Shine a Tarnished or Scratched Stainless Steel Sink
Stainless steel is beautiful when it shines, but it scratches and tarnishes quickly. Here is how to renovate it.
Recommended Materials
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Flour
- Oil
- Soft cloth
Steps to follow
Step 1
Deep cleaning: Start by wetting the sink. Sprinkle Baking Soda everywhere. Scrub with a sponge (yellow side, not green which scratches!). Baking soda is a very gentle abrasive that lifts grime without scratching. Then rinse with White Vinegar (it will foam, it's the chemical reaction that lifts limescale). Rinse with clear water. Insist well around the drain and overflow where dirt often accumulates.
Step 2
Drying (Secret #1): Stainless steel is dull because of water marks (limescale). Dry the sink PERFECTLY with a dry microfiber cloth or clean tea towel. There must not be a single drop of water left.
Step 3
Flour polishing (Secret #2): Sprinkle white flour in the very dry sink. With a dry cloth or paper towel, rub the flour on the stainless steel making small circles. The flour will act as an ultra-fine 'polish' that will absorb embedded micro-dirt and polish the metal. Rinse and dry again.
Step 4
Protection (Secret #3): So that it stays beautiful and water slides off it (water-repellent effect), pour a few drops of oil (olive oil, baby oil, or food oil) on a soft cloth and buff the whole sink. It will shine like a mirror and limescale will stick less. Repeat this operation once a week to keep a sink always impeccable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Scratches ?
Stainless steel scratches, it's inevitable (it's the 'patina'). You cannot erase a deep scratch, but polishing with flour or Clay Stone visually attenuates them.
Precautions
- Always rub in the direction of the stainless steel grain if possible.
- Do not use steel wool (it scratches).
