Cleaning Stainless Steel Can

[poots2]

Howdy folks,

So I started doing a cleaning run for my new still with some cheap booze. Me and my infinite wisdom decided do it with sangria ...bad idea. A lot of artificial sweeteners and other crap in that stuff. So I ran it through, and it burned the crap out of the bottom of my Stainless Steel Milk Can/pot. I've already let it soak with soap and water. Nothing. Let it sit for 2 days with baking soda and water. Nothing. Tried Elbow grease. Nothing. I've been thinking of trying a 10% citric acid wash, but I'm thinking that won't help. I'd like to note that I've gotten a lot of it off (compared to the way it looked when I started), but there is a significant "burn sheet" in the center of the pot that won't come off. Do you have any suggestions? Do I even need to worry about it?

PS: At the tale end of the Sangria Sacrificial run, there was a yellow sweet smelling substance that came out right at the end. Anyone have any ideas what that is?

Thanks for your help HD

[abardente]

I've always cleaned stainless pots with sand paper after cooking accidents. I would use the finest one that does the job, like "emery cloth" and then maybe try to find some info about polishing steel to restore the abraded surface to like new condition.

[BrooklynTech]

Howdy folks,

So I started doing a cleaning run for my new still with some cheap booze. Me and my infinite wisdom decided do it with sangria ...bad idea. A lot of artificial sweeteners and other crap in that stuff. So I ran it through, and it burned the crap out of the bottom of my Stainless Steel Milk Can/pot. I've already let it soak with soap and water. Nothing. Let it sit for 2 days with baking soda and water. Nothing. Tried Elbow grease. Nothing. I've been thinking of trying a 10% citric acid wash, but I'm thinking that won't help. I'd like to note that I've gotten a lot of it off (compared to the way it looked when I started), but there is a significant "burn sheet" in the center of the pot that won't come off. Do you have any suggestions? Do I even need to worry about it?

PS: At the tale end of the Sangria Sacrificial run, there was a yellow sweet smelling substance that came out right at the end. Anyone have any ideas what that is?

Thanks for your help HD

That's funny because I wanted some glass 1 gallon bottles so I bought 2 gallones of sangria and mixed it w/a gallon of faints. The result was pretty tasty.

But back to your problem. Try using OxyClean. Let some soak in the can for a few days and try to clean again.

[dakotasnake]

if its scorched try a brillo pad or any abraisive.

[F6Hawk]

Let it dry, then use oven cleaner.

[goose eye]

If it scortched Cook it off. Put it on blocks an turn
the wick up. This is with the kettle empty

Easy off oven cleaner is a lie. Aint nothing easy bout it



So im tole

[rtalbigr]

What I found works pretty good in my stock pots is CLR. It's dissolved stuff that scouring pads would do nothin to.

Big R

[poots2]

What I found works pretty good in my stock pots is CLR. It's dissolved stuff that scouring pads would do nothin to.

Big R

Do you usually let it soak for a couple days?


Also thank you everyone for your suggestions. I'll be sure to try a bunch

[rtalbigr]

What I found works pretty good in my stock pots is CLR. It's dissolved stuff that scouring pads would do nothin to.

Big R

Do you usually let it soak for a couple days?


Also thank you everyone for your suggestions. I'll be sure to try a bunch

Well, for my mess ups it usually on took a few hours of soaking.

Big R

[Skipper1953]

I clean all my stainless brewing utensils with Bar Keeper's Friend. It is a scouring powder similar to Comet or Ajax. You can get it at Wal-Mart, Ace Hardware and grocery stores. Try it. You'll like it.

Works on copper, too.

[Pesty]

If it scortched Cook it off.

whadda you think goose.. anyone else in this tread ever worked in a kitchen before.

Pretty easy to spot the suburban cooks in this thread

I will +1 on the Bar keepers helper to keep it clean.

[F6Hawk]

+1 on Bar Keepers Friend. Also, Cameo cleanser for SS (they make copper/aluminum, too). Both work great, but take some elbow grease to get the black off.

[Cardinalbags]

Universal stone cleaning paste. It comes in a small 500-600 ml tub. use a small scour pad slightly wet and dip into the tub.

Ive cleaned stainless items and chrome with it that you would have thought would never come clean.

I have a stainless steel BBQ that sits outside year round in a salty marine environment. Due to the salt spray, it gets pretty fouled and rusty looking. The Universal Stone gets it looking nice and shiney again.

