My Mom’s Stainless Steel Pots and Pans Are Over 30 Years Old—Here’s What She Uses to Keep Them Looking New

All the cleaning products are under $20.

Real Simple / Daisy Rodriguez

Have you ever looked at a pan and said, “Wow, you look great for your age?” Especially when said pan is a stainless steel one your mother bought before you were born. Firstly, yes, my mother has cookware and kitchen tools that are 32 years old that have traveled with her through every single move and across gas, electric, and induction cooktops. Secondly, yes, they’re fully functional and look new—absolutely zero stains or dullness.

But it isn’t magic that keeps them looking practically new. It’s just a mix of unassuming cleaning products that are also easy to find on Amazon now. (Since, you know, Amazon Prime shipping didn’t exist in the ‘90s.) And while her biggest tip is to just wash your stainless steel cookware right after you’ve used it—while the mess is still hot and easy to lift—there are ways to get stains and stuck-on foods off days later. From cute but effective dish scrubbers to a cleaning powder I would have never heard of if not for her, here are the cleaning secrets that help my mom keep three-decades-old stainless steel cookware shiny and stain-free. (Note: Some products will be close substitutes.)

Must-Have Cleaning and Cooking Tools for Stainless Steel Cookware at Amazon

Premium Sodium Percarbonate

Amazon

$18

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I once attempted to make multigrain rice in my mom’s stainless steel pressure cooker and utterly failed. The rice was not only burnt enough to resemble bits of charcoal, but what should be delicate sticky rice was fully blackened and stuck onto the bottom of the pot. I thought a long soak in super hot water would lift up the evidence of my failure, but alas, it did not. After a quick FaceTime with my mom, she told me to pour in a few tablespoons of this Premium Sodium Percarbonate into some water and put the pot to a boil. Just a few minutes later (and after letting it cool down) I gave it a light scrub and the shiny stainless steel was back. You would never think anything had ever been stuck on the bottom of it.

King Kleen Stainless Steel Cookware Cleaner and Copper Cleaner

Amazon

$10

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Keeping stainless steel clean is one thing, keeping it shiny is another. “Just put some on a wet rag or sponge, let the powder get a little thick, and scrub!” my mom shares. She still has the Steel Glo version, but it’s now been rebranded as King Kleen Steel Cookware Cleaner. While it is technically a cleaner, my mom prefers to use more for creating a glow on her stainless steel and lifting any slight discoloration from use. They look so new and unused (meanwhile, she uses them almost every day) that when she hosts friends for dinner, they’ll all spend a few minutes ooh-ing and awe-ing over the pristine shine.

Gorilla Grip Stainless Steel Heat Resistant BBQ Kitchen Tongs

Amazon

$15

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Cleaning and scrubbing are essential for getting rid of food messes, but what you use to cook is just as important. Stainless steel pans do not come cheap, and my mom’s goal is to keep scratches to an absolute minimum. To prevent any unwanted marks, she’ll always use extra-long wooden chopsticks or silicone-tip utensils like these tongs. These Gorilla Grip ones are available in six colors, ranging from a classic black to punchier colors like mint, and come in a set of two lengths. The silicone-covered lock, grip, and head are heat resistant up to 484 degrees Fahrenheit, making it perfect for when your pan is extra hot.

Fissler Original-Profi Collection Stainless Steel Frying Pan, 9.5″

Amazon

$180

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If you’re wondering what pans are lasting my mom through three decades, they’re ones from the German brand Fissler. While the exact models she owns are no longer available, since they were purchased in the ‘90s, the brand has made upgrades in design and technology for a new and improved line of stainless steel pots, pans, and pressure cookers. This stainless steel frying pan is the newer design of her favorite go-to pan for cooking Korean pancakes, cutlets, searing steaks, and more. It offers the most even heat distribution and is heavy and sturdy. Though this particular model (and others) are dishwasher safe, she always washes everything by hand.

Stainless steel pots and pans might feel high maintenance and expensive, but there are affordable ways to make them last to get the most bang for your buck. You can find more of my mom’s favorite cleaning and cooking tools that help keep her 32-year-old collection shiny as new.

Skrubba New European Scrubby Non-Scratching Scouring Pad

Amazon

$14

Buy on Amazon

Durable Dish Scrubber

Amazon

$17

Buy on Amazon

Lane Linen Kitchen Towels Set

Amazon

$18

Buy on Amazon

Scotch-Brite Stainless Steel Scrubber

Amazon

$3

Buy on Amazon

Fissler Vitavit Premium Pressure Cooker with Steamer Insert

Amazon

$320

Buy on Amazon

Lenox Butterfly Meadow Spatulas

Amazon

$11

Buy on Amazon

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