This simple cleaning trick will leave your pans looking brand new!
- Replies 5
Have you ever tried to clean your pots and pans, only to be left with a streaky 'rainbow' mark that won't budge?
Don't worry, there's a very simple cleaning hack to restore your cookware back to its former glory, and you probably already have the ‘secret’ ingredient in your pantry!
If you take one look at your pots, pans, and particularly the sides of your kitchen utensils, you'll probably see some unsightly ‘rainbow’ marks.
Stainless steel pots (and other utensils) often contain chromium, which is a sturdy metal that helps keep kitchenware from rusting or corroding. The marks – also known as the discolouration of stainless steel – are caused by chromium’s exposure to oxygen.
Essentially, it’s a thin, protective layer that changes colour when air and high heat are combined. And although they are safe for use, these marks can be unsightly especially if you have guests over.
So, how do you get rainbow marks off your pots and pans?
Luckily, a trusted home and kitchen care guru on TikTok has the answer for us. Known for advising her followers on organisation and cleaning tips, Stephanie Booth is the one bringing us this proven DIY method for cleaning rainbow marks off of pots and pans.
Stephanie said that the rainbow marks are purely ‘cosmetic’ in nature and won’t compromise your pots and pans' sturdiness, but if you want to get rid of them the solution is surprisingly simple: white distilled vinegar!
She poured in enough vinegar to cover the stains, before giving it a good whirl around to remove the rainbow marks. Then, she rinsed her pots and pans with water after using the vinegar to get rid of any remaining residue.
‘The acid in the vinegar quickly restores that stainless steel shine,’ Ms Booth wrote in her caption.
Her hack has been viewed 154,000 times and received many positive comments from impressed social media users.
‘Wow, awesome! Thanks for sharing. I am going to try this as we use a lot of these cookware,’ one said.
‘I just thought I ruined my new pots. Thank you,’ a second wrote.
Another person thanked her for the tip. One shared that lemon juice also does the trick, to which Stephanie agreed.
‘Yes! Another acid, [that’s] perfect.’ Ms Booth responded.
You can watch her video demonstration below:
When it comes to removing stains from pots and pans, you don’t have to rely just on vinegar to make them look as good as new. There are several DIY home remedies that can remove those pesky stains for good.
One popular option is tomato sauce, and that’s because the acidity from the tomatoes is effective at eliminating discolouration and attacks copper oxide (aka rust) found on metal surfaces. You can read about how to use this hack here.
Other marks, such as white stains caused by calcium deposits found in water, can also be removed using vinegar or the very popular ‘Bar Keepers Friend’ product from Woolworths.
If you find rust on your stainless steel pots or pans, you need to step away from steel wool, hard metal brushes or abrasive cleaners. This will completely ruin your pan and make it even more susceptible to corrosion. Make a thick paste of bicarb of soda with water and cover the rusted portions. With a toothbrush (or soft cloth), rub the mixture onto the rust.
Have you tried any of these hacks or, better yet, do you have another tip for cleaning stainless steel pans? Let us know in the comments below!
Don't worry, there's a very simple cleaning hack to restore your cookware back to its former glory, and you probably already have the ‘secret’ ingredient in your pantry!
If you take one look at your pots, pans, and particularly the sides of your kitchen utensils, you'll probably see some unsightly ‘rainbow’ marks.
Stainless steel pots (and other utensils) often contain chromium, which is a sturdy metal that helps keep kitchenware from rusting or corroding. The marks – also known as the discolouration of stainless steel – are caused by chromium’s exposure to oxygen.
Stainless steel objects sometimes get rainbow marks. Credit: Kelly/Pexels
Essentially, it’s a thin, protective layer that changes colour when air and high heat are combined. And although they are safe for use, these marks can be unsightly especially if you have guests over.
So, how do you get rainbow marks off your pots and pans?
Luckily, a trusted home and kitchen care guru on TikTok has the answer for us. Known for advising her followers on organisation and cleaning tips, Stephanie Booth is the one bringing us this proven DIY method for cleaning rainbow marks off of pots and pans.
Stephanie said that the rainbow marks are purely ‘cosmetic’ in nature and won’t compromise your pots and pans' sturdiness, but if you want to get rid of them the solution is surprisingly simple: white distilled vinegar!
White vinegar can fix the discolouration. Credit: stephanieboothrealtor/TikTok
She poured in enough vinegar to cover the stains, before giving it a good whirl around to remove the rainbow marks. Then, she rinsed her pots and pans with water after using the vinegar to get rid of any remaining residue.
‘The acid in the vinegar quickly restores that stainless steel shine,’ Ms Booth wrote in her caption.
Her hack has been viewed 154,000 times and received many positive comments from impressed social media users.
‘Wow, awesome! Thanks for sharing. I am going to try this as we use a lot of these cookware,’ one said.
‘I just thought I ruined my new pots. Thank you,’ a second wrote.
Another person thanked her for the tip. One shared that lemon juice also does the trick, to which Stephanie agreed.
‘Yes! Another acid, [that’s] perfect.’ Ms Booth responded.
You can watch her video demonstration below:
When it comes to removing stains from pots and pans, you don’t have to rely just on vinegar to make them look as good as new. There are several DIY home remedies that can remove those pesky stains for good.
One popular option is tomato sauce, and that’s because the acidity from the tomatoes is effective at eliminating discolouration and attacks copper oxide (aka rust) found on metal surfaces. You can read about how to use this hack here.
Other marks, such as white stains caused by calcium deposits found in water, can also be removed using vinegar or the very popular ‘Bar Keepers Friend’ product from Woolworths.
If you find rust on your stainless steel pots or pans, you need to step away from steel wool, hard metal brushes or abrasive cleaners. This will completely ruin your pan and make it even more susceptible to corrosion. Make a thick paste of bicarb of soda with water and cover the rusted portions. With a toothbrush (or soft cloth), rub the mixture onto the rust.
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