Among the utensils we use in the kitchen are aluminum pots and pans, which are the most popular because they are very durable. The only flaw, however, is that this material is prone to oxidation over time and, therefore, we not infrequently find black stains that make these cookware old and worn out. But did you know that it is possible to restore the shine to aluminum cookware with this DIY method? Well yes, let’s see it together!
Organic soap
When we talk about very gentle household ingredients that can clean a wide variety of surfaces and materials without damaging them, we cannot fail to mention organic soap, which boasts cleaning, degreasing and stain removing properties. In this case, therefore, you will just add a few flakes of organic soap in a basin containing hot water and put, then, the pots and pans to soak for about half an hour. After that, use a small sponge to rub on the pans, concentrating especially on the black stains and, finally, rinse: and what a shine!
Yellow soap
Not only organic soap, however, is known for being neutral and mild, as yellow soap also boasts strong cleaning, degreasing and cleansing powers that can be harnessed on aluminum cookware to give it a shine. Take, then, a lump of this soap, cut out a small piece and work it with your hands until you get a small ball. After that, rub it directly on the oxidation stain and leave it for a while. Finally, rinse thoroughly until all the excess foam is removed. Alternatively, you can also pour a few scoops of this soap into a basin containing water and, then, soak the pot inside the basin-your pots will look as good as new! Moreover, yellow soap will help not only to polish but also to degrease thoroughly! In fact, not surprisingly, it is used to thoroughly clean the kitchenette!
Vinegar
When we talk about ingredients that can polish and give shine to surfaces, we cannot overlook vinegar, an ingredient also used to make the steel of the cooktop shiny! All you need to do, then, is to spray vinegar on the cookware and let it act for a while. After that, using a soft-bristled brush, scrub gently and rinse: black stains on your aluminum cookware will be just a bad memory!
N.B We advise you not to overdo the use of vinegar because the acidic nature of this product could, in the long run, corrode this metal.
Lemon
Like vinegar, lemon is also considered a natural polish that can add shine to various surfaces. As if that were not enough, then, it also has degreasing, cleaning properties and, most importantly, boasts an intoxicating smell that is also effective for removing bad odors in the bathroom! Therefore, soak the pan for a few hours in a basin containing very hot water and the juice of a lemon, after which, scrub it with a small brush with soft bristles: you will see that the black patina will come off quickly!
N.B Like vinegar, again, we advise you not to overuse it and not to scrub much because it may corrode the metal.
Milk
Did you ever think that milk could come to your rescue to remove oxidation from your aluminum cookware? Well, yes! In fact, thanks to its cleaning and bleaching properties, it is a godsend for bleaching laundry as well! All you have to do, then, is pour and bring to a boil some milk into the pot to be cleaned and polished. After that, once the milk has cooled, wash the pot by scrubbing with a sponge and rinse-it will be as bright as ever!
Things not to do
However, in addition to the ingredients to be used to remove black stains from your aluminum pots and pans, it is also important to follow some precautions in order not to ruin them. In fact, it is a good idea to clean them from time to time, thus avoiding making the black stains “stick” and making their removal more difficult. In addition, we recommend that you never use the abrasive screen or sponge, because they would end up removing the pan’s coating. Finally, it is recommended that you do not put aluminum cookware in the dishwasher because washing in this appliance could cause black patinas.
Warnings
We recommend trying the remedies mentioned before in non-visible corners so as not to risk damaging the cookware.
