So, last night, I’m cooking in the kitchen and I’m watching The Real Housewives of New Jersey in the living room.
This scenario would all be fine, except I was doing these two things at the same time and the two rooms are 15’ away from each other.
Welp.
You know what happens…one minute I’m watching this guy call his sister “scum” for trying to destroy his marriage, next minute Scum Sister’s husband gets wind, storms in, and demands an apology (RAWRRR!!!), and next a fight breaks out between the two. Of course, to add drama, the editors at Bravo did that thing where they make screen go black but keep the sound going. Very compelling. All you can do is envision this uber suspenseful Rocky Balboa-like fight, when in reality, it’s just two short men in Ed Hardy shirts bucking around on the carpet of a rented conference room. Obviously, I could not turn away. At least not until the fire alarm went off.
Blah blah blah I run to kitchen….blah blah blah burning….blah blah blah no potholders…blah blah blah I used my scarf…blah blah blah BAD IDEA.
Well, the wadded up scarf was fine for keeping my hands un-burned. However, portions of the scarf touched the bottom of the hot pot and instantly melted, thus ruining my scarf and the bottom of the pot.
I can get over the scarf, but the pot…I really like this pot.
It’s huge and heavy. My parents bought it in the early 80’s. I have purchased a couple of different stock pots over the years, and none cook half as well as this one. This one is a keeper.
So the question is; Can it be saved?
If you had asked me a week ago, I would have assumed that scarf was 100% cotton, but the way it melted to the pot I think it must be part polyester. So how does one remove melted polyester from stainless steel? Scrubbing with baking soda/steel wool/ajax/dish crystals has not worked. Soaking overnight in a tub of sudsy water has not worked. WHAT WILL WORK?
I’m beginning to lose hope.
Does anyone out there have experience on this front? If anyone would know, it would be you guys.
Input wanted on this one.
I want my pot back.
Have you tried heating the pot up again? I would stick that sucker in a hot oven with a foil lined cookie sheet then try scraping the scarf off. Be careful though! Don’t breathe the toxic fumes of the reheated scarf and use a pot holder!
Yeah, the fumes are a little scary! I’m also worried that it will just spread around like tar. I’m sure I could wipe some off but getting it 100% gone will be tough unless I can keep it hot while I scrape. Hmmm….
I am so laughing … with you… REALLY… I have ruined one really great enamel double boiler, 2 enamel stockpots, a roaster, 2 steel stock pots, a family enameled roasting pan, …aaaand countless teapots ( why I have an electric kettle now…) in the last 40 (plus or minus) years of cooking, I really am a good cook… I just get well Distracted….In the past I have actually thrown pots away… wonder if you tried to get it “remelted”, try it on a grill, outside or in a fire pit… not necessarily the whole pan… but heat it up like it was on the stove…maybe you could soften up the gook enough to scrape most off then burn off the rest… its a thought… have you tried to google properties of poly or nylon fabrics (used in identifying fabric) ya might find something there…wonder if you could find out what dissolves them… bet ya have some Science friends,… sigh where is sheldon, leonard and the crew when ya need em!! good luck! Tracy Lynn
I was thinking the same — where is Sheldon when I need him?! No fire pits within easy distance and they are illegal on beaches around here. Maybe in the alley?
no fire in the alley… remember… distractions… could be an opening for a whole new kinda post ;D… good luck! Tracy Lynn
Here are some hints I’ve read – silver polish, or nail polish remover. Or take it to a small appliance repair shop and see if they can do something. Or (and this is a long shot but it worked on a really grody pan of mine) soak it over night with a fabric softener sheet.
Acetone isn’t a bad idea at all! I think it’s past the point of fabric softener, but I’ll try anything…
Other ideas: Heat the bottom of the pan in a bigger pan of hot water with cream of tarter. And/or try Barkeepers Friend cleanser – that removes lots of burned-on stuff.
Yup — tried Bar Tenders keeper thinking it would work for sure — it cleaned the pot but zero effect on the melted polyester. If I can find a bigger pot I’ll try hot water and cream of tarter — that’s a great idea!
I was also going to suggest Barkeepers Friend. Great stuff!
I use vinegar essence (or white vinegar) in boiling water for my burned pots. Good luck for getting ur pot back!
I’ll try anything — thanks!
An SOS pad will take almost anything off of stainless steel. Good luck!
An SOS pad will take almost anything off of stainless steel. Good luck!
My preferred method of cooking …. multitasking….boiled dry my share of teapots … I think you’re gonna have to sand the melted stuff off. If you don’t have regular sandpaper then try an emory board … the paper kind so it’s flexible. If that doesn’t work then find a welding or machine shop…they’ll fix you up.
