Aluminum cookware is very popular among many housewives. Cooking in it is a pleasure, but such utensils are very difficult to care for. Our article will tell you about the features of cleaning aluminum cookware at home.

Cleaning Features

Everyone knows that aluminum is a very delicate, malleable metal. When cleaning dishes made of this metal, you should take into account its properties, This is the only way you can preserve its original shine and beauty:

• Start washing the pan or saucepan only after it has cooled completely. The fact is that heated metal can be deformed under the influence of water, and therefore change the shape of the product.
• When cleaning, use a soft sponge and a wooden spatula to avoid scratching the product.
• When choosing a detergent, give preference to products suitable for glass and ceramics.
• Do not use abrasive or alkaline cleaners as they can easily damage the surface of the cookware. Dirt can easily get into the resulting cracks, which will be difficult to clean.
• Pre-soak the dishes in soapy water for a few minutes. After this, you can easily wash off simple stains.
• To clean more serious stains, use the boiling method. To do this, select a large basin and place it in it. aluminum pan or another piece of utensils and boil the product by adding regular soda.
• To prevent streaks after washing, wipe everything dry with a soft cloth.

Washing in dishwasher unacceptable for aluminum products.

Bringing back the shine

Aluminum often loses its shine with use. However, it is possible to restore the dishes to their original appearance at home. you just need to follow the following recommendations:

• If your frying pan has turned black, then kefir, cucumber pickle or yogurt will help get rid of this blackness. Apply these products with a soft sponge to the surface and leave for two hours. For severe contamination, pour liquid into the bottom and leave for four hours. After this, clean the pan in the usual way and dry it.
• Vinegar will also help restore the shine to your pot or pan. Soak a cloth in vinegar and rub the surface of the product with it. Rinse it in cool water and dry it with a cloth.
• The next way to restore the original appearance of the bottom of the dish is to boil it with onions. Fill the pan with water, wait until it boils and then put one onion inside. Continue boiling for another ten minutes. After the dishes have cooled down, wash them running water and dry.
• Curiously, you can restore the shine of aluminum using ordinary apples. Grate the apples and apply the resulting pulp to the surface of the pan.

The acid found in apples will cleanse it of impurities.

Removing greasy stains

During the cooking process, greasy marks remain on any frying pan. To clean aluminum cookware from grease stains use the following methods:

• If the frying pan has become greasy on the outside, then find a larger basin and pour a soapy solution of warm water into it. Place the dirty dishes inside and leave them for one hour. After time has passed, wash the pan with a soft sponge and dry with a cloth.
• If the aluminum cookware has become greasy inside, then pour water into it and add citric acid and vinegar in equal proportions. Boil the contents for half an hour. After this, rinse the pan and wipe it dry.
• In order to wash cutlery, select a suitable container and place your spoons, forks and knives in it. Boil them in a solution of lemon and vinegar for a quarter of an hour. Then rinse them with water and dry them on a towel.

Getting rid of soot, scale and plaque

Sometimes it happens that during the cooking process carbon deposits form on the dishes. You can clean the surface from carbon deposits in the following ways:

• Wait until the cookware has cooled completely, otherwise it may become deformed when exposed to water.
• If the carbon deposits have not yet been absorbed into the surface, try cleaning it with a soap solution. To do this, grate a piece of laundry soap and place the shavings in warm water. Let the dishes sit for a while. Then wipe it with a soft sponge and dry it dry.
• Difficult stains are removed using a mixture of laundry soap, silicate glue and soda.
• If you need to remove carbon deposits from the outer surface of the cookware, boil it in a larger container.

Often scale and plaque appear on dishes, this is due to the characteristics of the metal:

• To remove them without damaging the product, never scrub the surface with a hard brush.
• If the scale is strong, then the best way to deal with it is by boiling with a soap solution, silicate glue and soda. Boil the dishes for at least half an hour.
• If the scale on the pan is not strong, ammonia can help. Wipe the surface of the product with it, wash with soapy water and rinse with plenty of water.
• Table vinegar will also help in the fight against scale. Boil aluminum kitchen utensils with it for half an hour.

