If you own a piece of cookware with a stainless steel finish, you’ve run into burned-on stains at one point or another. While removing stains with plain soap and water or lifting them without scratching the surface of your pans is hard, a few methods do exist to make the pans look new again.
Method #1: Vinegar and baking soda
Place your dirty pan on top of your cook stove, and turn on the burner. Pour in equal parts water and vinegar, and add two tablespoons of baking soda. Bring the solution to a boil, then remove from heat. Allow time for the solution to cool, and wipe away the burned-on stains with a cleaning cloth.
Method #2: Dish soap and water
Repeat Method #1, but replace the vinegar and baking soda with two tablespoons of dish soap. Let the solution cool, and wipe away the stains.
Method #3: Peroxide and baking soda
Combine one quarter cup of baking soda with enough peroxide to make a thick paste. Rub the paste into the burned-on stains to remove them from the inside and outside of the pan.
Method #4: Dryer sheets
Fill your sink with HOT water, and set the pan inside. Lay four dryer sheets on top of the water and let them sit for two hours. When you return, you can easily scrub the stains from the pan with the soaked dryer sheets.
Method #5: Barkeeper’s Friend
Squirt Barkeeper’s Friend into the pan and rub with a damp sponge until the stains lift from the pan. This product can be found with kitchen cleaning supplies and won’t scratch the shiny finish of your pans.
Method #6: Cream of Tartar
Mix two tablespoons of Cream of Tartar with two cups of water and bring to a boil in the pan. Boil for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the pan from heat, and let it cool. Scrub burned-on stains with a cleaning cloth.
Method #7: Salt Water
Fill your sink with a hot salt water solution, and let your pan soak in it overnight. Boil the salt water in your pan the next day for a few minutes. Remove the pan from heat, and let it cool before scrubbing away the burned-on stains.
Tips
All of these methods will remove stains time and time again, but you may have to use a little elbow grease to get the job done. Always make sure the solutions have had time to cool off so you do not burn your hands.