Stickiness that won't come off
I've been having a problem with some of my pots and pans (more importantly, my Le Creuset dutch oven) where there is some kind of stickiness that just won't wash off. It is colorless, and has seemed to appear out of nowhere.
I've tried dish soap and water, even using the dishwasher powder to make an abrasive paste but still cannot remove it. Thankfully it is on the outside of the pieces, but it would be nice not to have my hand stick to it when I try and put it away.
Has anyone else had this problem/figured out a way to solve it?
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15 Comments:
Try Goo Gone. You can find it in hardware stores if you can't find it at a grocery store. I use it for removing price tags and sticky labels from things. You just put it on, let it sit for a few seconds, rub it around a bit, then wash with soap.
dbcurrie at 2:31PM on 02/17/09
I have also had that problem with exactly the same kind of pot-not Le Creuset but a cast iron enameled dutch oven. No idea why-it had been sitting in a closet for awhile-don't use it that often. Even bleach did not take it off. Boiled water and let it sit in it for awhile and did the cleanser route you used! Strange! I guess goo gone is worth a try.......would be interesting to see if this is common.
lenny425 at 2:38PM on 02/17/09
I had something like this on a cast iron dutch oven. I used Dawn dish soap and a green scrubbie pad and lots of elbow grease, and it came off. The goo gone sounds much easier!!
eatingoutwest at 2:42PM on 02/17/09
I second Goo Gone. I've used it ( but not for the problem you have) many times and it works. My mom told me about that one a while ago...Hope it works for you!
Butrflygirly at 3:18PM on 02/17/09
I have had this same problem with a ceramic pot and cast iron pot and I am beginning to think it comes from grease and dust. Both of the pots that had the weird goo were just sitting up in a cabinet (no door on it) for a long time. For some reason those porous materials seem to attract the grease and dust that will inevitably fly around in a kitchen no matter how well you clean. I have never had this problem on my other pots and pans. I'll give Goo Gone a try as well since I have never been able to get those two pots truly clean.
laurelie at 3:37PM on 02/17/09
i had this problem when the sponge i was using seperated from the scrubby pad part. the sponge adhesive made all my pans sticky. not sure if you're using this type of sponge. it went away after i stop using the sponge and after a few good washings with just a dish rag and dawn.
_greenbean at 4:41PM on 02/17/09
try barkeepers friend.
dearrie at 5:21PM on 02/17/09
lemon extract takes stickers off glasses maybe it will work on that
WSLunch at 6:04PM on 02/17/09
You can also try plain old rubbing alcohol.
renzata at 8:06PM on 02/17/09
Bon Ami. It's dirt cheap, won't scratch, and gets off water deposits on the insides of stainless steel.
friggy at 8:47PM on 02/17/09
i usually dont have it in my house so i havent tested it, but i heard that you can use laundry static sheets and water to remove stuck-on-stuff.
blizcheetah at 12:34AM on 02/18/09
Don't use Goo Be gone on your pots and not wash them very good it is poison. I say use vinegar and hot water or laundry detergent either one will not kill you or the pot.
JerzeeTomato at 12:39AM on 02/18/09
Have you ever stored them in a top cabinet near the stove? A nasty film usually forms because even if you have a vent hood, grease still rises and attaches itself to pans and dishware in those high cabinets.
For LeCreuset - I spray with EZ Off oven cleaner OUTDOORS and lay the pans on newspaper. An hour or two later, take an gently abrasive scrubber i.e. Dobie (that doesn't scratch), hose off the pans and scrub them. If you do this on the INSIDE of the pan, you need to wash liberally with soapy water multiple times to eliminate traces of EZ Off.
For Glasses, and Dishes - I use straight ammonia on a sponge. I kid you not. The grease comes off instantly. I then run the dishes and/or glasses through an entire dishwasher cycle to remove any and all traces of ammonia. OR hand wash them all. I know this sounds extreme but it works like a charm and if you are very careful to wash everything THOROUGHLY when you're done, there is no danger. WARNING: If using on plates that might have a "stamped" pattern on them, test in an inconspicuous place on the plate to make sure the design is very sound. (i.e. possibly a cup saucer.)
chiff0nade at 12:18PM on 02/18/09
For sticky cast iron, heat upside down in a hot oven with a disposable drip pan or foil covered baking sheet underneath, for an hour or more. Then reseason.
PerkyMac at 12:52PM on 02/18/09
all great ideas, thank you so much for your input!
This literally just happened the other day, so it was not a result of keeping it stored in a cabinet (I actually store it on a bakers rack outside of my kitchen). But I was browning up some beef for stew so it may be because of the oil spatter mixed with some dust, or simply because I did not wash it immediately.
I have plenty of different cleaning methods to try now so I'm sure one will work! Thanks again!
decemberain27 at 8:35PM on 02/18/09