned-on material using this method.

2. 
   Stainless cookware

   Stainless Cleaner. Fill with water and add 1/2 cup of white vinegar, pickle juice or citrus juice. Bring to a boil, then simmer for an hour. This will remove mineral deposits. Brown or blue streaks will appear on the outside or inside of stainless steel pots and pans if they are overheated, but using the solutions mentioned will take these marks off. Drain and wipe dry with cloth.

3. 
   Steel

   Steel Cleaner. Fill cookware with water, add 1 cup of white vinegar, pickle juice or citrus juice. Bring to a boil and simmer for 1-1/2 hours.
   Drain and wipe dry with cloth.

4. 
   Chrome

   Chrome Cleaner. Dip a cloth in undiluted white vinegar and wipe off the mineral deposits. If the cookware should become discolored, rub it with a polishing cloth recommended for all materials.

Tips & Warnings

• See the resource link for article on removing hard water stains: cast-iron, copper and bronze cookware.

Resources

• Stain Removal: Cast-iron, Copper and Bronze.

[1960texan]

on 12/5/2008 Thanks for the tips. I need to do this tonight.

[agille]

on 12/4/2008 Great tips, our water is so hard here it crunches when you chew it! This made my stainless skillets shine like new!