9 Things You Can Clean With Cream of Tartar

Reviewed by Rhea Mehta

Cream of tartar is much more than an obscure baking ingredient—it's the perfect cleaning helper. Cream of tartar, or potassium hydrogen tartate, is a byproduct of making wine. When mixed with an acid, it's a particularly good stain remover or grime-be-gone solution. It can be mixed with lemon juice, vinegar, and water to clean a multitude of things, from dirty laundry to drains. Keep reading to see what you can clean with cream of tartar.

Stainless Steel Pans

Stainless steel pans are kitchen powerhouses like nothing else, but they can take the brunt of cooking grime and buildup. Cream of tartar can remove this buildup with the help of a little hot water. To clean your stainless steel pans, sprinkle cream of tartar on the surface of the stained pan, then cover with an inch or so of hot water. Let the combo sit for ten minutes before scrubbing at the pan with a sponge, rinsing and drying.

Kitchen Appliances

Cream of tartar can be helper elsewhere in the kitchen too. Use it to remove grime, scuffs, and dings from the surfaces of your appliances by mixing a quarter cup of cream of tartar with a tablespoon of water. Gently apply the mixture to the affected area of the appliance in circular polishing motions, then wipe it away with a clean cloth.

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Grout

Grout can get stained and discolored over time, and cream of tartar can help freshen it back up. Combine two parts cream of tartar to one part white vinegar to form a thick paste. Use an old toothbrush to scrub the paste onto the dirty grout, and let it sit for 10 minutes before wiping it away.

Clothing

Cream of tartar can be used in many ways with clothing. It can serve as a bleach replacement and remove ink stains from shirts or pants by mixing cream of tartar with lemon juice, dabbing it onto the stain and letting it sit for three hours. Cream of tartar can also be combined with glycerin to create a stain-remover.

It can also be combined with warm water (use a teaspoon of cream of tartar for every quart of water) to act as a pre-soak for extra-soiled clothing or laundry that needs to be whitened.

Bathroom Surfaces

Does your bathroom sink or tub need a little TLC? Try some cream of tartar! Mix equal parts cream of tartar with white vinegar for a heavy-duty cleaning paste. Apply onto your bathroom surfaces with a scrub brush or heavy-duty sponge, then wipe off with a clean, damp cloth.

Copper and Brass

A mixture of two parts cream of tartar to one part vinegar can also be used to clean more particular surfaces like copper and brass. Apply the paste with an old toothbrush, using gentle scrubbing motions to reach any nooks and crannies.

To remove the mixture, rinse it underneath warm water or wipe it away with a clean and damp cloth. Use a microfiber cloth to dry your copper or brass item, taking care not to leave excess liquid on it, as moisture can leave water marks.

Coffee Maker

Even the most well-built of coffee pots needs some maintenance every once in a while. And you can provide with the help of some cream of tartar. Fill the coffee maker with water and two to three teaspoons of cream of tartar, depending on the size of your machine.

Run it with this mixture, and let it sit in the pot for 10 minutes once the brew cycle has finished. Pour out the cream of tartar water and scrub away any residue inside the pot. Run the pot with a few more cycles of clean water to rid it of any residue before making coffee again.

Fireplaces

Remove soot and ash stains from your fireplace with the help of cream of tartar. Combine two parts cream of tartar with one part water to make a paste. Spread the paste over the dirtied area of your fireplace and let it sit for 10 minutes before wiping away with a clean, damp cloth.

Drains

Considering all the cleaning and rinsing that happens in sinks, it's no surprise that sink drains need to be cleaned too. Combine a quarter cup of baking soda and salt with a tablespoon of cream of tartar for an easy drain cleaning solution. Pour the mixture into the drain, followed by two cups of hot water. Let it sit for an hour before rinsing with tap water from your sink faucet.

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