How to get rid of scratches on stainless steel

Use a non-abrasive compound such as Bar Keeper’s Friend or Revere Stainless Steel and Copper Cleaner. (In a pinch, you can even use whitening toothpaste). If you’re using a powdered stainless steel scratch removal compound, add enough water—a few drops at a time—to create a paste roughly the consistency of toothpaste.

Stainless steel is a great look until you scratch it. Then it looks awful. But you can “sand” out the scratches with sandpaper (400 to 600 grit) and a sanding block, an abrasive pad, or with a rubbing compound. Or buy a stainless steel repair kit and get everything you need.

When you gently rub toothpaste onto a slick and smooth surface, it sticks together on any imperfections that exist and softly sands them away, wearing off the uneven surface structure and polishing the surface clean.

Bar Keepers Friend, the well-known cleanser, is designed to remove and minimize the appearance of scratches in stainless steel. Start by applying the product to the scratched area of the sink and rub it in by following the grain with a non-abrasive cloth or a 3M Maroon Pad.

This is where baking soda comes in handy. Its powdery texture makes a very gentle abrasive that shouldn’t scratch your stainless steel.

Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser, Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser, and Bar Keepers Friend MORE Spray+Foam are perfect for regularly cleaning stainless steel sinks and cookware. Each of these products is non-abrasive and won’t harm the chrome oxide barrier when used properly.

Stainless Steel

Even with as durable as stainless steel can be, using a Magic Eraser to clean it will likely end up leaving small scratches on the surface. While some people are fine with scratches and scuffs on their stainless steel, other people may want to protect that super shiny finish for as long as possible.

Vinegar naturally disinfects while helping remove hard water stains from your stainless steel sink. Once your sink is clean and dry, you can easily add an extra shine. Apply a few drops of olive oil to a lint-free cloth to buff the sink and fixture until they sparkle.

Leftover residue from cleaning solutions can damage a stainless steel finish, so it’s essential to make rinsing part of the routine. Never leave stainless steel to soak in solutions that contain chlorine, vinegar, or table salt, as long-term exposure to these can damage it.

Clean a stainless steel sink easily with WD–40_®! Simply spray some WD–40 onto a rag, and then wipe away. Remember that just like wood, stainless steel has a grain, and it’s always best to wipe along the grain than against it. The surface of your sink will look clean and shiny.

Never use harsh abrasives to work on stainless steel because it will scratch or discolor the appliance. Applying this olive oil treatment leaves a nice, thin layer that will keep your appliances smudge and fingerprint-free.

Other Tips for Cleaning Stainless Steel

Fingerprint marks are common on stainless steel and can easily be removed with any common glass cleaner, such as Windex. Perhaps the oddest way to clean stainless steel appliances is by using WD-40. Simply spray some directly onto a rag, then wipe away.

11. How to clean stainless steel with lemon. Stainless steel sinks can go from brown and stained to clean and sparkly by sprinkling salt over a damp sink and then rubbing half a lemon over the top. The lemon and salt will work together to remove the discolouration.

Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a clean spray bottle. Mist your stainless steel item with the vinegar and water and then wipe it off with a clean and dry cloth. Mix vinegar with distilled water if your tap water is hard and leaves stains. Use undiluted vinegar for heavy staining or marks.

WD-40 Cleaner for Stainless–Steel

Simply spray WD-40 onto a dry cloth and rub your stainless–steel appliances in the direction of the grain. Not only will it remove greasy fingerprints and smudges, it will help keep fingerprints from forming.

Make stainless steel appliances gleam.

Using a circular motion, rub a small amount (start with a teaspoon) of coconut oil on the fridge or other appliance. Cover the entire surface. Remove excess oil with a dry cloth, rubbing in the direction of the grain to create a spotless, shiny surface.