[poots2]

UPDATE: Thanks for all your advice everyone. The Oxi-Clean worked wonders plus some added heat cleaned it real nice.

[corene1]

I use scotch brite pads I get from the local welding supply store to clean and polish stainless steel. They are very low in abrasion so they won't scratch like emery cloth. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/3 ... AA300_.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow There are lots of different types but they make some that you can chuck into a drill or die grinder and get down inside your pot with.

[TimReeves]

Scrubbing stainless steel surface and using aggressive cleaners on this metal will cause scratches on the metal. I would suggest you to pour water into the vessel and heat it for a while. Leave this for soaking and clean it with a sponge and some soap or a good liquid cleaner. Innopolish B520 can prove to be a great cleaner for such tough stains.
Edit: Mod edit to take out link for first time poster.

[Soggy Bottom Boy]

UPDATE: Thanks for all your advice everyone. The Oxi-Clean worked wonders plus some added heat cleaned it real nice.

From OxyClean website: Metals must not be soaked and must be rinsed immediately and thoroughly.

Not sure why it would apply to stainless, as exposure to oxygen is what causes stainless steel to form the protective layer of chromium oxide which is what makes it "stainless".

[ibfestus]

Thanks to the guys on this board I got my 15.5 beer keg that had burnt rice in it shiny clean. I let it soak in soap and water for a few days and took it to a guy I know that uses a hot water pressure washer to clean heavy equipment and such. 180F water at 4,000 psi took about one minute to eliminate the problem.

To find somebody in your area, look for people that pressure wash houses, boats, construction equipment etc.

[BIGBIRD123]

Go to Lowes or HD and get some Muratic Acid...works wonders...

[abaginone]

There is some cleanser that come in the beer making kits to clean the keg. I had to soak some of the utisels I was using and one included a can opener with a litle rust and it ate that shit off and made it look brand new.

[bearriver]

Companies that recondition stainless steel drums/barrels for brewing use a caustic soda to clean it when they first recieve the stock. (Remember they can come with just about anything inside) Then the customer can wash it with a light detergent to remove the soda smell. Cleaning maintenance is then done with products like bar keepers friend, (oxalic acid).

1st: Caustic soda
2nd: A light detergent
3rd: Maintain with BKF as needed

The above advice about scotch bright is an excellent option for a scouring the SS

I would do it like a professional (which isn't expensive) and not with bleach, abrasives, or anything else just laying around the garage on a whim. As far a SS is concerned, you should dismiss those options as half baked, and sadly misguided.

[W Pappy]

strait up white vinegar works on skillets pour enough to cover the bottom and let it sit over nite and it will rub rite off.

[chachabella]

Here is some burnt on wash. It is exactly where the top most electric heater band sits. So I assume that placing both bands lower will keep them below the liquid line. But for now I am not sure how hard to scrub to remove the residue. I can feel it with my finger but it is not built up enough that I can scrape it off easily. I have soaked it over night. I have cleaned it with vinegar. I have very very gently scrubbed with a scouring pad. But I am rather scared to scratch the ss. How bad is it to leave it that way?

So far this thread suggests sand paper, emory cloth, oxyclean, brillo pad, anything abrasive, oven cleaner, CLR, barkeepers friend, ajax/comet, Universal stone cleaning paste, scotch brite pads, hot water pressure washer, Muratic Acid, Caustic soda, light detergent, vinegar.

What has been suggested not to use is "oxyclean, bleach, abrasives, or anything else just laying around".

So what's a girl to do? Is there any consensus?

[W Pappy]

take some 100 grit sand paper to it,that will clean it up then you can hit it with some 400 to polish her up.Wont hurt a thing.
You can just move up on sand paper till you get it to the polish you want.

[Getsmokin]

A scotch brite and barkeepers friend always worked for me. Which will also repassivate the stainless at the same time.

[bellybuster]

I don't care what it says up top. A hot soak with oxy clean has yet to fail me for anything. And, I've let it soak for days and days. No issue.
Maybe at the 80 year mark it might start deteriorating my keg but that'll be someone else problem then.

[W Pappy]

Oxy is some damned good stuff cant argue that give that a try first less work anyhow if buster says it will work
you can take that to the bank!

[bellybuster]

haha, thanks Pappy. I really hate cleaning anything so I have found ways to avoid any physical cleaning.