I'd suggest
You go up the scale:
-start with those magic eraser pads. They are foamed melamine and , together with a little water they work wonders.
-if they work but there is too much deposit or they only work a little bit, I would try rubbing alcohol. It also cuts scale, especially that nasty combination of magnesium and calcium you sometimes get.
-if that works, but is not strong enough, I would not go to vinegar around aluminum parts, instead try rubbing half a lemon over the stuff. If that works, then carefully (eye protection, skin protection, don't breath it in) use a dilute solution of citric acid.
-if that works, but so slowly you think it will be another 50 years, try "bang!". Walmart has it. Same warnings, but be careful of any exposed metal for too long around it. It will, however remove just about any gunk.
Steel wool is probably not worth the trouble, in my experience. Always seems like I don't get the last of the little particles out and they show up in my epoxy paint job.
Paint is something someone else recently wrote quite a bit about. I don't remember the thread, but they were very thorough...maybe Ken or Robert?
I have seen, but only once myself used, bake on paint jobs to restore washing machine cabinets and dishwasher panels. Holds up well, but means stripping things down to the basics, defatting and then baking. Sort of the old Schwabs 200$ baked enamel car finish. Hmm, why not? Do they still do that in the US?
Epoxy paints are a pain to prepare, everything must be absolutely perfect. But even I, man of 10 thumbs (and all of them ambi-clumsy) have managed some smooth, long wearing, genuinely water and wear proof coatings.
Thanks so much for the groovy pictures, I had never seen that w i d e Maytag logo before. Neat.
ps: Racism and homophobia go hand in hand. I think it is a mind set which resents and hates anyone who is "different". You could have been a white breeder and they probably would have resented you for your perfect teeth, or nice smile or long fingers or whatever...that sort looks for something until they find it. Bummer you have to deal with it. Wish I could pretend Europe is better on that score...
