Please tell me that everyone else's stainless steel pans are covered with burnt on grease...<hopeful emoticon>

[WalkinginaWonkaWonderland]

...if not, how on earth do you keep them so clean?

Scrub with a wire scrubby thing.

But yes, mine do have bits of black & stuff.

But why on earth are you asking this question at 2:30 on a Saturday morning?

I was thinking the very same thing as I typed OR but needs must, 10pm - 3am is when I can be productive (courtesy of a strong coffee or two...

Clearly my late nights have an adverse effect on my ability to punctuate correctly

lol wonka

Feeling shamed by Califrau's gleaming pans, I just srcubbed on of mine with salt. It worked. Amazing stuff. Wonder why I didn't know about it before.

Nearly 10 years of using mine on an electric hob, and they still looked nearly brand new. Less than 1 year of using them on a gas hob and they are discoloured and stained-looking.

(But nonetheless I'd choose gas over electric, any day.)

Bar-keepers friend. 'Tis a marvel. Though I haven't had any in the kitchen for ages and as a consequence my pans all look crap.

yes, at the bottom. I know I need to get jiggy with the wire wool, but can't be arsed. Will try the salt when I can be bothered.

You lot with your scrubbing!

Right, you need to do this overnight. Big box of cheap as chips biological detergent - I mean the supermarket own brand smells a bit dodgy but never mind stuff.....

Rubber gloves are a must for this and a WOODEN spoon (don't use a silver spoon, it causes pitting). Put some washing powder in a bowl and add some boiling water, mix to a paste - it should foam a bit. Daub this on pans - leave for as long as you can - ideally overnight.

Next morning, fill pans with boiling water - again leave for as long as you can - the house will smell like laundry so best do this and then go out unless you like the smell.

Come home. Rinse out pans. Crap will either be gone or be so soft you can peel it off easily.

Hey presto clean plans, no scrubbing

wmmc, is this for burnt on grease in the pans or at the bottom? Mine is at the bottom. Presumably for stage 2 I have to immerse the pan in a basin of boiling water?

Mine are fairly shiney.

Wok and nonstick coated frying pan and giant multipurpose pan and swished out with hot water and a cloth but no detergent to keep coating on pan. Look clean though not gunky. Wok is dryed then drizzled with oil and heated to keep it seasoned and stop it rusting.

If you mean the outside of the pans yes there is a certain amount of marks.

blueshoes - yes in that case coat the outside - actually just bung it in a washing up bowl with boiling water and biological washing powder and keep changing it until the crap gets soft or disappears.

good idea wmmc - must try it next time my pans look icky!

Oooh, loads of new ideas to try!! (Another gas hob user, so I feel a bit better having seen PrettyCandles post )

Mine are sparkly - they go in the dishwasher!