Care

So that you do not have to take enhanced measures to clean aluminum cookware from various contaminants, Try to initially follow some rules for caring for such utensils:

• Before using aluminum cookware, boil it in salt water. Thanks to the salt, it will become more rigid and less scale and soot will form on it.
• To keep the dishes shiny, wash them in a soapy solution with the addition of ammonia.
• The shine of aluminum cookware will last for a long time if you periodically wash it with tooth powder. To do this, you must first dissolve it in a small amount of liquid and apply it to the surface with a soft sponge.
• It is also recommended not to cook dishes in aluminum cookware without adding salt.

Aluminum is a fairly light and durable metal, and therefore is often used in the kitchen as the main material from which cookware is made. When plaque appears, it becomes unpleasant to cook in it, and it is impossible for safety reasons, and therefore the question arises of how to clean aluminum until it shines.

Heating of aluminum cookware occurs evenly and does not require much time. After some time, carbon deposits begin to appear on aluminum cookware and traces of oxide become noticeable. Most often, they try to clean aluminum using dishwashing detergent, but it can only remove external dirt and grease.

Dishes made from this material should only be washed cold, since they can easily be damaged when hot. If a hot metal is immersed in cold water, it will become deformed, and therefore you should try to avoid such a failure.

You should not try to clean burnt food immediately using iron sponges and other objects. To make the task easier, you just need to pour warm water and wait about half an hour. During this time, the food will get wet and can be removed using a regular dishwashing sponge.

It is not recommended to wash aluminum cookware in the dishwasher, since the dishwasher uses hot water during the washing process, which can damage the material. To avoid deformation, it is recommended to wash aluminum cookware by hand with warm water.

You should not use strong acids in the process, as they will not be able to restore the shine of the dishes, and may harm them. It is also not recommended to clean it with metal sponges, which leave scratches on the dishes.

Cleaning aluminum cookware

The main disadvantage of aluminum is its softness. It is very easy to damage and also leave scratches on it. Even with frequent washing with a melamine sponge, the surface will soon begin to become matte, as a large number of micro-scratches will remain on it.

1. To restore shine, you need to use borax, ammonia and GOI paste. The latter needs to thoroughly rub the aluminum, and then, using a rag soaked in solvent, thoroughly rub the cutlery.
2. Aluminum cookware can be cleaned with such products as soap, ammonia, table vinegar and table salt.
3. Soot, oxide and other contaminants that accumulate on aluminum cookware can be easily removed using soft foam sponges or polymer bristles, microfiber or cotton cloths, and rags. It is necessary to ensure that they do not contain rougher and harder materials that can leave scratches.
4. A good aluminum cleaner is a special product designed for cleaning glass or porcelain. They do an excellent job, gently removing dirt and adding shine to the dishes.

Remove carbon deposits

Cleaning oxides and carbon deposits is also quite simple. This will require funds and products that many people have in their homes. Moreover, such cleaning does not take much time and does not require serious effort.

Remove corrosion and oxide

Cleaning aluminum objects - a flask, dishes, coins - is quite simple if you know the easiest methods to do it. It is recommended to use traditional methods rather than standard dishwashing detergents, which will not cope with heavy stains.

Cream of tartar

You can remove blackness from aluminum using cream of tartar. Cleaning aluminum from oxide and corrosion with this product is quite simple: you just need to pour hot water into a bowl, dissolve the stone in it and add a small amount of citric acid. You need to bring the resulting solution to a boil, let it cool and wipe all the walls with a soft cloth.

Cream of tartar can be diluted with water to form a paste that can be rubbed onto dishes like a cleaning powder. This will help restore the shine to the material.

Table vinegar

With the help of 9% table vinegar Aluminum can be easily cleaned. This method is usually used for coins, but will actually clean more than just coins. If we are talking about dishes, then you just need to pour the solution into it and bring to a boil. Then let it cool and wash the item. If you need to clean other things, they should be boiled in this solution and then washed.

Soap solution

A soap solution helps get rid of light stains, but will not help restore the original appearance. You need to dissolve a small amount of soap shavings in water, and then thoroughly wash the aluminum object with the solution. To add shine, mix ammonia and borax in a ratio of 1:3 and rub the surface, and then rinse thoroughly with water.

