How to conquer cleaning with the right steel wool

Amidst the beauty of everyday living, certain household chores can disrupt your peace.

But we have a secret to share that will transform your approach to house cleaning! Enter steel wool, the unsung hero of household maintenance.



If you want a highly effective scrub, nothing beats steel wool. However, using it on the wrong surface can cause scratches.

It's important to know that there are different types of steel wool available, including a gentler version that is suitable for tiles.

Here arises a simple yet crucial question: which steel wool should I use?


compressed-shutterstock_170607302.jpeg
Steel wool is a versatile household material commonly used for various cleaning, polishing, and DIY projects due to its abrasive nature. Image from Shutterstock



In a video on her social media channel, professional cleaner Kacie Stephens shared her valuable tips for utilising the essential tool during deep cleaning.

If your challenge revolves around tougher surfaces—the oven, for instance—then the abrasive pot scrubber version should be your go-to.



Kacie shared, ‘What you use this on is your oven. Most of the time, it's not going to scratch your oven glass, but you want to test it out first. It's great for the [oven] walls, the back where the fan is, the racks—that's good stuff.’

When it comes to delicate darlings like tiles or glassware, there’s another gentle type of the steel wool family ready to rescue.

Stephens offered a useful tip: you can find this particular type of tool in the painting supply section of a hardware store rather than the cleaning aisle.

This tool typically comes in a roll, and you will need to cut smaller sections from it to use with your preferred detergent.


compressed-steel wool.jpeg
It is made of thin steel filaments that provide effective scrubbing power, making it ideal for removing stubborn stains and rust or for preparing surfaces before painting or staining. Source: Bunnings



If you're shopping at Bunnings, the milder steel wool option is the Rocket 500G premium grade 0000 super fine steel wool, priced at $19.



From revitalising the original allure of aluminium to gently brushing stains off your exotic wooden flooring, this powerhouse adapts splendidly to softer terrains.

Cut it into manageable sections, pair it with the detergent of your choice, and you’re all set for a radiant home.

This is a practical solution that's friendly on the wallet as well as on your prized possessions!

However, we’ve got a little red flag waving here. Beware of the pre-soaped steel wool. Stephens shared that this kind of steel wool is one that she does not recommend.



Though our expert keeps the reasons closely guarded, perhaps it reduces your control over the cleaning process, making some tasks more challenging than necessary.

Check out Kacie’s video here:



Key Takeaways
  • There are different types of steel wool, and they should be used on different surfaces to avoid scratches.
  • The gentler type of steel wool, ideal for tiles, can be found in the painting supply section of a hardware store.
  • The Rocket 500G premium grade 0000 super fine steel wool, costing $19 at Bunnings, can be used for cleaning and restoring aluminium and removing wooden floor stains.
  • One type of steel wool not recommended is the pre-soaped version, although the specific reasons weren't provided.

Ways to Use Steel Wool​

While most often used for cleaning, steel wool serves many additional functions.

It can be used to keep rodents out of your house, start a campfire, produce a distressed finish on wood and metal, tighten up a loose screw, remove rust from old items, and give your garden tools some much-needed maintenance.

Steel wool is also masterful at removing stubborn dirt and grime, including tire gunk, scuff marks from vinyl and wallpaper, and grimy window frames.

It can even create interesting effects on wood stain, achieve a polished finish on brass surfaces, and create an effective filter for pet fur in the shower.



Before we wrap this up, we are eager to hear from you and learn from your valuable experiences.

Please feel free to share any entertaining cleaning stories, unique approaches, or clever tricks you have mastered over time. Your insights and expertise are greatly appreciated!
 
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Recently I used a soaped version of steel wool, bought in Coles. It did NOT rust and was just the best for using on metal including the oven. The steel wool had a Green soap in it, I'm not sure what made it different but I wore it out over a longer period, still no rust.
 
Amidst the beauty of everyday living, certain household chores can disrupt your peace.

But we have a secret to share that will transform your approach to house cleaning! Enter steel wool, the unsung hero of household maintenance.



If you want a highly effective scrub, nothing beats steel wool. However, using it on the wrong surface can cause scratches.

It's important to know that there are different types of steel wool available, including a gentler version that is suitable for tiles.

Here arises a simple yet crucial question: which steel wool should I use?


View attachment 25149
Steel wool is a versatile household material commonly used for various cleaning, polishing, and DIY projects due to its abrasive nature. Image from Shutterstock



In a video on her social media channel, professional cleaner Kacie Stephens shared her valuable tips for utilising the essential tool during deep cleaning.

If your challenge revolves around tougher surfaces—the oven, for instance—then the abrasive pot scrubber version should be your go-to.



Kacie shared, ‘What you use this on is your oven. Most of the time, it's not going to scratch your oven glass, but you want to test it out first. It's great for the [oven] walls, the back where the fan is, the racks—that's good stuff.’

When it comes to delicate darlings like tiles or glassware, there’s another gentle type of the steel wool family ready to rescue.

Stephens offered a useful tip: you can find this particular type of tool in the painting supply section of a hardware store rather than the cleaning aisle.

This tool typically comes in a roll, and you will need to cut smaller sections from it to use with your preferred detergent.


View attachment 25150
It is made of thin steel filaments that provide effective scrubbing power, making it ideal for removing stubborn stains and rust or for preparing surfaces before painting or staining. Source: Bunnings



If you're shopping at Bunnings, the milder steel wool option is the Rocket 500G premium grade 0000 super fine steel wool, priced at $19.



From revitalising the original allure of aluminium to gently brushing stains off your exotic wooden flooring, this powerhouse adapts splendidly to softer terrains.

Cut it into manageable sections, pair it with the detergent of your choice, and you’re all set for a radiant home.

This is a practical solution that's friendly on the wallet as well as on your prized possessions!

However, we’ve got a little red flag waving here. Beware of the pre-soaped steel wool. Stephens shared that this kind of steel wool is one that she does not recommend.



Though our expert keeps the reasons closely guarded, perhaps it reduces your control over the cleaning process, making some tasks more challenging than necessary.

Check out Kacie’s video here:



Key Takeaways

  • There are different types of steel wool, and they should be used on different surfaces to avoid scratches.
  • The gentler type of steel wool, ideal for tiles, can be found in the painting supply section of a hardware store.
  • The Rocket 500G premium grade 0000 super fine steel wool, costing $19 at Bunnings, can be used for cleaning and restoring aluminium and removing wooden floor stains.
  • One type of steel wool not recommended is the pre-soaped version, although the specific reasons weren't provided.

Ways to Use Steel Wool​

While most often used for cleaning, steel wool serves many additional functions.

It can be used to keep rodents out of your house, start a campfire, produce a distressed finish on wood and metal, tighten up a loose screw, remove rust from old items, and give your garden tools some much-needed maintenance.

Steel wool is also masterful at removing stubborn dirt and grime, including tire gunk, scuff marks from vinyl and wallpaper, and grimy window frames.

It can even create interesting effects on wood stain, achieve a polished finish on brass surfaces, and create an effective filter for pet fur in the shower.



Before we wrap this up, we are eager to hear from you and learn from your valuable experiences.

Please feel free to share any entertaining cleaning stories, unique approaches, or clever tricks you have mastered over time. Your insights and expertise are greatly appreciated!

I have an Aussie book I bought in 2003 when it first came out - Organic Home by Rosamond Richardson and she covers every imaginable situation. It's my go to for everything in the home as well as personal.
 

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