Kitchen

[beach-mom]

@MariotaMurielle - I agree with @Kachina624. DH gave me a set as a wedding present. My Dutch oven has been well used throughout the years. There was evidence of the chili, stews, soups, etc. I'd made since DH and I were newlyweds. I was always gentle with my cleaning, but about 10 years ago decided I wanted it spotless. I had tried Le Creuset's cleaner, boiling baking soda, etc. So I decided to take it in to a local reputable cookware store where they carried Le Creuset. The SA looked at my pot, smiled and said something like, "This pot has a history. You must be a good cook. Why would you want to erase that?" I decided she was right. My pan is still well used and spends most of its time on a back burner instead of the cabinet !  

[grandma petes]

I use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser....works everytime.👍

[novamc1]

Here's something I'd do if you haven't tried it already.......

A heavy dose of baking soda set in hot water overnight.

I buy Arm & Hammer baking soda in huge bags at Costco and use genereous amounts of it  on tiled shower floors and the stainless kitchen sink.

Use enough to make a paste with a little water added, and it  becomes  a fairly effective (and harmless nonscratching) scrubber for lots of things.

Also am a fan of Mr. Clean Magic Eraser......works in a few seconds on cookware after soaking and scrubbing still sometimes doesn't get it all clean.

You can get a box of them at Costco.  I sometimes cut them up in smaller pieces and they seem to last forever.  Much more effective than the much-heralded "Scrub Daddy" sponges that seem fall apart after a few uses.

[suzyQ3]

Consider it patina and move on. . Seriously, I don't think that it's worth your time and energy. No one is going to see it but you.

[CelticCrafter]

It means it's been loved!

As long as you know it's clean that's all that matters.

[house_cat]

I use BarKeeper's Friend, but you can always try my mom's tried and true trick - cook a pot of tomato sauce. 

It works like magic!

[MariotaMurielle]

here's a follow up on my Le Creuset stain situation.

just out of curiosity I decided try again. I wanted to use what I already had on hand rather buying something.

I used baking soda. it did ok, but not much. it did wonders for my sink, though.

I filled the pot with water and added a few tablespoons of bleach, then just let it sit for 6 hours.

this is the result.

thanks to everyone for the suggestions.

[Nonametoday]

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@MariotaMurielle wrote:

thanks for the suggestions everyone.

@Othereeeen, nothing burned, but I made vegetable beef soup in this pot today so I guess those spots on the bottom were caused by the pieces of meat.

in a couple of my other pots the whole bottom has become light brown.

they're all about 15-20 years old, so maybe that's just what happens over time.

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@MariotaMurielle   Did you put any kind of legumes in it?  I find legumes did that to my Corning Ware.  I can no longer use Corning Ware, iron skilllet or Le Creuset as I have a glass-top range and it is recommended neither of those is used.  However, I did use my Corning Ware once with legumes and it left a similar stain.  I cannot get it out/off.  I have tried everything but Easy Off which I don't use AT ALL.  It is too caustic for my use.

[Nonametoday]

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@Kachina624 wrote:

I think I'd just consider it "distressed" like a fine antique and live with it.

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@Kachina624   Yes, a patina for a fine heirloom and go with it.  I agree.

[depglass]

I don't have stains in mine.  How?  I never brown anything in them.  I brown whatever in a non-stick pan first.  After I've made my meal I soak it in the sink overnight if food is stuck to the sides and bottom. Then it goes into the dishwasher. I also use this method in one of my slow cookers with a metal insert.  Brown the meat in something else and prolong the life of the insert. 

My personal opinion is all of this abrasive powder and steel wool is taking off the surface of the enamel and making future stains harder to remove.