In this article, we will tell you how to clean dishes from soot in a very unusual way (by modern standards) – with the help of glue. This information will be especially useful for those who want to restore a presentable look to an old cast iron pan. Let’s consider in detail how to clean the pan from soot with glue.
Varieties of stationery glue
Three types of glue can be distinguished:
- silicate,
- pencil;
- PVA
PVA glue is made from an aqueous solution of polyvinyl acetate – a transparent, odorless substance. To provide greater stickiness, it is improved with plasticizers. Glue-pencil is available in two types: based on polyvinylpyrrolidone and PVA glue. In the first case, the moisturizer is glycerin, in the second – water.
Silicate glue consists of silicate solutions in water, i.e. silicic acid with the addition of sodium, potassium or lithium. It gained the greatest popularity during the times of the USSR. Despite a lot of shortcomings, it was in demand, since there were very few similar products in those days. Since the beginning of the last century, hard-working housewives have used it as an effective means of combating soot. It is interesting that silicate glue was nicknamed “liquid glass” by the people – because of the transparency that silicate acquires when it solidifies.
Why is silicate so effective in the fight against soot? Here, the main helper is a strong alkaline reaction that causes burns. It is she who eats away pollution that no other means can remove. In addition, liquid glass softens water and increases the cleaning qualities of usual products.
What materials can and cannot be cleaned with glue
With the help of silicate stationery glue, it is easy to clean utensils made of aluminum, duralumin, cast iron, enamel, and stainless steel. These materials are the strongest and are not afraid of the alkaline reaction of silicates. At the same time, dirt is easily removed from them and even the most stale fat is removed.
Dishes with a gold coating, cupronickel, plastic, and plastic are strictly contraindicated to clean with adhesives. The same applies to dishes with a non-stick coating. These materials are severely damaged when exposed to an alkaline environment: shiny surfaces fade, plastic warps, and the integrity of the non-stick coating is broken. It is also necessary to foresee all the little things when cleaning the permitted materials: if it has plastic handles, they will have to be removed.
Methods of cleaning dishes with glue
There are several methods, which, depending on the material of the dishes, have their own characteristics.
Method 1
An effective cleaning agent can be made from a mixture of silicate glue with soda ash. For this:
- Take a large tank of pre-boiled water, pour a pack of soda ash and several bottles of stationery glue into it.
- The composition is thoroughly dissolved until abundant white flakes.
- Place the dirty dishes in the tank and leave for two hours. During this time, the pan will be well soaked, and it will be easy to clean all the old dirt with an iron washcloth.
- Then rinse everything with running water and dry.
Method 2
Another recipe has the use of household soap.
- They take a pack of soda ash, a couple of bottles of glue and a pack of soap rubbed into shavings.
- All this is poured with 10 liters of water into an iron tank and put on gas.
- They put dirty pans and pots there and boil everything for at least half an hour.
- Then the gas is turned off, and the dishes are left like this until the water cools completely.
- After it cools down, you can take it out and rinse it. All the soot will remain in the water, and the dishes will shine with a new shine.
Importantly! In the absence of silicate glue, you can use PVA glue, and instead of baking soda, take baking soda.
Method 3
You can deal with old stains on an old cast-iron pan in this way.
- You need to take a bottle of PVA weighing 125 ml and a piece of household soap.
- Grate the soap and put it in a large iron tank with boiling water, pour the bottle of PVA into it.
- Mix everything well and bring to a boil again.
- Keep the fire to a minimum and carefully immerse the pans.
- Boil the dishes for at least two hours, adding water if necessary.
- Then pour out the solution, and put the items under a faucet with cold water and clean them with a metal washcloth.
Importantly! This method is not suitable for aluminum products, as they tarnish very much.
Method 4
You can clean heavily soiled aluminum dishes with the following composition.
- Pour at least 10 liters of water into a large iron container (the use of enameled dishes is excluded, as it can be damaged), while not reaching a third of the entire container.
- Crumble the household soap, pour the washing soda, and pour the silicate glue there.
- Put everything to boil.
- After the solution boils and the final dissolution of all components, immerse the dishes there and boil for 3 to 16 hours, depending on how greasy the pan was.
- After the procedure, turn off the gas, take out the objects and clean them under clean water with an iron washcloth.
Everything is very easy to clean in a few minutes. Soda will prevent the metal from darkening, and it will be as good as new.
It is not recommended to clean plastic, Teflon in this way, as they can be damaged during cooking and cleaning.
Don’t forget personal protective equipment: mandatory rubber gloves and a protective mask. Lye can damage the skin of the hands, and its harmful vapors can enter the respiratory system, which, in turn, can lead to many problems, from allergies to chemical burns.
Cleaning dishes with glue is an old, proven method that allows you to save up to several hundred rubles. At the same time, the result exceeds all expectations and pleases the eye for several years.