Baking soda

Baking soda can easily remove stains of any complexity. To do this, you need to make a paste out of it by adding a small amount of water, and then just gently rub it for a couple of minutes, depending on the complexity of the contamination. After this, the remaining natural powder is easily washed off with clean water.

Glue and soda

You can clean aluminum from oxidation using a homemade product. Required for 10 liters hot water take 100 grams baking soda and office glue. All this must be mixed and the required items immersed in this solution. You need to keep the item in such a product for at least three hours, and then clean it well with a sponge.

Before using aluminum cookware for the first time, it is recommended to calcine it thoroughly. To do this, it is recommended to pour a small amount into the bottom of the pan. sunflower oil and pour a tablespoon of salt, and then keep on the fire for a while, stirring the salt. After completing the procedure, it is recommended to wait for the dishes to cool, after which they should be washed thoroughly.

It is not recommended to use abrasive products when washing, as they can remove the protective layer, which will subsequently cause the dishes to darken. If the dishes previously contained dairy products, eggs or dough, then you must first wash the dishes with cold water, and only then use hot.

If you boil clean water or potato broth in an aluminum container, it may darken. In order for the dishes to acquire shine, you need to add a small amount of ammonia to it each time you rinse. It is also not recommended to store such types of products as pickles and mushrooms in dishes made of this material. And you can’t ferment cabbage in it either.

It is necessary to protect dishes made from this material from mechanical damage, since aluminum bends and breaks easily. This point especially applies to lids. If you follow these few care rules, products made from this material will delight you with cleanliness and shine for a long time.

An aluminum pan is lightweight, heats up quickly and is relatively inexpensive. But aluminum is a fairly soft metal and is therefore susceptible to corrosion and oxidation. For this reason, such products quickly become covered with soot, scratches and lose their shine. Burnt food in an aluminum pan is also a common occurrence. It is not necessary to throw away the lost one appearance dishes, it is enough to know how to clean them at home.

• Wipe off carbon deposits with steel wool. As a result, the pan will become covered with unsightly scratches, into which dirt will become clogged.
  Use cleaning powder. As in the previous case, scratches cannot be avoided.
• Clean with concentrated acids and alkalis. By reacting with aluminum, they lead to darkening of the dishes. Such substances can be part of common household chemicals, so choose metal cleaners.
• Wash aluminum cookware in the dishwasher. As a result of such washing, the protective oxide film is destroyed, which leads to darkening and deformation of the product.
• The oxide film is also destroyed by soda. Therefore, use it as little as possible and between cleanings, carry out the procedure for restoring (calcining) the pan, which is described at the end of the article.

How to remove burnt food

Regular aluminum cookware does not have a non-stick coating and has thin walls. Therefore, food often burns in it, and it can be difficult to wipe the burnt off. Procedure if the pan is burnt:

• Pour water and dishwashing detergent into the bottom of the dish.
• Boil for 10-20 minutes.
• Leave for 2-3 hours.
• Rub the softened dirt with a sponge.

There are several more effective folk ways How to clean the inside of a burnt pan:

Salt. Prepare a concentrated saline solution and boil it until the carbon deposits begin to come off. If the jam is burnt, fill the bottom of the container with salt for 2-3 hours, and then remove the burn with a sponge. Repeat if necessary. The remaining jam should come off without using abrasives.

Citric acid. Dissolve 2 tbsp. l. powder in enough water to cover the carbon deposits. Boil for 10-15 minutes, rub with a sponge.

Vinegar. If necessary, use lemon instead in the same way. For 1 liter of water, take a glass of 9% vinegar.

Activated carbon will help get rid of burnt milk and dairy products. Fill the bottom of the pan with crushed tablets and leave for half an hour. Then fill with cold water and soak for another 40 minutes.

Salt, soda and ammonia. This composition is good for fresh stains. Pour the ingredients into a saucepan in equal parts, pour water above the burnt level and boil for 20 minutes with the lid closed.

And ammonia.

Mix soap shavings and ammonia in equal parts, 1 tablespoon per 1 liter of water. Fill the pan with the solution, boil for 15-20 minutes, scrub with a sponge if necessary.