That is a great idea. Maybe an autobody shop? They have seen worse I’m sure!
I’m a fan of fine grain steel wool, myself.
LOL HAVE YOU TRIED MAKING A PASTE OF BAKING SODA AND PEROXIDE IT DOES GET OFF OTHER BURNT ON MESSES. MY SON HAS MADE ME AN EXPERT AT BURNT ON MESSES. WON’T HURT TO TRY.
How about a razor blade and steel wool? It is just metal so you could try to remove as much as possible with the razor blade and then with steel wool or a file (or both) or sanding paper for metal try to remove the rest.
That is how I would try it…
I don’t know what kind of polyester your scarf was otherwise you could go for a solvent. For some kinds aceton works fine or everything with a very low or high pH (althought I would not recommend to try this).
Do you have a Dremel tool? You can gently grind/polish the gunk off the pot. My Dad saved our iron with one once. I ironed a polyester blouse with an iron that was too hot. Hope that helps. I really enjoy your work on this blog!
Ooooo ….now THAT is a thought?!?!
Soak it in lemon juice!
Send me the scarf, I’ll re-engineer it! You are so lucky you weren’t wearing it when it melted, or were you? I didn’t know you were low on potholders. I gave all my mother’s away. She had ones she was saving for best or something. My sewing group makes hundreds every year. Now I know what to get you! My idea for fixing the pot is an electric sander. Or take it to an auto body shop and they can buff it off. Or, do you know the brand? Email them. The Real Housewives is the TV version of pulp paperbacks. I’ve given them up. I am a teeny bit interested in Honey Boo Boo, though
I cannot wait to see the sequel to this post, complete with pictures please!! And my only suggestion would be to try GooGone, which is a decent solvent. (Also, a great way to take minor smudges off of purses and shoes – just do a test strip first to make sure it doesn’t alter the dyeing of the item; blah blah blah disclaimer). Personally, I would soak it in a bowl of the GooGone for a few hours (like while you’re at work), then try the SOS or steel wool (prob steel wool so you don’t mix chemicals, lol) on it. And if that doesn’t work, then yep, I’d head to the Auto repair shop or hit up someone with a Dremmel (or other brand multi tool – if you don’t own one, Peaches, we gots to get ya one – they kick ass!!). Be careful with the GooGone though; learned from 4 hours of doing retail endcaps with it that it can make you high as a kite. Oh, and it’ll ruin whatever your mani looks like, so I’d just clear polish until you get the pot handled.
AND NO, THEY DO NOT MAKE POTS LIKE THAT ANYMORE. Totally sucks, which is why I’m looking at the thrift stores for mine.
Much luck!!
Hi Aunt Peaches, for any stains that wont come out i use a mix of bicard soda and vinegar made into a paste. If its really bad may need steelo pad to help remove. Currently have a pot soaking…arggh. Best of luck
If all else fails, you could wrap the rest of the scarf around the post, melt it on, and have a (no heat, hand-wash only) pretty fabulous serving dish.
I think the heating up the pot idea could be a good one. Try heating the bottom up with a blow dryer. That would be safer than more fire. Then try scraping off the glop with the edge of an old credit card while it’s still warm. Good luck!
Peaches- I would take it outdoors. Do you have a charcoal grill? NO Propane grills. I would heat this grill up. Wait,if you use charcoal lighter wait until it burns off completely. I would heat the pot up to get as hot as possible, then turn it upside down on the grill and use a heated metal scraper to remove as much as possible. Then with pan still very hot use some baking soda and steel wool. Be careful with solvents as they make catch fire. You might have to re-do this several times. My dad always said I was hard-headed when I set my mind to something. So you might need to try several of the ideas presented. Just be careful. Good luck.
What about Dritz Iron-Off Hot Iron Cleaner? It removes starch, melted fusible webbing (your scarf!) and burned on gunk off the sole plate of an iron – maybe it would work for the bottom of your stock pot.
Xtine –great thinking…that just might do it…
mr. clean magic eraser.
I know you can clean melted things from household irons with plain table salt…google it and see.if you can find more tips on this method…and good luck!
I know you can start a new trend of wearing melted scarves! If anyone can, it’s you Peaches!
I’m with Kelly- Mr Clean Magic Eraser has done some wonders in my house (as a last resort, surprised myself how amazing this thing is)
Reheat. And add glitter. Go to New Jersey and politely knock on Theresa’s door. Give as a gift. It will cleanse your soul and we will probably see you on next season!
GOOF OFF
Put the pot in the freezer for a couple of hours. Then try peeling poly away. Works with hot glue.
