Clean any pan stain ‘in minutes’ without harsh chemicals – only costs £1.65

We’ve all encountered those stubborn marks of dirt and grime that cling to your pan and prove a nuisance to remove.

Whether it’s resorting to the metal scourer or employing heavy-duty chemicals, both common methods are far from pleasant, but one technique may be able to save them.

The handy tip uses two common items most people will have hiding in the back of their cupboard and requires little elbow grease.

To finally remove those burnt food stains, you won’t have to splash out any expensive cleaning products.

Many of us will remember making a homemade volcano by combining , little did we know the reaction produces quite the cleaning product.

When the  react they bubble and foam, producing carbon dioxide gas, water, but importantly acetate ions and sodium ions.

Once the reaction dies down, it leaves sodium acetate, a common cleaning additive that appears in most expensive household cleaning items. The mild abrasive nature of bicarb can also help to scrub off any last remnants of stuck food. 

Unlike harsh chemicals, this method is much better for you, the environment and your bank account. A standard box of in the UK costs around 65p, while a bottle of white vinegar can be picked up for less than £1, with branded pan cleaners often costing at least five times that.

Cleaning experts at Arm and Hammer suggest a few simple instructions that can get any pan looking sparkly again.

They advise: “For a more heavy-duty cleaning, add white vinegar to the baking soda and let kitchen chemistry help break down burnt food on your scorched pan.”

Firstly, remove as much food and debris from the pan as possible, making it easier for the chemicals to attach to the stuck stains. Then, add enough to cover the bottom of the pan with at least 1cm of liquid. Next, boil the vinegar in the pan and let simmer for a few minutes.

Now for the science, remove the vinegar from the heat and add one cup of bicarb. You’ll get a fizzing reaction similar to that of the volcano from your childhood, so it’s best to do this step in the sink.

Then, set the pot or pan to one side while the fizzing and bubbling dies down, it could take up to five minutes. Once the reaction has stopped, pour the liquid away and wipe the grime away – it shouldn’t require too much scrubbing but add more bicarb if needed.

Finally, give it a good rinse to remove any of the chemicals, and you should be left with a sparkly new pan returning it to its former glory.