How to Clean and Maintain a Stainless Steel Sink (5 Easy Steps)
How to Clean and Maintain a Stainless Steel Sink (5 Easy Steps)
Calcium, lime, and rust spots can severely tarnish the look of your stainless-steel sink over time. Thankfully, this material is quite resilient and can be made to look new again with just a bit of effort. Don’t fret if your sink hasn’t been cleaned in some time. We have prepared the steps needed to tackle the job yourself. The whole process is not overly time-consuming and will make a world of difference. Just keep in mind, that a thorough clean is a much quicker solution than replacing the whole sink!
1) How to Clean a Stainless-Steel Sink
Start by taking a quick photo of the sink in its current form. This will come in handy later for a before and after comparison. Next, put on a set of rubber gloves to protect your hands. Rinse the entire sink bowl with warm water.
Clean all exposed areas by scrubbing thoroughly with a non-scratch sponge and a cleaning solution. We find that JIF and Franke Twister work wonders. Use a generous amount of the product and allow it to stay on for about three to five minutes. This will help the solution effectively break down any undesirable spots. It may be tempting to use an abrasive pad, but these are harsh and can damage the surface.
As you’re cleaning, be mindful of the sink’s edges and creases as this is where stubborn stains often hide. Some find that an old toothbrush is quite effective for these hard-to-reach areas. Pay careful attention to the small crevices of the drain and the stopper as well. Once you have gone over the whole sink, rinse it entirely with cool water.
You’ll then be able to determine how effective the process was. Chances are, it will have a much-improved shine. In rare instances, you may still see a few stubborn stains or hard water deposits. If so, repeat the process. For the more stubborn areas, try Autosole which is a great product for removing minor scratches and marks. You are now almost done! Simply rinse any remaining cleaning chemicals out with warm water. Wipe dry with a clean, absorbent cloth.
2) Polish It
For those who want their stainless-steel sink to shine, add a drop of cooking oil or metal polish and buff to a high shine. The result will be quite remarkable, and your sink will look brand new. Customers who complete this kind of maintenance every week typically find that the sink will be less prone to stains. Routine care will save time in the long run as the sink will look its best with less effort. Using this method, you can make your old sink look brand new again. Once you remove the hard water spots, limescale deposits, soap scum, and calcium marks, the sink won’t accumulate deposits as easily in the future. The results can truly be amazing!
3) Eco-Friendly Cleaning Options
If you’d like to do this without harsh chemicals, there are some great household items you can use. Combine one cup of white vinegar with five tablespoons of baking soda in a large mixing bowl. Be careful when you do this as there will be a momentary reaction once the ingredients are combined. Add the liquid mixture to a spray bottle and apply it to the sink. The vinegar acts as a natural disinfectant and helps to remove hard water stains. Meanwhile, the baking soda is abrasive enough to remove grease, stuck-on food, and other deposits. It’s not so abrasive as to damage stainless steel sinks.Let it sit for 15-20 minutes before rinsing with warm water. Dry with a soft towel or microfiber cloth. While this is a gentler way to clean the sink, it’s still remarkably effective. Finish by applying a few drops of olive oil to a lint-free cloth and buffing the sink to a beautiful shine.
4) A Note About Scratches
People sometimes complain about how stainless steel sinks scratch. This is not a defect or a flaw, but a natural part of the aging process. Over time, these sinks develop a unique patina where scratches just blend into the shimmering surface. Any perceived imperfections will become less apparent as you continue to use and enjoy your sink. This aging process is the same for all stainless-steel sinks regardless of the brand or model.
5) What About Earthing?
Stainless steel sinks that are not earthed are prone to rust spots and discolouring. No matter how often you clean it, the problem will persist. Under the NZ electrical code of practice, it is a requirement that sink benchtops are earthed. Electrical contractors should satisfy themselves that the sink installation conforms to the relevant sections under this code. Since water is a good electrical conductor, any electrical leakage (from a faulty circuit) will use any moisture to travel to earth. Therefore, earthing the sink will prevent electrocution. For more details on earthing, check out the New Zealand code of practice here.
Let Us Know How It Turned Out
As you can see, this entire cleaning process is done by hand using things you likely already have around the house. No special tools are required to achieve transformative results. Considering how often your sink is used, it’s recommended that you perform this kind of maintenance every week. In our experience, the whole process takes no more than about 25 minutes. For high-traffic kitchens, you may want to give them a deep clean every fortnight. Give it a try this weekend and let us know how it turns out. Better yet, take some before and after photos and tag us on FB and Instagram. Happy cleaning!
