Clean Pans With Dryer Sheets: A Quick, Easy Method

Burnt pans are a common problem, but a surprising solution may be sitting in your laundry room: dryer sheets. This hack, which went viral on TikTok, promises to clean your burnt pans with minimal scrubbing. The method involves filling the pan with warm water, adding a dryer sheet, and letting it soak for 15 minutes to overnight. The conditioning properties of the dryer sheet seem to be key to breaking down the burnt gunk, though some users have reported needing to do some light scrubbing or use additional tools like a butter knife. So, if you're tired of scrubbing away at burnt pans, give this laundry staple a try!

The right way to fill a pan with water

Filling a pan with water is a delicate process that, if done incorrectly, can ruin your cookware. Here is the right way to do it:

First, let the pan cool down gradually. Placing a hot pan under running water or in a sink of water causes thermal shock, which can make your pan warp, crack, chip, or shatter. Even a small amount of water can cause thermal shock, so if you need to make space, place the hot pan on a trivet or another heat-proof surface. If you're using a granite countertop, be sure to wipe it down first to ensure the pan doesn't sit in a puddle of water.

Once the pan has cooled to room temperature, you can fill it with water. If your pan is made of cast iron, avoid using soap, as this will remove the oil and seasoning. Instead, use a stiff brush to scrub the pan with hot water, then towel dry it immediately to prevent rusting. For non-stick pans, use a liquid dishwashing detergent and a non-abrasive sponge or soft-bristle brush. Soak the pan in warm, soapy water for a few minutes before cleaning it with a sponge. If there are tough, burnt-on bits, you can use a stainless steel cleaner or a wooden spoon to loosen them. You can also try a dryer sheet hack by placing a dryer sheet and warm water in the pan and letting it soak for 15 minutes to overnight, depending on how burnt the pan is.

After washing your pan, always dry it with a soft cloth or towel to prevent water spots and rusting. Properly filling and cleaning your pan will help maintain its condition and ensure even cooking.

How much dish soap to add

The amount of dish soap to add when cleaning the outside of a pan with a dryer sheet depends on the size of the pan and the severity of the burn. For a single pan, a couple of drops of liquid dish soap should be enough. If you are dealing with a large pan or a particularly stubborn burn, you can increase the amount of dish soap accordingly, but be careful not to use too much, as this can create a soapy mess.

After adding the dish soap, place a dryer sheet in the pan and pour in enough hot water to cover the charred or burnt areas. Let the pan soak for at least 15 minutes, or overnight for tougher jobs. After soaking, remove the dryer sheet, pour out the water, and scrub the pan with a sponge or cloth. Finally, wash the pan with soap and water as you normally would.

How long to soak the pan

The length of time you should soak your pan with a dryer sheet depends on how burnt your pan is. If the burnt bits are not too intense, you can soak your pan for as little as 15 to 20 minutes. However, for tougher jobs, you should leave the pan to soak with the dryer sheet overnight.

After soaking, you can discard the dryer sheet and pour out the water. If there are still burnt bits stuck to the pan, you can use a sponge and some dish soap to scrub them off.

It is important to note that while this hack can be useful for removing burnt bits from pans, it may not always work perfectly, and you may need to use additional cleaning methods to fully clean your pan.

How to clean the pan after soaking

To clean the outside of a pan with a dryer sheet, add a few drops of dish soap along with some hot water to the pan. Submerge a dryer sheet in the water and let it sit for an hour. For more stubborn stains, you can let it soak overnight. After the soaking period, remove and discard the dryer sheet and rinse out the pan using a scouring pad and dish soap.

Boiling Water Method

For scorched, blackened stainless steel pans and burnt-on foods, fill your pan with water and bring it to a boil for 5-7 minutes. The steam will help loosen any food stuck to the sides of the pan. After the food has loosened, pour out the hot water and wipe away any remaining food with the scrubby part of a sponge. If you're using a glass or metal baking dish, add boiling water and let it sit for several minutes before using the scrubby side of a sponge to wipe away any residue.

Baking Soda, Vinegar, and Lemon Juice

Baking soda, distilled white vinegar, and fresh lemon juice are a powerful combination for cleaning pots and pans. Add a dash of baking soda or vinegar to a pan of boiling water to help clean scorched saucepans. You can also soak pots, baking dishes, or cookie sheets in hot to boiling water with baking soda and fresh lemon juice for an accelerated clean. To remove tough stains from the bottom and sides of stainless steel cookware, rub half a lemon around the surface, then rinse and let it air dry. Finally, a squirt of vinegar followed by a rinse of water will get rid of any residual odours.

Bar Keepers Friend

Bar Keepers Friend is a household cleaning product that can be used on various surfaces like stainless steel and ceramic. To use it, run your dirty pan under hot water and drain it. Then, wearing rubber gloves, make a paste by rubbing a few tablespoons of Bar Keepers together with the residual water in your pan. Spread the paste over the burnt debris and let it sit for about a minute before rinsing the pan thoroughly with hot water. Use a sponge, brush, or scouring pad to scrub away any remaining bits.

Aluminium Foil and Baking Soda

Rinse your dirty pot in hot water and drain it. Then, sprinkle generously with 2 tablespoons of baking soda and add a few teaspoons of hot water to form a paste. Crumple up a golf ball-sized piece of aluminium foil and begin scrubbing the pan until all the burnt debris lifts. Rinse the pan with hot, soapy water to finish cleaning.

Dishwasher Tablet

Cover the bottom of the pan with a small amount of water and warm it on low heat. Remove the pan from the heat and scrape a dishwasher tablet across the burnt-on bits. Rinse and wash the pan with warm soapy water.

What to do if there are still burnt bits left

If there are still burnt bits left on your pan after using a dryer sheet, there are several alternative methods you can try.

Firstly, you could try using a butter knife to gently dislodge the burnt bits. If this doesn't work, you could try using a chain mail scrubber or steel wool to scrub the pan.

Alternatively, you could try one of the following methods:

• Soak the pan in hot water with baking soda and liquid dish soap, then scrub with a scourer.
• Soak the pan in hot water with citric acid and dishwashing liquid, then scrub with a scourer.
• Soak the pan in hot water with cream of tartar, then scrub.
• Soak the pan in hot water with dishwasher detergent, then scrub.
• Soak the pan in hot water with Oxi-Clean, then scrub.
• Soak the pan in hot water with denture tablets, then scrub.
• Soak the pan in hot water with Easy-Off Oven Cleaner, then scrub.
• Soak the pan in hot water with liquid Clorox/bleach, then scrub.
• Soak the pan in Biokleen's Soy Cream Cleanser, then scrub.
• Cover the bottom of the pan with green dishwashing soap, cover with plastic wrap, and leave overnight. In the morning, wipe out the residue, flush with water, dry, and oil the pan.

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