Removing Calcium Deposits from Cookware

There are times when, no matter how hard we try, calcium deposits simply "appear" on our cookware. Most often this phenomenon is noticed on stainless steel cookware. There are several methods that you can use to help in removing calcium deposits from cookware, though most of them require that you think outside the box a little bit. In fact, some of them may even seem a little counter intuitive, but they do work.

• Use some vinegar and water. Perhaps one of the most beloved and trusted methods for cleaning is white vinegar and water. Surprisingly, this combination can clean just about anything under the sun, and even a few things that like to hide in the dark. Make a solution that is half water and half white vinegar, and then pour it into the pot or pan that has the calcium deposits. Be sure that you use white vinegar for this, rather than other kinds of vinegar since it will have a less offensive odor. Heat the vinegar and water slowly until it starts to gently boil, and then allow everything to simmer for about 15 minutes before cooling everything down to room temperature. Once at room temperature, pour out most of the mixture and wipe away any remaining spots. With the white spots taken care of, wash your pot or pan as normal to remove the last traces of vinegar before you use it for cooking again.
• Tang can work. Another exceptionally easy method for removing calcium deposits from cookware is to use a little bit of the citrus flavored Tang fruit drink. Add a little bit of the fruit drink mix like a dishwashing detergent in your dishwasher, and you will be amazed to see how quickly those calcium deposits vanish. This works so well because Tang has a high ascorbic acid content, and that acid will eat away the calcium deposits; in addition, since Tang is a powder, it will work just fine in most (if not all) dishwashers.
• Always go for the soft. Despite the fact that stainless steel is a fairly tough and durable metal, you need to be careful when cleaning. This means that you don't want to use any harsh abrasives, and instead use soft cloths or sponges to clean the pots and pans. If you do use a harsh abrasive to clean, then you are running the risk of leaving scratches in the metal that can make the metal more susceptible to stains

While these methods will work for a vast majority of calcium deposits, there is a chance that they won't as well. That situation is usually due to the metal becoming so pitted from use that there really isn't anything that you can do to restore the damaged steel pot. It is best to avoid such a situation by preventing it from happening at all. Do this by being careful with the amount of salt that you use in your cooking, and if at all possible avoid adding salt at all. If you do need to add any salt, only add it after the water has stopped boiling.