If you have stainless steel cookware in your kitchen, you know that it barely lives up to its name. It hardly remains stainless!

The harsh chemicals, the heavy price tags and their toxic nature. With these in mind, why even own anything stainless?

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Deadliest of all sights is a burnt stainless steel pan. And adding to the insult is the useless cleaning products that make lofty promises to bring back the shine to your stainless steel.

Here are some home remedies to clean your stainless steel cookware and utensils and restore their flawless self without using any harmful chemicals:

before-after

Method 1: Using Baking Soda and Water

Things you’ll need:

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thingsneed

  • Baking soda
  • Water
  • Burnt stainless steel pan

Step 1. Pour water and baking soda into a pan

pour water and baking soda

Place your burnt pan on a stovetop burner. Pour in about an inch of water and turn on the heat.

Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to the water.

Baking soda effervesces in water to cut and lift dirt, oil and grease from the pan.

Step 2. Bring it to a boil

bring it to boil

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Bring the mixture to a boil. As the mixture begins to boil, you will notice that the stains loosen and come off easily, removing most of the burnt marks.

Step 3. Scrub off the residue

scrub off the residue

After removing the pan from the heat and disposing of the contents, clean off the remaining burnt residue with a scrubber sponge and a mixture of soda and water.

Rinse thoroughly and your pan is like new.

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final

Method 2: Using Vinegar and Water

Things you’ll need:

thingsneed

  • Vinegar – 4 tablespoons
  • Water – 1 cup
  • Burnt stainless steel pan

Step 1. Pour water and vinegar into a pan

pour water and vinegar into a pan

Pour 1 cup of water into your burnt pan and add 4 tablespoons of vinegar.

Vinegar is mostly acetic acid and thus cuts through all the oil and grease stuck to the pan.

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Step 2. Bring it to a boil

bring it to a boil

Turn on the heat and bring the mixture to a boil.

You will notice, as the mixture boils, all the marks and stains loosen from the walls of the pan and come off.

Step 3. Scrub off the residue

scrub off the residue

By this time, most of the stains on your pan are already gone.

However, for some of those stubborn stains, scrub them off using dish washing liquid soap and warm water and bring back the lost luster.

final

Method 3: Using Lemon and Water

Things you’ll need:

thingsneed

  • Lemon– 1
  • Water – 1 cup
  • Burnt stainless steel pan

Step 1. Pour water and lemon juice into a pan

pour water and lemon juice

Add 1 cup of water and squeeze the juice of 1 lemon into the pan.

The high acid content in lemons offers antibacterial and antiseptic properties for cleaning stainless steel.

Step 2. Bring it to a boil

bring it ot boil

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Boil the mixture for 3 to 4 minutes or until you notice the burnt scraps coming off easily.

Step 3. Scrub off the residue

scrub off the residue

Scrub off the remaining residue using lemon peel. You will see most of the marks loosening and coming off easily.

Finish with washing and rinsing the pan in regular dish soap and water.

final

Additional Tips

  • Wipe away any water marks from the utensils using a wet, thick and clean towel.
  • Do not use abrasives on stainless steel as they can cause permanent wear and scratching.
  • Rinse them off before you place them in the dishwasher and then treat for specific stains.
  • Acids can discolor any surface area if overexposed for a long time. Hence, do not leave a stainless steel surface wet with vinegar.
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