Abrasive Cleaners
General Uses
Wear off dirt, stains, tarnish and hard water
deposits by rubbing; fine particles are less abrasive,
coarse particles are more abrasive.
Cautions- Can scratch and damage surfaces, making
smooth surfaces rough and thus harder to remove dirt
from, in future cleaning.
Mild Abrasive Cleaners
Plastic or Nylon Mesh
Reinforced Sponges
Rottenstone
Whiting
Uses
Scour pots and pans, oven interiors, and drip pans.
Use as directed to remove stains on surfaces as
furniture, countertops, etc.
Cautions- May scratch fine, hard, smooth surfaces if
used too vigorously.
Moderate Abrasive Cleaners
Fine Steel Wool
Medium Grain Pumice
Feldspar
Uses
Use sparingly on pots and pans when needed to remove
burned-on foods and grease; use on burned-on spills on
oven interiors when they will not come off with other
milder ways. Use sparingly to remove stains that will not
come off by milder means, if stain removal is more
important than scratching the surface.
Cautions- Do not use regularly for cleaning; use only
for stubborn spots; will scratch fine, hard, smooth
surfaces.
Strong Abrasive Cleaners
Coarse Steel Wool
Metal Grit Cloths
Metal Mesh Balls
Metal Brushes
Coarse Pumice
Silica Particles (often an ingredient in scouring
powders)
Uses
Scour barbecue grills. Use only when removal of a
stubborn deposit is necessary and damage to surface is
not important.
Cautions- Will quickly scratch hard, surfaces making
them rough, and thus harder to remove dirt from and more
easily stained. Do NOT use regularly for cleaning.