We bought our first Le Creuset cookware yesterday (~40% off the outlet price, so almost reasonable) and, although it was probably a waste of money, we agreed to add the $26 bottle of cleaner. In reading the directions, it says it’s for cleaning cast iron and stainless steel. I assume there’s either laziness or poor translation at work, and I’m interpreting the “cast iron” in this context as “enamel.” Why would it matter what material is on the inside? Or maybe it’s for enamel and also for cast iron? I saw they also make standard iron skillets. But why stainless steel? Why would I want a special cleaner for stainless steel? Do they mean carbon steel? I never wash my blue carbon steel fry pan since I use that every morning, but if they recommend it for cast iron, it would presumably be good for washing my big wok-style de Buyer pan without stripping the seasoning. Since we’ve already done paid for this cleaner, I want to wring some value out of it.
This is different stuff, but I must have been tired and having trouble concentrating when I first read it. This clearly says it’s for enameled cast iron. It’s only in the warnings that they drop the “enameled” part (i.e., “ONLY for use with Cast Iron and Stainless Steel cookware”). Rereading, I begin to think maybe this is intended more as a stain remover than a normal cleaner since you’re supposed to use it on a “degreased and dry surface.” I have had regular stainless steel pans that never seemed to take a seasoning (can they even season like cast iron?) without being dirty. Because food stuck so badly, they also often appeared stained unless you really scrubbed. So I guess I can see why you might want something like this. Assuming I’m understanding it correctly now.
Yea okey, from what I understand it’s basically just a cleaner/conditioner optimised for enamel. Why they recommend it for stainless I really don’t know as you clean that with steelwool and soap, and you don’t season stainless so you don’t have to worry about scrubbing that off.
But take my knowledge with a grain of salt, I’m no professional.
Thank you. I think you’re probably right about it being acidic (or maybe alkaline). Many essential oils are caustic depending on the concentration, and I’ll trust you’re right about that being bad for carbon steel. If this stuff is effective on stained enamel, maybe it will rehabilitate our old Lodge some. Fingers crossed.