How to Clean Stainless Steel Sink Stains

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The name sounds so assuring, but in reality, even the stainless steel does get stains as much as the other sinks. The stains can be so annoying to anyone especially when left without cleaning.

For your utensils and the kitchen to be clean, you have to always keep your sink clean. Some of the things that stain your sink are the fats. It is, however, important to note that it is not only fats that stain the sink.

Fats can hold on to any surface. It may be difficult to wash it off, but with a proper mechanism in place, you can easily wash off these fats. For technical know-how on how to clean your stainless steel kitchen sink, read through this article.

Which agents can I use to clean my stainless sink?

There are several agents that you can use to clean the sink. Some of them include baking soda, water, and vinegar. Vinegar also acts as a disinfectant, and it helps to remove hard water stains from the sink very fast. It also adds an extra shine when the cleaning is complete.

In most cases, you will need to clean it by using water and baking soda. You will, then, require to rinse it by the use of vinegar.

When the sink is not very dirty, you can clean it by the use of water and detergent.

How to Clean Stainless Steel Sink Stains

Steps By Step Guideline: How to clean stainless steel sink stains?

Step 1: Most of these stains can be handled by the use of warm to hot water. Hot water can melt away some of the stains even before applying the soap. Run hot water under the faucet while you have blocked the outlet in the sink.

Leave the water to fill, have settle for around 5 minutes then release it out. Repeat the process one more time. This does not make your sink clean, but it loosens the hardened stains and washes off some little bit of it.

Step 2: To a scrubber, add some equal amount of liquid soap and baking soda. Baking soda can even remove even the visible scratches from your sink. Scrub the sink surface gently but carefully so as not to cause more scratches to it.

An old toothbrush can be used to scrub the sink. Do not use a rough scourer to scrub your sink. Rinse the sink to wash off the already removed stains. Continue with the scrubbing until it is fully cleaned and shining.

Step 3: In the case that your sink has even suffered stronger stains, vinegar solution can be used to wash. Vinegar can remove these tough stains. Some of these stains include rust, scratches amongst others.

Add some little of it to the sink surface as you spray. When through with cleaning using the vinegar, take a soft cloth and wipe it off.

After wiping off, take a liquid solution and gently wash the sink. Run the water under the faucet to wash off any remaining dirt and soap.

Step 4: To make your sink shiny afterward, apply a buffing agent. This is usually done as the final procedure after the cleaning. It makes your sink shine again as before.

How to Clean Stainless Steel Sink Stains

What are these buffing agents?

Some of the most common buffing agents for your stainless sink are?

  1. The lemon oil
  2. A steel polish and
  3. A spray laced with silicone.

Agents, however, will only last for a while before it is worn off. Others can stay longer than others. If you want your stainless sink to shine regularly, you will apply these agents regularly. They are the agents that provide a good finish for the sink that you have just cleaned.

If you are sure that the bleach will not corrode your sink, then it is good to use. Not all bleaching agents are good for use in cleaning. Before using any bleaching agent, first, find out its chemical properties.

Some have been listed as safe for doing the cleaning. The best thing to do is to consult your manual to find out the caring tips of your sink.

Different manufacturers provide different manuals depending on their products. Be sure of your product before applying a bleaching agent.

How often should I do a thorough cleaning of my sink

How often should I do a thorough cleaning of my sink?

In the first place, you should not let your sink to accumulate stains. However, sometimes you may not be having sufficient time to do a thorough cleaning. It is then advisable that you do a thorough cleaning at least twice or thrice a week.

The cleaner your sink is, the longer it will last and the longer it will serve you. Cleaning it often will save you the hustle of buying the chemicals for removing tough stains.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

What are the best cleaning agents for stainless steel sink stains?

Several agents can deal with stains in your sink. Some of the best ones include:

  • Lemon oil furniture polish.
  • Flour.
  • Dish soap and mineral oil.
  • Club soda.
  • Glass cleaner for fingerprints and so on.

There are many other varieties of cleaning agents that are excellent for cleaning a stainless sink. You can use either of the above independently, and not necessarily using a cocktail of the same when cleaning.

Can vinegar damage my stainless steel sink?

Yes, vinegar can damage your sink. That will occur when you leave it on the sink for long. To keep it free of such, make sure that you do not leave it to soak in solutions that contain table salt, chlorine, and vinegar, and so on. These agents are corrosive, and long term exposure to the sink will make it to rust, and hence getting the damages.

To avoid the above, make sure that you rinse it every time you clean it. In that way, the sink will remain new and shiny for a long period.

What are some of the items that you should never use to clean a stainless sink?

Such types of kitchen sinks can be somewhat delicate, and hence there are some items that you must never use to clean it. Among them are:

  • Steel brushes.
  • The steel wool.

Both of them are too rough to the surface of the sink. The two leaves little particles on the surface of the stainless steel.

These particles are corrosive. Whenever they remain on the surface for long, they will eventually cause the steel to rust, and this can lead to more harmful stain.

These types of brushes are abrasive, and you should avoid using them at all costs.

Can you bleach a stainless steel sink throughout the night?

It is not advisable to do so. Bleach is more powerful and so toxic that you must use it carefully. Whenever possible, do not pour it down the drain because it tends to corrode any metal that it comes into contact with.

It can react with other substances in the pipes. When such happens, it can release some harmful fumes that can easily plug up the system.

Whenever possible, use the bleach to remove the tough stains, but do not let it remain in contact with the stainless sink for a long time. It will save you the costs of replacements!

Conclusion

To improve the health of your sink, you have to keep it clean and dry when not in use. You are most likely to consume contaminated meals if you don’t clean your sink well. To save yourself the embarrassment by keeping it clean. The above points serve to show the importance of keeping your sink clean. Use the recommended cleaning agents for your sink.

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