I really didn’t think this pot was ever going to be clean again. I had resigned myself to its mocking face – seriously, one of the burns looks like a frown. But when a friend suggested that I talk about cleaning pots for today’s Technique Tuesday, I figured old frown-face would be an excellent test case.
And…it worked. I can’t believe how sparkly and new it is! I’m happy to share this easy, fast, and cheap way to make your pots shine again.
Word to the wise: Having company over? Making dinner for a new love interest? Do not clean your pots this way right before they arrive. Unless you want your home to smell like vinegar. I don’t know, maybe that’s an aphrodisiac for clean freaks 🙂
How to Clean Burns, Stuck-on Grease, and Those Weird Rainbow Stains from Pots & Pans:
Tools:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons of baking soda (+ more on hand for extra help later, if needed)
Total Time:Â 5-10 minutes
- Pour 1 cup water and 1 cup white vinegar into your pot (use a little more or less depending on size of pot – you want to just cover the stains)
- Bring pot to a boil
- Remove from heat and carefully add baking soda (stand back because it will bubble and steam like a bad science fair volcano)
- Let baking soda sit for three minutes and then pour mixture into the sink
- Scrub with a scrubby sponge. If stains don’t lift off right away (most will), pour baking soda onto the spots and let sit for a few minutes. Then scrub again with a sponge
- If you need to, follow these steps again for a second round of cleaning. My pot needed two rounds
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Caroline is a freelance writer, nutrition communication consultant, and counselor with a holistic approach to healthy living. 
Thanks, Caroline! 🙂
Two questions:
1) What about stains on the outside of the pot?
2) How long did your kitchen/house smell vinegary for?
Hi Julie! I haven’t played with stains outside the pot…but maybe you could use the same technique if you have a pot big enough to fit the smaller one inside? As for the smell, it’s only a few hours. It wasn’t terrible, and you can just open a window and throw on the stove fan to help clear the air. Hope that helps! 🙂