When it comes to doing household chores, cooking is one of the most common. So, both for those who plan the menu on a weekly basis and for those who prepare it daily, preparing food becomes an essential task. In the same way, after preparing a dish in the kitchen, it is essential to clean the dishes as quickly as possible so that dirt does not accumulate inside, adhering almost permanently and reducing its lifespan useful.
For this reason, two of the most common kitchen utensils that cause the most problems when it comes to scrubbing are pots and pans. Both appliances are in continuous contact with multiple elements when preparing a dish, thus experiencing wear and tear caused both by the stove on the outside and by food and oils on the inside.
Knowing how to clean these utensils will not only extend their useful life, but will also allow you to cook easily and with as little hassle as possible. Here are some ways to say goodbye to stuck dirt on pots and pans and remove grease stuck to the surface.
Clean with white vinegar and baking soda
One of the main methods of disinfecting pots and pans is to mix two of the most useful cleaning products for most household tasks, white vinegar and baking soda. Both have great descaling and deodorizing power, making them an excellent alternative to grease accumulation on the exterior of kitchen utensils.
To put this method into practice, start by sprinkling baking soda on all dirt-encrusted areas. Next, add white cleaning vinegar to the powders until the mixture begins to react effervescently. Next, scrub the area with a soft-bristled brush until all grease is removed and rinse the pot or pan until no residue remains.
This way, the vinegar will dissolve the grease, while the baking soda will act as a mild abrasive that will remove stains without leaving marks on the stainless steel. Additionally, it is important to rinse the area well after applying the method and then dry it with a microfiber cloth to avoid water spots after cleaning.
Coarse salt and lemon
Another of the methods that stands out the most, not only for its simplicity, but also for its possibility of being carried out with foods of daily consumption, is that of coarse salt and lemon. This is particularly useful for stainless steel or cast iron exteriors, although it can also be applied to aluminum surfaces.
To do this, cut a lemon in half and squeeze it on the areas where fat has accumulated. Then, sprinkle coarse salt on the stains covering them almost completely and use the same piece of lemon to rub like a sponge, with circular movements so as not to leave any part intact. Finally, rinse the utensil completely until all traces of salt or lemon are removed.
This method works thanks to the combination of citric acid from lemon and the abrasiveness of salt. However, it is important to take some precautions depending on the surface of the pot or pan in question, as cast iron cookware should not be soaked for long and should be dried thoroughly after cleaning.
White Cleaning Vinegar and Liquid Dish Soap
A tip that combines several alternatives is white vinegar and liquid dish soap, mainly useful for stainless steel or aluminum surfaces. In this way, dish soap is a powerful degreaser, which will remove all the oil embedded in the surfaces.
To carry out this method, mix white cleaning vinegar with a few drops of degreasing soap in a container of hot water. Next, dip a soft-bristled brush or sponge with a scrubbing pad into the mixture and scrub in circular motions until as much dirt as possible is removed.
The trick works thanks to the combination of the two products, which remove grease while dissolving other types of dirt stuck to pots or pans. However, it is important to ensure that the surfaces are completely dry after washing so that no water or limescale stains remain.