On 22 Jan 2011 16:15:48 GMT, notbob > wrote:

>On 2011-01-22, J. Clarke > wrote:
>
>> You'll also see it on motorcycle exhausts.
>>
>> There's some stuff called "Blue Job" that you can get at some motorcycle
>> shops that is supposed to take it off without scratching but it still
>> takes some scrubbing.
>
>Yes, but m/c exhausts are chromed, not polished.
>
>Using the right abrasive scrubby, you can scrub all day on chrome and
>it won't scratch. Polished SS will. I used to polish all the burnt
>on oil and boot rubber off my HD pipes by using Simple Green and 00000
>grade steel wool on med hot pipe. I don't recall, exactly, if it removed the
>bluing, but I think it did.
>
>That Blue Job stuff may work if one uses a non-scratching scrubby.
>Have you tried? As for general cleaning of polished SS, jes spray
>with oven cleaner and rinse off.

Oven cleaner will damage stainless steel, it'll cause pitting that
won't be immediately noticed. SS is an alloy of several metals of
which cookware is not even close to the highest grades. Pitting of ss
occurs like dental caries, first a tiny/microscopic surface scar is
produced, it will collect salts/acids from cooking, and errode through
electrolytic action, and deepen and expand internally... within a
relatively short time (a few months) you'll begin to notice acne, that
will continue to expand into pock marks and craters. Stainless steel
in no way means it's impervious... even the highest marine grades
corrode.

With shiny ss the discoloration can be removed by buffing with
jeweler's rouge... may need to buff the entire pot so the finish is
equal all over. First try by hand with a soft cloth, if not there are
small cotton buffing wheels that can be used with a cordless drill
(experiment on a crappy pot first). With satin finish and brushed
finish ss unless you're a skilled metal worker you're pretty much SOL.

All stainless steel cookware will eventually discolor regardless how
carefully used... the only way to avoid discoloration is not to use it
for cooking, however even salad dressings and marinades will stain
stainless steel.