Let your pans cool a bit before washing them. Chalky white spots are a common problem when it comes to stainless steel. They're often caused by hard water, which is tap water with calcium dissolved in it.
Sometimes, gently cleaning the area with a mild detergent and a soft cloth can be enough to remove the spots. Most of the time, however, the finish will need to be stripped from the substrate, which may involve blasting, grinding, or sanding to completely remove all residual coating.
Removing the buildup is fairly easy. Let the pots/pans soak with vinegar in them. The acidic nature of the vinegar will help break down the scaling and loosen it to be wiped out with general ease. If it's thinker or harder to remove yet, just let it set longer or even overnight.
Most likely, what you are seeing are ``hard water'' deposits. Calcium carbonate (calcite) is a natural constituent of many water sources. It is literally dissolved rock. When water evaporates, in this case when your dishes dry, the calcium is left behind and often appears as spots.
Problem: Chalky White Spots
Solution: The unsightly spots on a gleaming pan are typically caused by a buildup of the calcium found in water. Remove them by boiling a solution of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water. Let it cool completely, then wash and dry the pan as usual.
Pour 3% hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and spray the outside of your pots, where the mold is located. Let it sit for a few minutes. You will notice hydrogen peroxide sizzling as it's interacting with the mold. Wash the outside of the pots with water to physically remove as much of the mold as you can.
What causes the white residue in my pots and cookware or spots on my glassware? The white residue or spots on your glassware are typically caused by minerals like calcium and magnesium found naturally in water. These minerals are common in what's known as “hard” water.
Vinegar is highly acidic and should (almost) never be used on stainless steel because it can begin to eat through the protective coating over time. While it may not be evident at first, you will gradually start to dull the surface as the acid eats its way through the exterior coating and will make an uneven finish.
Calcium deposits under your skin look like firm white or yellow bumps. The bumps may be different sizes and sometimes show up in clusters. At first, you may notice redness or itching on your skin. But most people don't have any symptoms before calcium deposits appear.
Our go-to solutions for cleaning stainless steel pots and pans are bicarbonate of soda and lemon. For those blue-ish rainbow stains that sometimes occur inside a pan, we've found vinegar works best, and for a final polish, we like the Mauviel Inobrill Stainless Steel Cleaner.
White vinegar is a natural solution that can be utilized to dissolve calcium buildup. Sitting overnight, you will be able to remove lime buildup from the drain while avoiding the harsh chemicals in traditional drain cleaners. Avoid putting any store-bought chemicals down the drain.
Chris Willatt, owner of Alpine Maids, concurs: "Hard water contains high levels of minerals, mainly magnesium and calcium. The residue forms as the water in the dishwasher dries on the dishes. The minerals remain on the surface of the dishes, leaving behind a white, sometimes chalky residue."
The zinc hydroxide corrosion product will dissolve readily in weak acidic solutions. Ordinary household white vinegar has been found very effective and environmentally benign. Commercial products like CLR™, widely advertised for scale and stain removal, can also be effective.
White rust is a white, chalky substance that can form on the surface of zinc materials, like galvanized steel. White rust can form when zinc is exposed to hydrogen and oxygen. This combination creates a zinc hydroxide, as opposed to the iron oxide which is common form of rust.
I typically remove such marks by heating the pan with water and a tablespoon or two of white vinegar, letting it cool once it reaches boiling, and then scrubbing with soap and water. Elbow grease shouldn't be needed if whatever acid or chemical you use runs its course.
If you want to rid your plants or pots of calcium buildup, use a simple acid like lemon juice or vinegar to dissolve the calcium salts. We recommend mixing 1 parts lemon juice to 3 parts water (a 25% solution) OR 1 parts vinegar to 4 parts water (a 20% solution).
This is probably salt residue caused by an excess of soluble salts in the soil. If your plants do not have proper drainage, or if you are watering them too lightly and too frequently, a buildup of salts can occur. Soluble salts can also be found in fertilizers or in excessively hard water.
Baking soda's mild abrasiveness helps lift the stain. For mineral buildup or tough stains, create a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water. Heat the solution in the pan until it boils, then remove from heat and let it cool. Scrub the stain with a soft brush or cloth.
Make a bleach solution to kill mold. Mix one cup of bleach in a gallon of water. Apply it to the surface but don't rinse it off. Mix a 50/50 solution of ammonia and water.
Turns out, the clay material that these pots are made from is porous and actually breathes. It allows the natural salts and minerals from our water, to seep through to the outside causing a white powdery build up on the outsides of the pot. This residue is not harmful and it can easily be removed. Yay!