It’s happened to the best of us – you’ve been scouring your pots and pans with a Brillo pad and, all of a sudden, it starts cracking. You can see small pieces of metal peeking out from the sides. Suddenly you’re left wondering what on earth is going on. Don’t panic! Today, we’ll be taking a look at what causes Brillo pads to crack and how you can prevent it in the future.
The Cause: Rusting Metal Wire
Brillo pads are made up of hundreds of tiny metal wires that are designed to remove dried-on food particles from cookware. Unfortunately, these wires are susceptible to rusting when exposed to water or humidity. Over time, this rust weakens the integrity of the metal and causes it to start cracking into pieces. If you notice that your Brillo pad is starting to crack, throw it away immediately as bits of metal can get stuck in your dishes or cause cuts on your hands if handled improperly.
Prevention Tips
Luckily, there are ways you can prevent your Brillo pad from rusting and cracking in the future. To begin with, try not to use them on non-stick cookware as they can scratch or damage its surface over time. Additionally, make sure they stay dry when not in use by keeping them stored in sealed containers away from water or humidity sources like dishwashers or sinks. If possible, avoid using them with hot water as this speeds up their deterioration process even more quickly. Finally, if you have a lot of dishes with stuck-on food residue it might be worth investing in steel wool pads instead which offer better scrubbing power without sacrificing durability!
Conclusion:
No one likes dealing with cracked Brillo pads when trying their best to clean up after dinner! Luckily, now that you know why they crack and how to properly care for them in the future you should feel much more confident next time you reach for one while washing dishes at home. Be sure to take all necessary precautions when using steel-wool type products – like wearing gloves – so that neither your hands nor dishes get damaged in the process! Thanks for joining us today! Until next time!