Yes, maybe is time to throw away the old thing, but it is still working so well and I hate to buy something inferior in quality from China. So, I'd like to give a shot at cleaning it well before I get rid of it. Any suggestions that I should try?
By araucano
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
To clean my flour sifter, I submerge it completely in hot water and detergent, soak for about 15 minutes, then scrub thoroghly, using an old toothbrush on the screen bottom and in the crevices. Rinse well with hot water, and then I dry it with my hairdryer set on high. I leave it out in the dish rack overnight to make sure it is totally dry. The sifter I have was my mother's, and I remember using it as a child. I am now in my 60's. Hope this helps.
Thank you very much! Very helpful! Merry Christmas!
I soaked mine then rinsed it good in hot water and sent it thru the dish washer and like new.
I would give it a tap from the sides with my open hand. Then poke at it with kitchen scrub brush if I have one, or a stiff clean paint brush [not artist brush] if I have one. Or scrub lightly with a plastic dish scrubber [make sure all or any of above are completely dry. Then I would immerse screen part in cold water for up to an hour. Run cold water through it with some force. Repeat as necessary. If there are only a few clogged "pores", poke at them with a pointed tooth pick or thin wire if you have one. Whatever needs cleaning should only be some form of starch and cold water will eventually soften it enough to be be sprayed out.
After a good soaking you might also give it a bang on the counter [bottom side down] to pop out those lingering little starch plugs. After its clean and dry, just make sure you shake and tap it clean when dry after each use, and try not to wet it at all. Even if it takes you several hours going back and forth to it, it is worth it if it lasts a few more years. Think how much it would take you to earn the money for a good one, including the taxes on the money. I always ask myself how much a good new one would cost, add another 1/3 for taxes, divide it by my average wage, and that's how many hours it would cost to buy a new one. Usually better to use just my elbow grease funds.
I have many nice things I've bought from garage or estate sales for almost nothing, if I see I can bring them back to good operating order and condition. I once cleaned a very good quality strainer that had grease all over it by soaking in hot water with soap and ammonia. It came shiny clean.
I agree about the cheap sieves, etc. They rust within weeks.
Try a water pick. It worked on my sifter. it breaks up the hard particles, It may take a while but it worked for me.
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
