# Kitchen utensils: scouring white stains out of stainless steel pan

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-utensils-scouring-white-stains-out-of-stainless-steel-pan/805441>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 28, 2017, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-utensils-scouring-white-stains-out-of-stainless-steel-pan/805441 "2017-12-28T02:22:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-utensils-scouring-white-stains-out-of-stainless-steel-pan/805441/1 "2017-12-28T02:22:19Z")

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We recently got a new stainless steel pan. We’ve been using it on the burners of our gas stove, on a regular basis. Small, pale white spots have appeared on the bottom of the inside of the pan…we live in the Los Angeles area (about 60 years now). What’s the best way to get the spots off?

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**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-utensils-scouring-white-stains-out-of-stainless-steel-pan/805441/2 "2017-12-28T03:37:17Z")

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> [@dougie\_monty](#):
>
> We recently got a new stainless steel pan. We’ve been using it on the burners of our gas stove, on a regular basis. Small, pale white spots have appeared on the bottom of the inside of the pan…we live in the Los Angeles area (about 60 years now). What’s the best way to get the spots off?

I’m also in the LA area. Sounds like hard water deposits, try boiling white vinegar (or any vinegar, but don’t waste the good stuff) diluted in water. Don’t let it boil dry. Dump the boiling vinegar water after a few minutes and try a scrub with a scouring pad if the spots are still there.

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**Author:** ![Carlarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Carlarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carlarm)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-utensils-scouring-white-stains-out-of-stainless-steel-pan/805441/3 "2017-12-28T03:43:41Z")

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Most likely, the spots are mineral deposits. If so, Lime-A-Way or CLR should banish the spots. These products contain a strong acid and you should wear rubber gloves and eye protection when using them.

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**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-utensils-scouring-white-stains-out-of-stainless-steel-pan/805441/4 "2017-12-28T03:45:52Z")

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> [@Carlarm](#):
>
> Most likely, the spots are mineral deposits. If so, Lime-A-Way or CLR should banish the spots. These products contain a strong acid and you should wear rubber gloves and eye protection when using them.

Or try a milder acid like vinegar first 🙂

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**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-utensils-scouring-white-stains-out-of-stainless-steel-pan/805441/5 "2017-12-28T13:35:26Z")

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Or Bar Keepers Friend, which you should be keeping around anyway.

Not surprisingly, it is also an acid (oxalic).

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**Author:** ![Hi\_Medlo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hi\_Medlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Medlo)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-utensils-scouring-white-stains-out-of-stainless-steel-pan/805441/6 "2017-12-28T13:41:12Z")

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I’ll second Bar Keeper’s Friend. Works great on my stainless brew pots.

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**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitchen-utensils-scouring-white-stains-out-of-stainless-steel-pan/805441/7 "2017-12-28T16:53:26Z")

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Try real hard to avoid scratching the surface. Any scratches will really attract mineral deposits going forward. And food gunk. And make food stick more easily.