Polishing the stainless steel sink frequently gives an impression of a well-kept kitchen. Ways to polish stainless steel sink to a mirror finish.
It also helps maintain the sink’s robustness, luster, and corrosion-free state. In addition to lasting many years and being easy to clean, stainless steel sinks please the eyes with their shiny look.
Unfortunately, the mirror finish fades away with time unless you maintain the sink. Do you know how to polish stainless steel sink to a mirror finish? No need to fret if you don’t know.
Despite illustrating detailed steps of polishing stainless steel sink to a mirror guide, this guide will also advise on the best polish to use.
Does Polishing a Stainless Steel Sink Really Work?
Yes. First, you need to ensure the sink is clean. Otherwise, it may not work. Secondly, use a reliable stainless steel polish to restore its shine.
There are several ways to polish stainless steel sink to a mirror finish. You can easily find certain items such as club soda and all-purpose flour in your kitchen cupboard.
You only need to apply the polishing item to the clean and dry sink. Then buff or wipe it using a clean, soft cloth. Buff the sink until it attains a mirror finish.
Though stainless steel sinks need frequent cleaning and maintenance to be shiny, the procedures are quick and simple.
However, there are things you need to keep off when cleaning and polishing a stainless steel sink. For example, avoid abrasives such as steel wool. They may scratch and cause the sink’s surface to rust.
Also, avoid scrubbing or buffing a stainless steel surface in the opposite direction. It may cause scratches, and your sink may not attain the shiny look you are looking for.
Stainless steel sink polishing also works when you avoid chemical cleaners. If you use them, ensure you rinse the sink using hot water. Otherwise, you may permanently damage your sink. It can also corrode.
How To Polish Stainless Steel Sink to a Mirror Finish
To polish a stainless steel sink to a mirror finish is a straightforward procedure. You only need to use some items and the correct method. Here are the steps to follow;
Step 1: Collect the Required Items
It’s essential to first pick and accumulate the materials you require for polishing. The absence of any necessary material will make the process backfire. You will need the following materials;
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- All-purpose flour
- Stainless steel polish, whiting, or talc
- Olive or baby oil
- Paper towel or a clean cloth
- A soft brush
- An abrasive or branded sink cleaner
- Lemon
- Sponge
- Dish soap
- Club soda
Step 2: Clean the Sink
It’s impossible to make a dirty stainless steel sink shine. You need to clean it first. Begin by removing visible particles like food bits. Then dip a sponge in warm water and dish soap mixture and scrub the entire sink until clean. Then rinse it using clean water and dry it.
Alternatively, you can sprinkle baking soda on the sink’s surface and rub it in using a soft brush. Then spray some undiluted vinegar. It will disinfect the sink and dissolve any calcium deposits. After the fizzing reaction, clean and dry the sink properly.
You can cut a lemon in half and use the pieces to rub in the baking soda instead of a soft brush. You also don’t have to apply vinegar if you scrub the surface using lemon. It will help freshen your sink.
If you don’t have warm soapy water or baking soda, you can use a renowned abrasive or sink cleaner. Ensure you rinse the sink properly after scrubbing it with them as they contain chemicals that can cause corrosion if left intact.
Step 3: Begin the Polishing
It’s time to polish your sink after cleaning it. You can use various methods. First, spray olive or baby oil all over the sink’s surface.
Avoid putting a lot as it will make the sink sticky, leaving it more sluggish than before. Depending on your sink’s size, one to three drops are enough. Then use a soft cloth or paper towel to puff it until it shines as desired.
Alternatively, you can use club soda. Begin by putting a stopper into your sink. Then fill it with club soda. Use a sponge or cloth to rub it into the sink. Afterward, rinse and dry it thoroughly.
If you don’t have club soda and olive and baby oil, you can use all-purpose flour. Ensure the sink is completely dry before sprinkling it with flour. Put enough to form a thick layer. Then use a clean, soft cloth or paper towel to wax it on the sink’s surface.
Use the buffing motion when rubbing the flour against the sink’s surface for a better shine. A paper towel will save you the energy and time of washing it after rubbing because you’ll just dispose it of. You will need to clean the cloth after using it.
