Cleaning a Cauldron..

Hello,

My friend gave me a small cauldron as a present a few years back. This spring, I want to use it, but it is completely rusted inside. I tried using regular soap and hot water, but the rust turned into a few chunks that came off so I stopped scrubbing to avoid wrecking the sink. Should I resume cleaning it this way or is there a simple and natural product I can use to finish the job?? Thank you!

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One of the easiest ways is to run it through a cycle in a self-cleaning oven.

But if that won't do then go ahead and scrub it out with salt and water. Once all the rust is removed put it in the oven on low heat to dry completely. Once it is dry lightly oil it to prevent new rust from forming. I generally use a light coating of olive oil for this. Store it someplace dry to keep new rust from forming.

Thanks! But I may not be able to use it in an oven. Could I dry it myself?

You can, but drying it with a cloth doesn't do as good a job as heating it on the stove or in the oven.

Set it on top of a burner or open flame until it is so hot that when you flick water on it the water sizzles off. Wait till it cools down just a little before oiling it so it doesn't burn your hand or the oil. I prefer to wipe it on and rub it in with a sturdy paper towel rather than pouring it in and rolling it around which seals it but does not realy get rubbed or soaked good enough into the metal for longevity. This is for the drying only. When scrubbing I think I would use comit for the rust and a green scratcher or an s.o.s. pad but nothing else. Then I would clean it with saltwater, dry and oil.

Thanks for the input. I'll try it out!

You can also keep a packet of silica gel inside to keep it from corroding. It helps mine excellently.