Stainless steel has gained popularity in recent years, and all for the right reasons. You’re not alone in loving stainless steel. There are hardly any households that do not have any cookware or cutlery made of stainless steel. Besides, it is the best cookware to use for cooking, as it safeguards food from toxins. Though different types of cookware have evolved over the past years, stainless steel remains the staple owing to its sustainability and durability.
However, the only con of this metal is that it loses its shine and lustre over time. Although there are different types of stainless steel available on the market, including those with protective coating, they tend to get scratched and lose their shine after a few days.
However, you do not need to worry. We have collated some homemade tips to keep the shine of your stainless-steel vessels intact. Take a look at them:
1. Baking Soda And Water
Stainless steel often gets dark brown spots or rusty stains that are hard to remove. You can easily remove them with baking soda. Baking soda acts as an abrasive to remove the stains. When they come in contact with water and baking soda, the rusty stains or dark brown spots dissolve in the resulting concentrated alkaline solution. To do this, take a big bucket and fill it with hot water. Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda and dip the stainless-steel vessels into it. Keep them for 4-5 hours, and later clean them with regular dishwashing soap.
2. Boiling method
Sometimes, while cooking, the food gets burned and sticks to the bottom of the pan. You might think of scraping the burnt food with a spoon, which will only leave you with scratches, making it look like an old vessel. To remove it, all you need to do is pour some water on the burned stainless-steel vessel and make it boil for 10–15 minutes. Then allow the water to settle for at least 20 minutes. This will loosen the stuck food and make the utensil easier to clean.
3. Vinegar
Often, when we boil water in a stainless-steel pan, spots are left behind. These are white patches that are basically calcium buildup. These stains or spots are tough to remove. But we have a homely solution to it. Add one to two spoons of vinegar to it and pour hot water over it. Cover the utensil and let it sit for 15–20 minutes. Rinse it thoroughly, and the shine will return.
4. Lemon Juice For Shine
If you think that your stainless-steel vessels have lost their shine, then this trick will help you. In a bowl, add 2 tablespoons of baking soda and squeeze some lemon juice. With the help of a sponge, apply it uniformly to the vessel and let it sit for 10–15 minutes. Rinse it with warm water, and the shine will come back.
5. Toothpaste
Although this may sound weird, it is one of the most efficient and homely tricks to clean and bring back the shine of stainless steel. Toothpaste is mildly abrasive, and when mixed with baking soda, it helps clean the stainless steel spotlessly. Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda and squeeze toothpaste into it. Mix well and form a paste. Apply the paste all over the stainless-steel utensils. Keep it to rest for some time. Once done, rinse it thoroughly with water.