limescale removal

[Tengu]

have been making a lot of jams of late, and so need big pots.

I have a proper jam pan, but I lent it to fathers wife for making greengage jam (turns out shes et most of the fruit raw)

so its the choice of two big saucepans 7 pints and 10 pints.

I tried making jam with about a pound of fruit in the little one.

It boiled over.

So I thought...Ill use the big.

now I found out why the big pan was given away; its full of limescale.

When I clean the kettle, I use vinegar, works a treat.

No luck, a bits flaked off, thats all.

so after a rummage in the coupboard I found a packet of dedicated limescale remover.

Thats didnt shift it.

any idea? its not like Ill need a 10 pint pan much, buts its good just in case.

 

[British Red]

Can't see how vinegar won't shift it if its limescale - its calcium carbonate (chalk) and it dissolves in limescale. May take a few days if its caked but it should work. If it doesn't its not limescale and I would be pretty suspicious of "mystery white deposits" and food!

Red

 

[alpha_centaur]

It could be oxidisation from the metal, one of them gives a white deposit but I can't remember which one.

Be wary

 

[Tengu]

the pan is aluminium, if thats any good to you

 

[Cairodel]

the pan is aluminium, if thats any good to you

That's what the "white" is - not calcium - oxidation....(as opposed to oxidisation )
The only option you have (I believe) is to scour it off..!!!
Wire wool and elbow grease...uppy_dog

 

[AJB]

Before you start grinding it off, can I suggest CIF (was JIFF) bathroom cleaner! I use it on my SS pans and it shifts just about anything - I was given the time from a friend who worked in McDonalds as a student - they use it for cleaning all their metal surfaces and tools.

Might be worth a try

AJB

 

[ANDYRAF]

If it is aluminium check all product labels first for caustic soda, caustic loves aluminium and eats it really quickly leaving you with just a stain.
Just a cautionary note.

Andy

 

[AJB]

What he said

 

[fishfish]

the ideal remedy would be to cook up some rhubarb! that cleans ali up a treat!

next best thing is good old fashioned brillo pad , cant beat it really! should take no lanfer than 20 minutes or so.
by the way in my extensive experience cillit bang cant be beaten on limescale!