How to remove carbon deposits and darkening

When heated, stuck particles of food, fat and dirt form an unsightly black coating (carbon deposits). Moreover, this happens especially often with aluminum cookware due to the properties of the metal. If carbon deposits are not removed in time, a thick layer will accumulate.

In addition, during the oxidation of aluminum, the surface becomes dull and dark. The dishes will turn black even faster if you boil water in it without salt, boil potatoes in their jackets, or prepare sour dishes, for example, cabbage soup, compotes.

Folk remedies will help clean an aluminum pan from burning and soot and lighten the walls outside and inside. Salt, vinegar and mustard.

Mix the ingredients in equal parts and rub the resulting paste onto the walls, leave for 15 minutes and rinse with water. This composition will perfectly wash away stubborn fat. You can clean the pan until it shines table vinegar.

Apply acid to a rag and rub the dirty areas. After 10 minutes, rinse thoroughly under running water.

You can get rid of carbon deposits that have accumulated outside using salt.

Apply it to a sponge, moisten it with water and rub the problem areas.

If you want to clean the blackness from the outside of the pots, choose a suitable large container. Pour into it 1 bottle of silicate glue or half a glass of PVA glue, 1 piece of grated laundry soap. Pour in water and put on fire. Stirring gradually, wait until the soap dissolves and place the dishes to be cleaned into the solution. Boil for an hour, covering the container with a lid. Then remove the aluminum products and finish cleaning with a sponge.

You can get rid of dark deposits and discoloration on aluminum surfaces using food acids. They will not harm the metal, but will significantly brighten the dishes:

Apple. Take a sour fruit, cut it in half and wipe the darkened areas with the cut.
Lemon juice. Wipe dark stains with half a lemon and rinse with cold water.
Sorrel. Boil a bunch of sorrel in a bowl for half an hour.
Kefir, whey or yogurt. Simply pour the existing product into the pan and leave overnight. You can also take cucumber pickle.

How to descale

Aluminum cookware is often used to boil water. To remove scale build-up, use the same effective home remedies.

Lemon acid. Boil water with 2 tbsp. l. lemons for 15 minutes. Remove from the stove and rinse with a sponge after cooling.

Soda. Wipe the areas with scale with the soda slurry. When rinsing, add ammonia to the water.

Kefir, brine or whey. Fill the existing liquid in the house for 3 hours, then drain and rinse with running water.

Onion. It also helps get rid of scale and soot. Peel the onion, chop and add the required amount of water. Boil in a saucepan for 20-30 minutes.

Dentifrice. Mix it with a teaspoon of dishwashing detergent, apply to the bottom and walls and leave for 24 hours.

Advice! Traditional methods effective with a small layer of scale. If the lime deposits are old, you will have to use household chemicals. Read the instructions carefully to avoid damaging the product.

Rules for caring for aluminum cookware

If you purchased a new pan, it must be prepared for use. First of all, wash it with a soapy sponge to get rid of technical grease.

Next, you need to heat the pan to restore the oxide film. It protects dishes from oxidation and destruction, and also prevents harmful impurities from getting into food. The procedure is carried out as follows:

• Pour vegetable oil into the bottom of a dry, clean saucepan.
• Add 1 tbsp. l. salt.
• Heat the pan, tilting it as you go so that the oil is distributed along the sides.
• If a burning smell appears, remove from heat and wait until it cools.
• Wash with a sponge and detergent.

Advice! It is advisable to do this procedure between cleanings, since protective film disrupted by exposure to acids and alkalis.

Also adhere to the following rules:

• Try not to cook sour and dairy dishes in aluminum cookware.
• Stir food frequently during cooking to prevent it from burning. To do this, use wooden or silicone spatulas to avoid leaving scratches.
• After cooking food, immediately transfer it to another container. Do not leave it in the pan, otherwise the food will quickly spoil and acquire an unpleasant metallic taste.
• You cannot salt or ferment food in aluminum dishes: when salt and acid come into contact with aluminum, compounds harmful to health are formed.
• Once a week, carry out preventive cleaning of carbon deposits on the outside using soda and a sponge.

