Copyright Newsweek
Recipe writer and influencer Grace Elkus, 33, has recently shared a kitchen hack that has amazed home cooks. After noticing her dinner plates looked scratched, Elkus realized something—they aren’t scratches at all, and there is a way to remove them. In a video that’s racked up more than 690,000 views on Instagram, Elkus held up a plate covered in what appeared to be scratches and explained that they’re actually utensil marks, not permanent damage. “The grey lines are utensil marks—not scratches—which means they’re not permanent,” Elkus wrote in her caption on Instagram. “This is likely old news to a lot of you, but in case this is the nudge you need.” In the video, she showed everyone how to remove the marks. “Run the dish under water, sprinkle on Bar Keepers Friend (or baking powder if you prefer, though it may take an extra round or two), scrub with a damp cloth, then rinse and wipe dry. I also popped the plates in the dishwasher afterwards just to be sure any residue was gone,” Elkus explained. The result? A like-new plate in minutes. The Science Behind the Hack Elkus explained that the marks often seen on white or light-colored dishes are metal deposits left behind by silverware, not scratches in the glaze. “Although they look like permanent scratches, the gray or black marks on your light-colored dishes are often metal deposits left behind from silverware,” she told Newsweek. Powdered cleaner Bar Keepers Friend contains oxalic acid, a compound that also occurs naturally in some fruits and vegetables. This helps remove the marks by breaking down the layer of metal so it can be easily wiped away with a cloth. Elkus first learned about the trick years ago after seeing another creator share it on Instagram. Since then, she’s spotted it on popular food and lifestyle websites. But it wasn’t until recently that she decided to try it herself. A Viral Moment Elkus said she wanted to share the tip because she knew she wasn’t the only one frustrated by marked-up dishes. “After seeing firsthand how well it worked, and how easy it was to do, I knew I wanted to share,” she said. “I figured I wasn’t the only one frustrated with marked-up plates.” As the video gained more attention, people were amazed by how easy the hack was. “Wait this is groundbreaking,” said one commenter. While another wrote: “My mind is blown.” While the feedback has been largely positive, Elkus also added a few clarifications to her post. “For example, that it won’t permanently remove the marks,” she said. She also warned that safety measures, such as wearing gloves, is very important when trying out the hack.
