How to clean a stainless steel sink and make it gleam
Learning how to clean a stainless steel sink may sound easy, but it’s not as easy as you might think. Daily use can quickly build up limescale, leftover food and soap. And these stains are not only difficult to remove, but can appear obvious and accentuated on a stainless steel surface.
Fortunately, there are methods you can use to manage these stains and remove embedded stains. And the good news is, you might already have what you need at home to get the job done. How to clean a stainless steel sink to make it shine again.
How to clean a stainless steel sink
what you will need
detergent
sponge
baking powder
White Distilled Vinegar
microfiber fabric
olive oil
cream of tartar (optional)
1. Drain and Flush — First off, you can’t clean your sink while it’s full of cups and dishes. So empty it and remove any leftover food from the stopper. Give it a quick rinse to wash away any immediate stains as well.
2. Scrub with soap – Next, you should use a few drops of dish soap and a non-abrasive sponge to give your sink a temporary scrub. Be sure to cover the entire sink, including the walls, any hidden crevices, and around the drain hole. Don’t forget to check the faucet as well. Once you’ve done that, rinse away the soapy water.
3. Apply Baking Soda – While your sink is still damp, spray it baking soda over all surfaces. Baking soda is an excellent cleaning agent because it breaks down dirt and grease and can scrape away stains, but it’s not abrasive enough to damage stainless steel.
4. Exfoliation — Scrub the baking soda with your sponge (making sure it’s not abrasive) in the direction of the grain of the stainless steel. The grain should be visible to the eye when you inspect the surface – you can also feel it when you run your fingers over it.
When combined with the remaining water, the baking soda should form a thick paste. Continue scrubbing until you have covered the entire surface. Don’t wash away.
5. Sprinkle with Vinegar – For extra cleaning power, you should now spray distilled white vinegar over the baking soda. This creates an effervescent chemical reaction that dissolves and removes stains; This is what makes baking soda and vinegar so good for cleaning.
This can smell quite strong, but vinegar is excellent at removing water stains and limescale, so it pays to air the room and endure. Wait for the solution to stop bubbling, then rinse it away.
If you don’t have vinegar on hand, you can use lemons here as well. Simply cut one in half and scrub a segment onto the baking soda, following the direction of the grain. Similar to vinegar, lemon juice is useful for removing limescale and it smells nice too. Rinse away when done.
6. Stubborn Dye Solutions — If you can still see smudges, you need to break out the big guns. One option is to use a proprietary cleaner, such as B. Therapy Stainless Steel Cleaner Kit ($19.95, Amazon (opens in new tab)). If you use alternative cleaners, make sure they are suitable for use on stainless steel – some cleaners and abrasives can damage this surface.
Alternatively, you can make a homemade solution by combining ¼ cup cream of tartar with 1 cup distilled white vinegar. This creates a paste that you can apply directly to stubborn stains. Gently dab it on with a sponge and leave it on for a few minutes. When the time is up, rinse away the solution and repeat if necessary.
7. Dry the sink – Once all stains are removed, dry the sink thoroughly with a microfiber cloth. This is an important step as any residual water will form fresh watermarks and make your efforts redundant.
8. Apply Olive Oil and Polish – Now that your sink is spotless, it’s time to make it shine. Put a few drops of olive oil on a microfiber cloth and rub it over the stainless steel in the direction of the grain. Remove excess and you’re done.
Your sink should now look like new! Here are some tips to keep it looking flawless:
Tips to keep your stainless steel sink clean
- Remove leftover food and wipe away any stains immediately. The longer you leave them on, the rougher and more stubborn the cleaning can be.
- Don’t leave puddles of water around your faucet. These can easily go unnoticed if you’ve turned the handles with wet hands. Puddles leave limescale deposits and water spots after drying.
- Also, get in the habit of drying your sink when you’re not using it. This will reduce the number of watermarks in the future.
- Keep an eye on cleaning the sink and make it a part of your regular routine. If you do this it will be much quicker and easier to clean.
To keep your kitchen looking shiny and new, check out our guides on how to clean a microwave, how to clean an oven, how to clean a garbage disposal, and how to clean stainless steel appliances.