Aluminum is a soft, pliable material and extremely susceptible to various contaminants. Often, owners of utensils made from this material are faced with the question of how to clean aluminum utensils at home and restore their shine without damaging the surface. What ways and means should I turn to?

How to clean aluminum utensils

There are many modern materials for making household utensils, but aluminum cookware still remains popular as before. Possessing an attractive shine, it is convenient for preparing various dishes, but requires strict operating rules. It is also extremely important to know how to clean aluminum cookware yourself without damaging the soft surface of this metal.

One of the difficulties in caring for kitchen utensils made of aluminum is that marks easily appear on aluminum cookware. various pollution, dark stains from food or whitish stains from water, chemical detergents. She reacts poorly to temperature changes and does not like too hard water. Because cleaning an aluminum pan at home can be a big problem. What should you use for cleansing, and what should you definitely give up?

How to clean aluminum cookware: products and equipment

• Soft pieces of fabric, sponges, cotton wool and cotton swabs. The use of metal sponges, brushes, and sandpaper is unacceptable.
• Neutral and soft detergents based on gels and foam. Powders containing large abrasive particles will have to be set aside, otherwise darkening may appear on the surface of aluminum cookware or appliances.
• Laundry soap, soap shavings (homemade or purchased).
• Silicate or office glue, which is suitable for solving the problem of how to clean an aluminum pan from carbon deposits and external contaminants.
• Cream of tartar, wine essence, vinegar (white, apple), ammonia, lemon juice or acid.
• To solve the problem of how to clean the surface of aluminum appliances and other kitchen utensils, you can use soda, salt, tooth powder or paste, clay (white) and pastes with an oleic acid base.
• Factory products include substances suitable for polishing and cleaning porcelain, glass, ceramics, and crystal.
• As part of the folk ways of tidying up dishes at home, the following unusual options can be distinguished:
  1. sorrel;
  2. apples (only very sour ones, wild ones can be used);
  3. sour milk, kefir, various strong sour brines;
  4. Coca Cola;
  5. peeled onion.

If you want to wash aluminum utensils, you need to stop using chalk and chalk-based pastes, sand, so as not to injure the surface soft metal. A knife or other sharp object that can leave scratches on the product is not suitable for cleaning burnt-on food. You will have to avoid chlorine-containing products, as well as automatic machine washing, to avoid dark spots on the surface of the dishes.

How to clean aluminum dishes and cutlery at home

When the question of how to clean aluminum cookware has a definite answer, you need to consider additional recommendations for washing and cleaning such household utensils. This will not only achieve the desired result, but will also protect pots and cutlery from deformation and tarnishing.

How to clean aluminum cookware: basic recommendations

1. All kitchen utensils must be completely cool before washing and cleaning. When a jet of water, distinguishable in temperature from aluminum, hits a hot or warm metal surface, it can deform the dishes. It will be impossible to restore it.
2. The process of soaking products in soapy water is necessary when it is necessary to rid aluminum cookware of burnt-on food particles and plaque that has not yet been absorbed into the surface of the material. However, it is not recommended to leave products with water for a long period of time. This can cause streaks to appear on the metal.
3. To get rid of stubborn stains, aluminum cookware can be boiled using various means, for example, soda or silicate glue.
4. Cleaning of products should only be done with a soft cloth or sponge, and after any cleaning, dishes and utensils must be rinsed very thoroughly.
5. When you have managed to tidy up metal utensils at home, they should not be left wet and should be dried naturally. Each product must be thoroughly wiped with a soft, clean cloth.

Depending on the type of contamination and which cleaning agent is chosen, some nuances may be added to the basic rules. However, taking into account the above points is a guarantee that soft metal household utensils will not be damaged.

Options and methods for cleaning aluminum dishes and cutlery

Against simple and fresh stains

How to clean burnt aluminum kitchen utensils? In addition to the usual soaking for 15-20 minutes in soapy water, the following methods will help get rid of dirt on dishes:

• pour water into an aluminum container and place it on the stove; add a couple of spoons of baking soda and boil for half an hour; then wash the dishes;
• Onions are a quick help for burnt food particles; Peel 2-3 small onions, place in a container and fill with water; put on the stove and boil for 20-40 minutes;
• An effective cleaning agent is citric acid or juice; the chosen product must be diluted in water (by eye) and the mixture boiled in a bowl for about half an hour; you can also do without the boiling process by simply letting it sit for an hour;
• You can solve the question of how to clean burnt aluminum utensils using salt; Dilute 2-3 tablespoons of salt with a small amount of water to make a thick paste; Rub the affected areas on the dishes with this product and then rinse the items.

