The Cleaning Ingredient That You Should Avoid Using On Aluminum Pots

At this point, it's no secret that baking soda is one of the most versatile cleaning ingredients for cleaning around the home. However, even baking soda has its limitations — in fact, there are many household items you should avoid cleaning with it. This includes dinnerware with gold plating, antique silver, ceramic stovetops, and marble surfaces. You should also avoid cleaning aluminum cookware with baking soda. 

Cleaning aluminum pots and pans with baking soda can be risky since it can scratch the metal and cause oxidation. This can lead to damage and discoloration. Baking soda can cause your aluminum cookware to turn brown, so you should consider other cleaning alternatives if you can, especially for general cleaning purposes.

Because baking soda does such an effective job of removing stubborn burnt pan stains, you may feel like it's necessary to use it on aluminum at some point. While it's possible to clean aluminum with baking soda, it's not a decision to take lightly. If you use it, you'll want to make sure to use it correctly. Ensure that you rinse the baking soda away thoroughly and never let it sit on the cookware for an extended period of time.

Although it's best to avoid cleaning aluminum with baking soda, sometimes it's the best solution — such as when you're trying to remove burnt areas from pots and pans. Baking soda will clean your aluminum cookware, but you should always try alternatives first. As with many other baking soda cleaning hacks, the best way to clean aluminum with baking soda is to mix it with water to create a paste. Then, you need to rub it gently into the pot or pan using a soft sponge or cloth. After you're done, use lots of water to rinse it thoroughly and avoid allowing any baking soda to remain. Also, remember that it's a wise idea to test the aluminum on a small spot first, to be safe.

Of course, a safer choice would be to clean your aluminum pots with a simple mixture of dish soap and water. However, the best way to clean aluminum involves bringing a solution of vinegar and water to a boil and then soaking the aluminum cookware in the solution.