Cleaning guru claims 10p veg is secret to sparkling cookware

We’ve all spent countless hours by the kitchen sink scrubbing our oven trays to scrape away pesky grease and grime that won’t budge.

But one home cleaning expert has shared an ingenious way of removing rust from tins in half the time, using a potato.

Home cleaning Instagram page ‘honestthomee’ claims the humble spud can clean used trays better than a sponge.

In a video shared online, the influencer soaks her grime-ridden tray in boiling water before grabbing a chopped potato, which she covers in salt.

She then rubs the salted potato all over the tray before adding another layer of salt onto the tray and washing it clean.

After being submerged in water, the tray appears to be restored to its sparkly state and ready to be reused.

Why does a potato work so well?

This simple trick works because potatoes are high in oxalic acid, which is sometimes sold in its pure form as a rust remover.

When this comes into contact with rust, it creates a substance called iron oxalate, which can easily be washed away with water and soap.

Honestthomee said: “The reveal is finally here!  Who knew a simple potato could clean better than a sponge?

“I stopped scrubbing for hours and tried this trick instead. The result is honestly shocking!”

Potatoes make excellent natural scrubbers, particularly for cleaning stubborn stains on surfaces like cutting boards and pans.

Cut a potato in half, sprinkle some salt or baking soda on the cut side, and scrub away.

The potato’s texture, combined with the abrasiveness of the salt or baking soda, helps lift grime without damaging surfaces.

What’s your best cleaning hack? Let us know in the comments