Cleaning aluminum cookware from carbon deposits: additional options

When the surface of the dishes is too damaged, it is recommended to use a special cleaner for porcelain and other kitchen utensils made of delicate materials. Use takes into account the instructions for the selected product.

1. Toothpaste or powder will help to clean the bottom of the dishes. Apply one of these products in a thick layer to the slightly moistened surface of the product. Leave for 8-12 hours. Then wash the product well.
2. How to remove carbon deposits and scale from a metal surface? It is worth using vinegar. For a liter of water you will need a tablespoon of acidic product. This mixture is poured into a container, the dishes are placed on the fire and boiled for 30-40 minutes. Then washes in the usual way. Vinegar will also help polish the item.
3. To clean burnt aluminum utensils, you should turn to ordinary sour apples. They perfectly remove dirt and deposits. After cutting the apple in half, rub it on the surface of the pot or pan.

How to clean black aluminum pans: getting rid of tarnished areas and stains on products

• After mixing 2-3 tablespoons of soda with a small amount of lukewarm water to form a thick paste, rub this product on individual affected areas on appliances or dishes.
• To restore the former shine to aluminum products during their regular washing, you need to add 3-5 drops of ammonia to the soap solution. Or, moisten a piece of soft cloth in ammonia and wipe the surface of cutlery and other products with it. It is important to wash the dishes well afterwards so that there is no strong odor left.
• Any acidic environment eliminates darkening, plaque and unsightly stains. After filling a soft metal container with kefir, sour milk, whey or brine, you should leave the container for 2-4 hours, then wash it well and rinse it in running cool water.
• An effective method for cleaning black dishes at home is cream of tartar or wine essence. For 1.5 liters of water you will need 4-5 tablespoons of the product. Having dissolved the substance, place the container with the mixture on the stove, bring to a boil and leave on the fire for 15 minutes. The solution is poured out of the container only when it has cooled down. To avoid boiling, the container with cream of tartar and water can be left for 1.5-2 hours, then washed well.
• White clay gives aluminum household utensils a characteristic shine, with which you simply wipe the surface of the products.

Products for cleaning aluminum utensils from the outside

1. For 4-5 liters of water you need to take about 150 grams of silicate or office glue. Add 5 tablespoons of baking soda to the diluted glue. Metal products are loaded into the resulting mixture. Afterwards, the container with the solution and dishes should be placed on the stove and boiled for 20-30 minutes.
2. You can replace soda with shavings of laundry soap, which will require about 4-5 tablespoons. The principle of processing aluminum products remains the same as described above.
3. White or apple cider vinegar will help to avoid boiling and glue smell. 2-4 tablespoons of the product should be diluted in 400 ml of water. Then use a sponge or rag, previously dipped in this solution, to rub the dishes from the outside. Afterwards wash under running water.

Two additional anti-stain agents on aluminum cookware

• To eliminate an unsightly dark coating, cutlery can be soaked in a bowl of Coca-Cola. This lemonade is also suitable for descaling teapots with an aluminum inner lining.
• To clean aluminum cookware at home, you can use fresh sorrel leaves. They are placed in a container that needs to be put in order and filled with water. Afterwards, the dishes are placed on the stove and the sorrel is boiled for half an hour. Then you need to rinse the utensils thoroughly.

Homemade method for cleaning aluminum cookware (video)

You can clearly see how to clean aluminum cookware using soap, vinegar and salt at home in the video below. It also contains additional advice on how to replace silicate (stationery) glue when boiling very dirty aluminum products.

When trying to resolve the issue of how to return aluminum home products to their original appearance, you need to stock up on time and patience. Without delaying the process of cleaning the dishes, you can solve the problem without using emergency cleaning methods. Taking into account the rules for washing soft metal products will help extend their service life.

