Why Does Cream of Tartar Clean Steel?

Revive steel with a homemade cream of tartar cleaner.

Commercial stainless steel cleaners effectively remove built-up grime and rust from appliances and other surfaces, but they often contain potentially toxic ingredients pressurized in an aerosol can. Alternatively, homemade recipes for steel cleaners perform effectively. Homemade steel cleaner recipes commonly contain cream of tartar.

About

Cream of tartar, known scientifically as potassium bitartrate or potassium hydrogen tartrate, occurs during wine making. The acidic salt forms when potassium hydroxide half neutralizes tartaric acid, found naturally only in grapes. In cooking, cream of tartar gives volume to beaten eggs and produces a creamy texture for frosting. It has also become a go-to ingredient for cleaning metal, especially steel.

Properties

Due to its acidic nature, cream of tartar cleans metal. Steel benefits from its abrasive quality, which removes tough grease and grime. When mixed with water, a natural solvent with a neutral pH, cream of tartar lowers the pH balance, making it effective against tarnishing and capable of bringing out steel's shine. A cream of tartar-based cleansing agent can be combined with baking soda for grease or grime and lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide for rust.

Recipes

To remove grease and grime, mix 2 1/2 cups of baking soda with 1 1/2 cups of salt and 2 tbsp. of cream of tartar.

Make metal, including steel, shine by scrubbing it with 2 tbsp. of cream of tartar dissolved into 1 quart of water. Boil the mixture for 10 minutes.

Tackle rust by moistening cream of tartar with hydrogen peroxide to form a paste. Be sure to rinse the steel thoroughly after scrubbing it. Alternatively, pour lemon juice on a washcloth and add cream of tartar to form a paste, scrub until the rust disappears.

Considerations

Cream of tartar cleans other metals, such as copper, aluminum and brass. Its versatility as an all-purpose household cleaner and culinary aid makes it a pantry staple. Cream of tartar also removes stains on cloth, giving it a rare combination as tough enough for steel and gentle enough for fabric and egg whites.

References

• Stain-Removal-101.com: Cream of Tartar Uses for Cleaning, Stain Removal and More
• The Human Touch of Chemistry: Cream of Tartar: Your Friend in the Kitchen
• Washington State University Cooperative Extension; Creative Cleaning Back to Basics; Chris Koehler; September 1993
• University of Illinois Extension; Cream of Tartar; Courtney Markey; March 2011
• Science of Cooking: What Is Cream of Tartar?
• Utah State University; What Is pH?; Nancy Mesner, et al.; December 2010