Depending on your budget and sink’s condition, you can use a reliable stainless steel polish, whiting, or talc. They may cost some money but it’s worth it. Apart from giving your sink a super glossy appearance, they remove tough stains and prevent it from rusting.
Put some Stainless steel polish, whiting, or talc in a damp soft cloth. Then use the cloth to rub the entire sink’s surface until you attain your preferred mirror finish.
Points To Note
- Most stainless steel sinks contain a brushed finish. Always rub them parallel to their brush lines to reduce visible scratches.
- Dab the sink with a clean, soft towel to dry it instead of rubbing it to prevent streak marks.
- Avoid applying much pressure while buffing to prevent an uneven look
- Always have more than one paper towel or soft cloth for buffing. You may need to change to a new one with less oil or polishing compound.
As indicated above, there are various products you can use to polish your stainless steel sink.
What’s the Best Polish for Stainless Steel?
There are numerous products you can use to refurbish a stainless steel sink to look like new. Whether the product will give your sink a mirror finish depends on its current situation.
What may work for a stainless steel sink with discoloration and scratches may not work for one with acid marks and dried cement or paint.
Some stainless sinks get super shiny with affordable and easily accessible products found in your pantry. Others require expensive stainless steel polish products to make them attain a mirror finish.
To find the best polish for your stainless steel sink, you need to first understand what made its surface dull. You can prevent your stainless sink from becoming pale by not placing dirty dishes in your sink for long.
Also, keep your sink dry at all times, and ensure you remove any debris and particles from your sink immediately. Tea and coffee stains can be hard to remove if allowed to stay for long. Clean your sink as soon as you pour tea or coffee into it.
After thoroughly cleaning your stainless steel sink, you can puff it using a clean cloth damped with olive or baby oil. It will restore the surface to its original shine.
If you have the budget, buying a reliable stainless steel polish like Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish is advisable. The product works like magic in restoring your sink’s shimmering, high-gloss appearance. It also protects the sink’s surface from smudges and fingerprints.
Other polish like Turtle Wax Chrome Polish & Rust Remover restores a discolored or corroded sink. It gives the sink its original shine. If on a budget, try affordable but effective products like Autosol Metal Polish. It will give your sink a super shiny finish.
The best polish for stainless steel is the one that will work for your sink. You can choose based on your budget and the sink’s condition.
Can You Use Mothers Chrome Polish on Stainless Steel?
Mothers chrome polish is a product popularly known to add sheen to chrome on vehicles. But it can also work excellently on stainless steel, copper, nickel, and other metals.
You can also use stainless steel wax at home. The product not only makes and sustains your stainless steel product’s shiny look but also prevents it from rusting. It also removes water spots, streaks, and stains.
But like many products, not all Mothers Chrome polish work perfectly. You need to find out the best one in the market for optimal results. Great examples include;
Though Mothers Chrome polish can be used to give your stainless steel item a mirror finish, there is another way of making it look new again. Here are the steps;
How To Make Stainless Steel Look New Again
Probably your stainless steel sink or other item is old and was thinking of replacing it because of its unpleasant look. Before digging deep into your pocket to buy a new one, think about restoring it to look new. Is it possible? Yes.
Use the following steps;
Step 1: Collect the Necessary Materials
It’s the first step to do. You need to collect the required items for the procedure. You will require;
- Stainless steel cleaner
- Baking soda Vinegar
- Protective gloves
Step 2: Dust Baking Soda on the Item’s Surface
After collecting all the items you need, wear protective gloves. Then sprinkle enough baking soda on the stainless steel sink or item. And why baking soda? Because it’s an excellent abrasive that cleans a stainless steel surface without scratching it. Its tiny particles scrub out dirt without interfering with the stainless steel surface.
Step 3: Scrub the Stainless Steel Surface
After dusting your entire stainless steel item’s surface with baking soda or bicarbonate of soda, scrub it. First, dip a clean, soft cloth in water and wring it out, leaving it damp.
A soaking wet cloth dissolves the baking soda’s crystals, decreasing their scrubbing ability. Then use the damp microfiber cloth to scrub the entire area sprinkled with baking powder.
