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How to Remove Water Sedimentation From Stainless Steel Cooking Pots

Melissa Sandoval

Stainless steel cookware is durable and attractive, and many cooks prefer stainless steel pots and pans. If your home has hard water, however, you may end up with sedimentation stains (lime scale) on your cookware. You can buy products that are specially made for cleaning stainless steel pots---prices vary and some are more effective than others. Or you can use common household products to easily remove water stains from your cookware as a less expensive, environmentally friendly alternative to chemical cleaning products. Consider three ways to clean water stains from your stainless steel pots using items you already have in your kitchen.

Vinegar

Stainless steel pots have an attractive shine when you clean them properly.
  1. Pour 1 pt. of water and 1/2 cup vinegar into the pot.

  2. Put the pot on the stove, and heat on low for 30 minutes.

  3. Pour the liquid down the drain, allow the pot to cool and wash it with dishwashing soap and a dishcloth. Do not use abrasive scrubbers, which could scratch the pot's finish.

Lemon Juice

  1. Cut the lemon in half.

  2. Rub the inside of the lemon half over the stained area, and repeat with the other lemon half. Or pour 1 tbsp. of bottled lemon juice on a dry dishcloth and rub it over the stained area.

  3. Wash the pot with a wet dishcloth and dishwashing soap, and rinse.

Ketchup

  1. Put 1 tbsp. ketchup or tomato juice on a dry paper towel. You can replace steps 1 and 2 of this process by cooking tomato sauce in the stained pot.

  2. Rub the ketchup over the stained area, and let it sit for 15 minutes.

  3. Wash the pot with a wet dishcloth and dishwashing liquid, and rinse.