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When it comes to washing dishes, steel wool is the world’s biggest pest. Steel wool is an upgraded version of a scrubber, a bristle brush with twice the power. Ever since I discovered that steel wool can remove grime from everything from cast iron pans to Dutch ovens, I’ve been using fine steel wool as a heavy-duty kitchen sink cleaner. I now keep a 12-pack of the popular Homax brand of dish soap in my bag at all times.
Steel wool can be found at your local hardware store or online, where you will find a variety of options. Steel wool is essentially a sponge made from twisted steel wires, and comes in a variety of grades, from superfine (#0000) to super strong (#4). The higher the number, the rougher the mat. For indoor dishwashing, I prefer to use #00 grit, which is coarse enough to remove baked-on bits that have stuck to the cooking surface but will not damage my cookware. I am talking about the juices from a fruit pie that spill over onto a rimmed baking sheet while baking and become charred, or the oily stain that remains on the edges of a pan after cooking a pork chop on high heat. I soak the pot in soapy water, then use steel wool to lift it out and loosen it. The effect is very good.
I also use #00 to polish the outsides of stainless steel tea kettles, the bottoms of Dutch ovens and baking sheets, and stovetop baking sheets. Be careful with steel wool—it can scratch smooth surfaces (like a highly polished stainless steel refrigerator door), but I’ve never had a problem with cast iron, stainless steel, or enamel cookware (but if you’re concerned, test it on an inconspicuous area first). For really tough surfaces—oven racks, grills, cooktops, oven interiors—use #2 steel wool, which will easily tackle thick layers of grime like an industrial cleaner.
I find that for most jobs, each pad is a one-time use item. They are not expensive. After cleaning, the wool is usually finished. But if you want to use it more than once, pour out all the water and put it in a cabinet under the sink to prevent rust. However, if rust does occur, just rinse it off as it will not affect the roughness of the wire itself. One last note: these wires are very rough and can cut your hands. Wear dishwashing gloves to protect your fingers!
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