I swear by Bar Keepers Friend. It comes in liquid or powder. It’s been around since 1882. I used it on a stainless steel frying pan I ruined. I used the powder version and a lot of elbow grease and it is like new again! I also use it on my wedding plates to remove those annoying scratch marks from forks and knives. The stuff is cheap and versatile!
Kindred spirits again . . . I once melted several things to my iron, all at once. I was young in my multitasking abilities and trying to iron, put jewelry on AND eat breakfast all at once….Anyhoo, I’d use iron cleaner on the pot, which is completely pew-awful-smelly, but cleaned up all my misc melting off my iron. I also melded an oven mitt to a favorite pan. Took that bad boy out to the bbq grill and just let it cook off, keeping the terrible smell outside. Not very green of me in hindsight…
How about letting the pot soak in Coca Cola? I’ve heard of people using Coke to clean metal…have never tried it myself. I’m curious to know how this turns out.
I would take it outside and either try paint stripper with a paint knife to scrape or turn it upside down with a heat gun and try scraping, finish it off with a hand sander and 150-200 grit sand paper if you get most of the mess off. We’ve been scraping all kinds of gunk off wood and metal with our heat gun this summer. I love one that I got at Home Depot from Wagner for $40, but Harbor Freight also sells a crappy one for $15 that may do the trick if you just need it for he job. Then just return it if it doesn’t help.
I’d also recommend buying a paint/rust aerosol stripper from the auto parts store. That stuff is no joke.
Polyester may be like plastic bread wrappers, and I have melted many of them on toaster ovens, cookie sheets, etc. I have just washed, scraped, scrubbed off as much as possible and I keep on using them. Think of it as a collage pattern on your pot. Really good pots are hard to come by.
Lighter fluid?
I scanned the replies and I don’t think I saw this one, but I’m QUITE CONFIDENT IT WILL SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS! I had a house fire years ago, and honestly, this shit works on anything copper, stainless, porcelain (smoke stains out of the sinks and toilets!), glass cooktops, and pretty much anything you want to put it on: BAR KEEPERS FRIEND. It’s like $2 and somewhere next to the cleaning supplies.
if bar keepers didn’t work i would try the acetone… professional grade not the cheap stuff… acetone should eat the polyester… i would get the pan COLD like freezer cold before applying because if it is polyester it will become brittle and therefore easier to scrape. A sander might work… but it has more potential to ruin the pan forever. SORRY… you may have to come to terms with the idea it is gone forever. 🙁
I had a similar (or not at all similar) event with a plastic grocery bag touching the side of a new Calphalon pan. Needless to say, it was pretty tragic. It, too, was a gift. If I remember correctly, I was trying to get dinner rolling as Top Chef was coming on (damn you, Bravo!). At any rate, would it be out of line to say just roll with it? I never got the melted plastic off despite many of the efforts listed above. I’ve used the pan so much to this point that the carcinogens are probably played out. My nemeses was a plastic Haggan’s bag- yours is a far cooler leopard print. I don’t think Haggan’s even exists anymore, but it still serves as a friendly reminder to be more careful.
Well, your ideas helped me this morning. I tried many of them but was probably too impatient to give it time to work. I accidentally turned on the wrong burner and my EMPTY (NEW) teapot heated up. I caught it in time but then, unthinkingly, took it off the burner and set it down on a cloth place mat. The teapot melted the place mat and ended up with melted polyester??, nylon??, whatever, all over the bottom. What finally worked for me was heating water in another pan on the stove and using my paint scraper razor to scrape it off a little at a time. After I got all I could with the scraper, I finished it off with an SOS pad. I still need to get some stain out but the melted stuff is gone. The process that finally worked didn’t take me any more than 30 min, including heating the water and washing and drying the pot at the end.
I fully understand this horror! I am looking for help too. Last night I had this happen to me. Only, I was on the internet and forgot that I had the pot simmering., then I smelt the burning. Alarm did not go off because there was no smoke. Well the food was all black inside, I was rushing to set pot in a sink of cold water, when the heat from the handles got too hot for my hands. I let the fall to the floor. It hit my lounging gown, thought the gown was on fire and the floor destroyed. Thank God, I was okay and the floor was too. Gave no thought of where the fabric was until I picked up the pot. It looked like her pot. I’ve tried everything. Bought that pot in 1969. they are good and lasting. inside pot was OK after soaking in water. That fabric had melted into the bottom. I’m going on Ebay, looking for the Faberware Classic Vintage pot 8qt. Hope to find one there. Using this burnt one and drilling holes in the bottom to using as a planter. Lesson learned forever.