Boiling potato skins to clean iron/carbon pans?

[Junkbot]

What's the deal with boiling potato skins to clean cast iron/carbon steel pans? Apparently DeBuyer had instructions on prepping a pan for seasoning by boiling potato skins first. Something to do with the starch binding to gunk on the pan? Searching around the internet, there seems to be some merit in using potatoes to clean pans. What's the science behind this?

[Will]

I think it's supposed to help remove the manufacturing grease. I'm not sure it would be helpful for general purpose cleaning, though.

Edited January 12, 2012 by Will (log)

[Kouign Aman]

Why potato peelings specifically instead of 1/4 c rice, tho?

[Junkbot]

So this is only for removing the manufacturing wax? Pity there wasn't a more wide-spread application to this.