Comments on: Have You Ever Used Steel Wool for Cleaning?

By: Kels

Kels — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 01:54:22 +0000

Hi there! I love your blog, always gives me a ton of inspiration. I saw this article and wanted to mention something about the stainless steel wool; I found with my experiences and what I heard, that the stainless steel wool ends up ‘scratching’ the surface of which ever item you use it for.. which in turn will cause bacteria to in-bed in the scratches. May be the reason why no one really uses them anymore. The scratches are barely visual but I just thought I would mention this incase your a ‘germ-a-phobe’ like me :) We tend to try and deter clients from using them as well as the cheap ‘scrubbies’ (I use to love these) which are commonly used for bathtubs, counters and sinks. The sad thing is, they are so cheap and do a great job!… but after hearing and noticing how scum and food buildup seemed to got worst in our clients houses, I had to turn to micofiber clothes which are amazing!

By: Colleen

Colleen — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:53:39 +0000

We found some stainless steel wool which we love at our house. Regular steel wool always seemed to go rusty on us, but the stainless steel kind has lasted forever and makes cleaning those crusty pans so easy.

By: stainless steel cleaner

stainless steel cleaner — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:47:37 +0000

i know you should not used steel wool on stainless steel or granite worktops

By: lisafreemanstainedglass

lisafreemanstainedglass — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:21:00 +0000

Wire wool is used in the process of making stained glass – once a panel is made, cement is scrubbed into the crevices of the lead to make it weatherproof and prevent the glass from rattling in the lead framework. I use coarse wire wool all over the lead AND the glass, without scratching the glass at all……
essential bit of kit :)

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:48:26 +0000

This was perfect timing for me because I was trying to clean the glass from our outdoor light fixtures and my hubby had some fine steel wool that got them looking new again! Thanks!

By: Jeannine

Jeannine — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:11:57 +0000

My mom is the exact same way and I always have one of those.

By: Marie

Marie — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 20:36:42 +0000

Kristen – I haven’t had any problems with scratching, as I don’t have to scrub too hard with steel wool. So I’m okay with using them for glass as my Pyrex dishes are fairly hefty. But this is something to consider. Thanks for your feedback.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 03:09:46 +0000

I use steel wool for all sorts of things, from cleaning to crafting. Can’t live without it!

By: Kristen

Kristen — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 02:51:28 +0000

Of course, I wouldn’t use them on glass PANS either. Nor wear glass pants =P

By: Kristen

Kristen — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 02:50:21 +0000

Using steel wool on glass pants is actually not a good idea, as it will scratch (whether you can see it or not) and weaken the glass, increasing the likelihood that it will break. If it does break, it could shatter into tiny shards of glass, as many glass dishes are now not tempered properly or made of quality ingredients. These invisible scratches also harbor bacteria. For cleaning, I keep a large box of baking soda in the kitchen. Make a paste with a little water and baking soda, adding a few drops of liquid dish detergent for really messy pots and pans. This solution will clean everything from wooden cutting boards to glass, stainless, and enamel pots without even having to scrub hard. If you really have a hard time cleaning your pan, just let it sit a while longer; when you come back, it will most likely rub off with no more than a wipe of damp cloth.