Spoon Set Classic

As explained above under Products and Quality explained, 100% silicone surfaces tend to develop a thin film over time. These are cooking or cleaning residues that settle, especially when the parts lie unused for a longer time. This phenomenon is well known and common with silicone material; it is not because the silicone itself “bleeds” or breaks down. Kochblume silicone contains no substances whatsoever that could leak out (no oil, no plasticisers); the coating comes from outside (fats from food, washing-up liquid residue, limescale from the water, etc.). The reason you often only notice it after some time is that a fresh grease film can be thin and invisible, but builds up, for example, during storage in the drawer and then feels sticky. This can happen faster, by the way, if you prepare very oily dishes or use too little washing-up liquid when cleaning (then slight grease traces remain). But don’t worry, you can get your silicone helpers clean again!

Silicone itself is resistant to staining, but strong colour pigments can stick. If you have used curry with turmeric on a light utensil, for example, it can turn yellowish. These discolourations are purely superficial and do not impair the product. There are a few tricks to remove them:

• Sun: Place the silicone in direct sunlight for a few hours. UV rays bleach out organic dyes (such as curcumin, the yellow from turmeric) – often little is visible afterwards.
• Vinegar or lemon juice: Wipe the affected areas with a little diluted vinegar essence. Citric acid can also dissolve colour stains. Then rinse well.
• Baking soda paste Mix a paste from baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) and a little water and apply it to the discolouration. Leave it to work and then rinse off. Bicarbonate of soda binds dyes to some extent.

In most cases, one of these approaches helps. It is important not to exceed the heat limit – some think boiling out would help, but heating above 100 °C tends not to achieve anything and stresses the silicone unnecessarily. It is better to bleach gently as described. And even if a silicone item should retain a slight colour shadow, that is not a quality defect, but normal behaviour in the absence of a coating. You can continue to use it without restriction.

My Kochblume lid has become slightly yellowish after some time – what should I do?
If an originally coloured silicone lid develops a yellow tinge after months or years, it is usually due to oil and grease residues from the air. In a busy kitchen (frying, deep-frying, etc.), invisible grease droplets collect in the air and settle on surfaces – you may know this from upper kitchen cabinets that feel slightly sticky. Silicone surfaces are no exception. Especially if the lid often sits on the stove but is not always actively used, air circulation can deposit grease and slightly change the material’s appearance. A thorough cleaning helps here (see vinegar method above). In a specific customer case, we checked the product batch and found that there was no general problem series – the yellow tinge was due to environmental influences.

💡 Tip: Also clean silicone accessories that seemed to lie clean in the cupboard every now and then as a precaution. A quick wipe with hot water and washing-up liquid or vinegar prevents thick layers from forming over a long time. This way, for example, your Überkochblume always stays attractive and functional. And store silicone as dust-free as possible, as dust can also combine with grease and intensify the film.

High-quality silicone like ours is odour- and flavour-neutral. It usually does not absorb any flavours from food. For example, you can stir curry with the same silicone spoon today and whip cream tomorrow without the cream tasting of curry. If you do get the impression that a utensil smells of the food: clean it with a little bicarbonate of soda (baking soda); bicarbonate of soda neutralises odours. Sometimes strong spices can leave a slight scent, but this dissipates after the next wash or, at the latest, after dishwasher cleaning. It is important to dry the parts thoroughly after washing, as damp environments encourage odour development (e.g. when water stands for a while). Overall, silicone performs much better here than wood or plastic, for example.

Some users notice a sticky coating on silicone after a longer time. This is not a material defect, but is caused by cooking or cleaning residues that can deposit on the surface during use. Especially with 100% silicone without a coating, this is typical of the material – the same phenomenon is known from high-quality silicone baking moulds, which can act like “grease sponges”. After washing they appear clean, but during storage a grease film from earlier baking emerges again. In our case this means: our products do not release any components such as plasticisers (because none are contained), but what you feel are the finest grease or soap residues from previous use. Especially when the kitchen helpers are rarely used or lie in the drawer for a long time, such a greasy film can form. This is unsightly, but can be remedied.

💡 Tip:
A vinegar-essence solution has proven effective for cleaning sticky silicone surfaces. Place the silicone product in a mixture of vinegar essence and water (e.g. 1 part 25% vinegar essence to 3–4 parts water) and let it work for a few minutes. Then rinse thoroughly with clear water and let it dry well. Alternatively, you can also wipe the silicone with the solution. This natural method reliably removes grease residues and the product feels like new again. Carry out this cleaning occasionally – especially for large parts such as lids – then your silicone helpers stay hygienically clean and ready for immediate use.

❗ Note:
Do not use abrasive cleaners or hard brushes on silicone to remove the film – this is usually not necessary at all (vinegar is enough) and could roughen the surface. Should the coating be very stubborn, you can resort to special plastic cleaners or a mix of baking soda and water if needed. But normally this is not necessary.

Our silicone items are very easy to care for. They are dishwasher-safe, but can also simply be cleaned by hand with warm water and a little washing-up liquid. As a rule, nothing sticks: “No sticking, no discolouring” – the material is hygienic and easy to clean. Note that sharp objects (knives, etc.) could mechanically affect the silicone – so do not cut directly on a silicone mat, for example, to avoid cuts. Otherwise you need no special treatment. 💡 Tip: If you let silicone items air-dry after washing, you can then rinse them briefly with clear water – this removes any limescale spots and the parts stay nice and attractive.

When normal washing-up liquid is no longer enough, there are a few tried-and-tested methods:

• Vinegar-essence bath: (As recommended above) Soak the silicone for a few minutes in vinegar water. This dissolves grease effectively.
• Baking soda/detergent: What dissolves grease in the kitchen helps here too. A paste of baking soda and water rubbed onto the silicone, left to work and rinsed off, can work wonders.

❗ Caution: Do not use solvents such as acetone or petrol! These could attack the silicone. Stick to food-safe cleaners.