How to Remove Water Sedimentation From Stainless Steel Cooking Pots

Vinegar

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.

References

• Fante's Kitchen Wares Shop: Stainless Steel
• The Greener Cleaner: Lime scale in pots, kettles and coffee makers
• Metro Kitchen: Caring for your All-Clad Stainless Steel Cookware

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Tips

After each time you use your stainless steel pot to boil water, add ½ cup vinegar to the pot, fill it the rest of the way with hot tap water and let it soak for half an hour before you wash it, which will help to prevent lime scale buildup.

Dry your stainless steel pot thoroughly with a dishtowel after you wash it to prevent water spots.

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Warnings

While salt can be effective for cleaning cast iron cookware, never use salt to clean your stainless steel pots. Salt can cause pitting in the surface of stainless steel cookware if it stays in contact with the surface too long.

You can use lemon juice to clean water stains on your stainless steel cookware, but never soak stainless steel pots in lemon juice. The acid in lemon juice will damage the finish if it stays in contact with the pot for too long.

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Photo Credits

a pan full with tasteful mussels image by Gabees from Fotolia.com

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