What’s the dusty stuff in my kitchen cabinet’s metal bread bin?
Georgie asked:
I recently bought an old kitchen cabinet (depression era i think). One of the cupboards is a metal box - probably a bread bin (since there is no vents, I’m guessing it’s not a meat safe).
Anyway, the metal interior has this strange dusty residue on it. It kind of looks as if it was once painted, and that the paint has been stripped off leaving a residue that disintegrates into dust when I wipe it.
I recently bought an old kitchen cabinet (depression era i think). One of the cupboards is a metal box - probably a bread bin (since there is no vents, I’m guessing it’s not a meat safe).
Anyway, the metal interior has this strange dusty residue on it. It kind of looks as if it was once painted, and that the paint has been stripped off leaving a residue that disintegrates into dust when I wipe it.
Does anyone know what this might be? I’m guessing it may have been an insulation product, but I don’t know what it would have been made of.
Ideally I’d like to thoroughly brush out the cupboard but I don’t know whether it’s safe to disturb. I’m not planning on storing food in the cupboard, but i am paranoid about what i may inhale when cleaning it.
Question posted courtesy of: Dean
You Ask, We Answer
May 4th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
when I was a little girl my grandma had this thing in her kitchen she called a ‘pie safe’
it had a metal place on the top, to keep the pies safe from rodents!
but… to answer your question… there are so many things that it could be, I would be paranoid too.
i think i would wash it out with warm soapy water instead of brushing, you really don’t want to brush some unknown material out into the air… and tie a hanky over my face cowboy style to keep from inhaling.
good luck!
May 6th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
go get a painters mask at the hardware store there cheap.and i would wash it out with vinegar and water so any old must smell would disappear.i do not think it is insulation i think just what you said alto of people used to paint these things you must have at least couple of coats on there it is the paint coming off just wash it down and you will have a better view sounds to me like an old bakers cub oared as i deal in antiques that’s what it sounds like to me you got a prize possession in your hands take good care of it.like i said wash it down with the vinegar and water at least once a month to control the dust antiques get pretty dusty sometimes.
May 7th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
I had an old hoosier cabinet and what it sounds like to be is that they put a felt type padding that has disintegrated. It is the same type that we have seen in old silverware cabinets that was once green. Anyway that would be my guess. I have seen old foam become a powder form too. I would get a spray bottle and spritz it down with 10 parts water 1 part bleach or you could also use vinegar as a cleaner. Wear a mask to avoid any excess dust. I have a charcoal filtered mask I use when I do anything with dust and fumes, but you can just use one of those that you can pick up at the hardware or pharmacy for what little you will be exposed to.