Wire mesh is not always the easiest part to clean after sifting through materials. It comes with many grooves and anything that you would want to clean off of the wire mesh can easily be caught in the nooks and crannies. But there are some techniques that can be used to make it easier to clean a wire mesh.
Soak The Wire Mesh Immediately
Soak your wire mesh as soon as you are done using it. Do not allow the strainer to dry while it is still dirty. Place the strainer in a pot with hot water. Adding vinegar or baking soda to the pot will also help clean the wire mesh. After soaking the wire mesh, you should rinse it until you have dislodged all of the particles that can be freely washed off of the wire mesh. Sometimes, it is necessary to wash it, allow it to dry, and then wash it again.
Get The Right Tools For The Job
There may be some particles that are still lodged in place even after soaking and rinsing. You will need to use one of these tools:
- A toothbrush
- A toothpick
- A wire brush
- A vegetable brush
Use any one of these tools to reach the nooks and crannies that would be difficult to reach with a rag or paper towel. Fill a bowl with washing water. Scrub the wire mesh and frequently dip it in the washing water in order to remove particles. Regularly change the water when it becomes too dirty. Try running the wire mesh underneath a faucet while scrubbing it with one of these tools until you achieve the results that you want.
Boil The Wire Mesh In Plain Water Before Scrubbing It
Another option is to hold the wire mesh over a flame in order to burn off the particles. Then, they will be easier to brush off. This is easy to do if you have a gas stove. Another option is to place the wire mesh in boiling water. Do not use any cleaning agents when boiling a wire mesh because the chemicals may react unexpectedly to being heated. It is also possible that the heated cleaning chemicals will damage the pot. Eventually, all of the particles will be separated and you can remove the wire mesh and rinse it off before drying. By having all of these methods at your disposal, there is no reason to settle for a dirty wire mesh.
