Stainless steel is popular kitchen hardware and is preferred because of its durability and sleek look. As much as stainless steel sinks are sturdy, they can get unsightly scratches from routine cleaning and other activities.
Fortunately, it’s easy to remove scratches from stainless steel sinks or minimize the tear and wear. Always consider the brush marks on the sink surface from the manufacturing process and rub them in the same direction to avoid worsening the problem.
We are going to explain how to remove scratches from stainless steel sink with suggestions for some of the best products available in the market.
Materials you Need
- Water
- Stainless steel scratch remover compound like Bar keeper’s friend
- Microfiber cloths
- Stainless steel scratch removal kit
- Sandpaper
- Stainless steel sink polish
- Liquid abrasive cleaner
- Liquid dish detergent
Types of Scratches
Stainless steel sink scratches are grouped into two.
- Minor scratches
- Severe scratches
Why do the scratches take place on the sink surface? Mostly it’s from mistakes leading to scratches with time. The mistakes include using;
- Abrasive cleaners
- Wiping your stainless steel sink in the wrong grain direction
- Leaving utensils and other things on the sink surface
- Bleach and chlorine cleaners
- Extremely hard water to clean the sinks
- Highly abrasive cleaning pads
Ways to Remove Minor Scratches from your Stainless Steel Sinks
The biggest challenge is removing the scratch. Minor scratches make the kitchen sinks lose their luster. You can use a scratch remover or stainless steel cleaner to smoothen the fine scratches.
Most people use abrasive pads and commercial removers. In case of deep scratches, use scratch removers which you can find in your local hardware store. Read the user instruction manual carefully to understand how to use it and the amount to apply over your pad.
- Always move in the grain direction and never apply too much pressure. Minor scratches are easy to remove
- Thoroughly clean the stainless steel sink with water and soap
- Dry the sink surface using a cloth
- Spray enough stainless steel polish or liquid cleaner on the microfiber cloth for wiping the sink
- Rub the cleaner and microfiber cloth gently on the minor scratch section back and forth following the grain direction
- Repeat the process three times for effectiveness
- Use a clean damp microfiber cloth to thoroughly polish off your sink
Alternatively,
- If you are using a powdered scratch removal compound, add water to create a paste-like toothpaste
- Apply the scratch removal paste to your microfiber cloth and use it to gently rub the section back and forth along the grain direction until the scratches buff out
- Repeat this at least two times
- Wipe your surface gently using a fresh damp microfiber cloth to eliminate any scratch removal compound residues
Ways to Remove Severe Scratches from your Stainless Steel Sinks
Deeper scratches don’t respond to scratch removal compounds, which means you need a scratch removal kit like Siege stainless steel sink, scratch-B-Gone, or Cookware scratch remover.
The kits contain polishing compounds and abrasive pads. The abrasive pads are available in coarse grits to the finest and remove all imperfections on your stainless steel sink. However, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific kit.
- Read the scratch remover kit instructions and understand them.
- Identify the grain direction of the stainless steel.
- Start with an appropriate grit pad that is recommended for your particular scratch. Banish and rub the scratch in one direction of the grain to avoid unattractive circular marks.
- Use sufficient pressure to remove the scratch without going deeper than needed.
- Change to a smoother, abrasive grit pad as recommended by the manufacturer. Continue buffing while adding water and other compounds to the kit.
- Use a microfiber cloth to wipe off the surface after completing the cleaning process.
- Buff the steel sink to get a clean shine.
Alternatively,
- Use a powder scratch removal compound on the scratch section.
- Use a 400-600 grit pad of sandpaper. Gently rub your cleaning solution into that scratch in one-grain direction to avoid damaging the sink further.
- Buff your scratch out as you switch to finer grit sandpaper block while continuing this buffing process. Add water when necessary.
- Use a microfiber cloth to wipe down your stainless steel sink when finished.
Precautions to Observe
To keep the sink surface looking new, avoid using steel wool or abrasive substances during maintenance and regular cleaning. The steel wool scours the surface and small fibers can break off leading to rust spots.
Protect the stainless steel sink using a rubber dish mat when you are washing cast-iron or heavy pots. Remove your mat when you finish cleaning your pots or washing up to ensure there is no water trapped underneath which can lead to discoloration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Toothpaste Remove Scratches from Stainless Steel?
No. You can use toothpaste to level off or remove scratches from glass surfaces but not stainless steel. Toothpaste is non-abrasive, which means it can gently remove thin scratch layers from glass surfaces like a lens. All you need is a non-gel toothpaste and a lint-free cloth and a damp cloth.
Does WD-40 Remove Scratches from Stainless Steel?
WD 40 is mainly used for cleaning scratches to remove dirt and other substances grounded in the scratches. WD 40 doesn’t remove scratches, so you will need a scratch remover to get the scratches out of your stainless steel.
Does Baking Soda Remove Scratches from Stainless Steel?
No. Baking soda is not used to remove scratches from stainless steel. However, it makes a very gentle abrasive that doesn’t scratch the stainless steel.
First, make a paste by adding enough water to make it sticky. When you finish scrubbing the stainless steel surface, wipe the surface with the baking soda paste before rinsing.
Can you Use Steel Wool on Stainless?
Never use steel wool to clean your stainless steel. Steel wool leaves unsightly scratches which are impossible to eliminate. Besides, its abrasive nature removes your stainless steel finish, making it prone to stains and rust. Steel wool gives your stainless steel a dull finish.
Does Brasso Remove Scratches from Stainless Steel?
No. Brasso is very effective in cleaning stainless steel, copper, brass, aluminum, chrome, and bronze items. The polish has a special formulation that doesn’t scratch metals, including steel.
You can use Brasso to restore the shine and luster on your stainless steel and metal pieces in your home or office.
Brasso can also clean other surfaces like plastics, glass, and CDs when used properly. You only need a small amount for cleaning the items.
Can Bar Keeper’s Friend Remove Scratches from Stainless Steel?
Bar keeper Friend removes or minimizes scratches or their appearance. Apply it to the scratched area of your stainless steel, then rub it in following the grain direction using an abrasive cloth.
You can also use a 3M Maroon pad. The product is non-abrasive and regularly used in cleaning cookware and stainless steel sinks. Bar Keepers Friend doesn’t harm the chrome oxide barrier, which makes it very effective.
Conclusion
Learning how to remove scratches from stainless steel sink helps you do the task yourself at home without needing professional cleaners. When doing house cleaning chores, it’s vital that your stainless steel sink surface looks appealing with no unsightly scratches.
Our aim is to help you achieve that goal. All the above techniques work effectively.
If you have minor scratches, use the scratch removal methods as highlighted and explained above.
If you have deeper or severe scratches, use the detailed method given above. Understand the process and follow the product’s user manual to get a more effective scratch removal result.
Feel free to contact us if you need clarification or have questions.
For more graphical instruction, you can check out this wikiHow article.