Sometimes dishes lose their beauty and shine as a result of long-term use, and sometimes it happens that cleaning is necessary due to our carelessness - when the pan is burnt and the bottom is covered with soot, which cannot be washed off in the usual way.

• As a rule, before cleaning a burnt, old or simply very dirty pan, we soak it in a soapy solution and then try to wash it with brushes and hard sponges. Often this procedure solves the problem. But what to do in particularly difficult cases, when soaking does not help or when you just want to get through the routine as quickly as possible? From this article you will learn 8 tricks on how to clean pots as quickly as possible and with minimal effort using improvised and special means.

Before you get started, try to understand what material your pan is made of. After all, metals react differently to cleaning products. Thus, salt is harmful to stainless steel, acid is harmful to enamel, soda is harmful to aluminum, and any abrasives are harmful to all types of non-stick coatings. Read more about the rules for caring for pots depending on the type of material at the end of the article.

Method 1. First aid for a dirty/burnt pan - boiling with soapy water

To remove most mild to moderate dirt, this simple but effective method is often sufficient.

1. Fill the pan hot water and add a few drops of dishwashing liquid to it. Then place the utensils on the stove and bring the solution to a boil.

1. Cook the soap solution over low heat for another 15 minutes or more (depending on the amount of soot).
2. Use a spatula to scrape off any remaining residue from the pan. And wipe what remains on the walls and bottom with the hard side of the sponge.

Method 2. How to clean a pan with soda and vinegar

This simple but working method is suitable for cleaning all types of pans (enamel, cast iron, Teflon and steel), but is NOT suitable for washing aluminum cookware without non-stick coating or enamel.

Instructions:

1. Dilute water and 9% vinegar in a 1:1 ratio in a dirty saucepan so that the solution covers the dirt, then bring it to a boil.
2. Remove the boiled solution from the heat (!) and add 2-3 tablespoons of soda to it - the mixture should foam and sizzle! Let it stand for another 10-20 minutes (you can put it back on low heat). As the burnt material softens, scrape it off with a spatula.

1. Wash and rinse the pan as usual.

• It is important to remove the pan from the heat as soon as the vinegar solution boils and only then add the soda. If this is not done, then you will have to wash the stove along with the dishes. At the same time, do not hesitate to add soda.
• Baking soda and vinegar work well separately.
• You can strengthen the soda-vinegar solution by adding a third of a bar of laundry soap (72%) to it.
• Local stains can be rubbed with a hard sponge and soda paste (soda + water in a 1:1 ratio).
• Stubborn deposits and grease on the outside and inside can be removed by boiling the pan for 30-120 minutes in a large container.

Method 3. How to clean burnt or very old pans

This Soviet trick with laundry soap and silicate glue will do for the most advanced cases, when the pan is covered with multi-layers of black soot and grease on the outside and inside.

You will need: For 4 liters of water you will need household supplies. soap 72% (1/3 or ½ bar), 1 cup silicate glue. Also prepare a medium grater and a large saucepan or metal bucket (for example, a 10-liter).

Instructions:

1. Place the dirty pan in a larger bucket/pot, fill it with water and bring to a boil.
2. While the water is heating, grate the laundry soap on a medium grater.
3. Add soap shavings, silicate glue, and soda (optional) to boiled water.

1. Boil the resulting mixture for 30 minutes or more depending on the degree of contamination, then wash the dishes as usual. Black burns and greasy deposits will come off easily.

Tip: to enhance the effect, you can add baking soda or soda ash to the solution at the rate of 1/3 pack per 4 liters of water (except for uncoated aluminum pans).

Method 4. How to clean a pan from fat and carbon deposits using salt

The best way to clean a cast iron pan or cauldron, as well as enamel utensils, is with salt. It absorbs fat perfectly. In addition, being a soft abrasive, it also removes burnt marks well.

1. Place a few handfuls of salt in the bottom (the more fat, the more salt you need to use) and scrub with a paper towel and a couple drops of dishwashing liquid.
2. Simply rinse the pan under water (you don't need to use dishwashing liquid).

• It is better to clean a burnt cast iron pan with coarse salt.
• Any pan, except a steel one, can be easily cleaned of scale and carbon deposits by boiling a strong brine solution in it (5-6 tablespoons of salt per 1 liter of water) for 30-40 minutes over low heat.

Method 5. How to clean a burnt pan with vinegar

Vinegar is a powerful anti-burn and anti-limescale agent. However, it is not advisable to use it for cleaning enamel pans.

Instructions:

1. Fill the bottom of the pan with vinegar (9%) and let sit for 1-3 hours. As the burnt material softens, carefully scrape it off with a spatula. You can reduce the smell of vinegar by packing the pan in a bag or wrapping it in cling film. And, of course, don't forget to open the window!
2. Wash the dishes as usual.

Method 6. Cleaning with citric acid

If you don’t have vinegar at home, clean a burnt pan or dishes with limescale using citric acid. Like vinegar, citric acid is contraindicated for enamel cookware.

Instructions:

1. To clean the pan, boil water in it (you don’t need a lot, the main thing is that the water covers the smoke), add 2 tbsp. spoons of citric acid and boil the resulting solution for another 15 minutes.
2. As the burnt material softens, scrape it off with a spatula. Finally, wash the burnt bottom as usual.

Method 7. How to clean a pan from soot and grease using grease removers

Special grease removers come to the rescue in the most hopeless cases, when you need to wash very old and burnt pans with minimal effort. It is important to carry out cleaning with rubber gloves and with the windows open, and then thoroughly rinse off any remaining product. Keep in mind that most grease removers are contraindicated for washing aluminum and Teflon pans.

• Here are some super-effective products: Shumanit (Bagi), Oven Cleaner (Amway), Chister, Sparkling Kazan, Giant (Bagi).

General instructions:

1. Treat problem areas with the product inside or outside the pan.
2. Pack the pan in a bag or wrap it in cling film (!) - this trick will reduce the spread of the pungent odor throughout the apartment. Let the product work for 10-40 minutes.
3. Wash the dishes as usual, then rinse them thoroughly several times.

• To be on the safe side, chemical residues inside the pan can be removed with table vinegar (9%).
• If you have children or pets, it is better to use Amway Oven Cleaner. It is sold only through the company’s online store and dealers, it is quite expensive, but it works more efficiently and faster than its analogues, it is used economically, and most importantly, it has almost no smell.

Method 8. How to clean a pan with “White” or other chlorine bleach

Ordinary “Belizna” or any other equivalent cleans pots perfectly.

Instructions:

1. Fill a pan with water and add Whiteness to it at the rate of 1 tablespoon/3 liters of water (approximately).
2. Bring the resulting solution to a boil and cook for another 15-30 minutes.
3. After boiling, wash the pan in the usual way, and then boil the dishes with clean water again to completely remove any remaining bleach.
4. To be sure, you can wipe the inside of the pan with a vinegar solution.

If you are viewing the table on a smartphone, turn it to a horizontal position - this will make the entire table appear on the screen.

	Stainless steel pan	Enameled utensils	Cast iron pan/cauldron	Aluminum cookware WITHOUT non-stick coating	Teflon pan (cookware with any non-stick coating)
Contraindications	Does not tolerate the use of salt (the pan may darken and lose its shine)	Acids and harsh abrasives are contraindicated.	Do not soak for a long time, otherwise the dishes may become rusty. For the same reason, cast iron cauldrons and pans cannot be washed in the dishwasher.	Do not use soda to clean aluminum cookware or use alkali-based products - this can be harmful to both the utensils and humans. It is not advisable to wash an aluminum pan in the dishwasher.	Abrasive agents (including soda), hard brushes and sponges, and even more so scrapers are unacceptable.
Recommendations	You can restore the shine of a stainless steel pan with special cleaners for stainless steel utensils.	It’s good to use vinegar or salt - they can remove dark deposits or burnt marks inside the dishes	Soot, grease and rust from a cast iron pan can be easily removed with salt	It is good to use products based on ammonia, special means for cleaning porcelain or glassware	Manufacturers recommend cleaning pans with a non-stick coating by boiling a soap solution for 20 minutes.