Scrub until all dirt is gone. Stains like those made by tea and coffee will come out. But don’t worry if limescale and watermarks don’t come out at this stage. For a sink, give extra attention to the plughole area because it’s usually dirtier than the rest.
Step 4: Apply Vinegar
Spray the scrubbed area with vinegar. You may hear and see some fizzing sounds and action. Don’t fret; it means hard water and dirt are coming out. Leave it for a few minutes to lift out all the dirt.
Step 5: Rinse the Stainless Steel Item
After some minutes, rinse the item and rub it with a clean, dry towel. Inspect the area. If you still see some stains or watermarks, repeat step 4 until sparkling clean.
Step 6: Dry and Shine
Use a clean towel to buff the stainless steel surface after rinsing. Then put a few drops of olive oil on a clean, dry towel and use it to polish the surface. It will make the item sparkle more and repel dirt and water.
You will have successfully made your stainless steel item look new again when you finish.
How to Clean a Stainless Steel Sink Without Scratching It
Step 1: Accumulate the Cleaning Items
You must have what’s required for a successful scratch-free procedure. Here is what you’ll require;
- A clean soft towel
- Vinegar solution in a spray bottle
- A piece of soft clean cloth
- A cleaning liquid
Step 2: Apply Cleaning Liquid to the Sink
After having all your cleaning items ready, apply a cleaning liquid onto the sink. The best way is to spray it as there’s no chance of scratching your sink.
Then leave it to sit for a few minutes to lift out all dirt.
Step 3: Scrub the Sink
Use a damp, clean, soft cloth to wipe or scrub the sink after spraying the cleaning liquid for some time. A damp, soft cloth cannot scratch the sink. Ensure you clean all the areas of the sink until sparkling clean.
Step 4: Rinse the Sink
After clean wiping your sink, rinse it with clean water from the tap. Ensure all dirt traces and particles are gone.
Step 5: Dry the Sink
Use a clean, soft towel to dry the sink after rinsing. A rough towel or cloth may scratch the sink.
Step 6: Apply Vinegar Mixture
Spray a mixture of vinegar and distilled water on the dry sink. It will disinfect it and remove all water stains.
Step 7: Buff the Sink
After disinfecting your sink with vinegar, use a dry, clean towel to dry it. Then use another clean, soft cloth to gloss it to a mirror finish. And you’re done!
As indicated in this article, you can use various polishes to make your stainless steel sink look new. But can you use aluminum polish? Let’s find out.
Can You Use Aluminum Polish on Stainless Steel?
It depends on the product. Some aluminum polish like Mag & Aluminum Polish 5 oz. has special formulas that balance shine and ease of use on stainless steel and other metals like brass.
You only need to apply a small amount on a scratch-free microfiber towel. Then rub the stainless steel until you attain a mirror finish. Despite the eye-catching finish, a reliable aluminum polish protects stainless steel from bad weather, water, and rust.
The polish handles both neglected and maintained stainless steel. It transforms the neglected maintained stainless steel into a new-looking look. Regular cleaned and polished stainless steel keeps on portraying a shiny look when frequently buffed with reliable aluminum polish.
You now know that you can use aluminum polish on your stainless steel. What about car polish? Here is the insight;
Can You Use Car Polish on Stainless Steel?
Yes. A car polish will refurbish your stainless steel item to look like new. The procedure is a doddle. You only need to apply reliable car polish to your stainless steel sink or item using a clean cloth. Scrub it until all the black grit comes out.
Then take a paper towel or a clean cloth and buff the surface until super shiny. Using a car polish on your stainless steel item also protects it from stains and smudges. It’s essential to go for a high-quality car polish for optimal results. Research for the best before you buy and use. Reviews from authentic platforms and users work out great.
If it’s okay to use car polish on my stainless steel item, what about spray wax? Let’s find out.
Can You Spray Wax on Stainless Steel?
Yes. Spray painting is a perfect way to prevent smudges and fingerprints on your stainless steel sink. The procedure is easy pie. Just spray the wax on your stainless steel item’s surface. Don’t put much as it may make the surface look oily. A thin layer is okay.
Then allow the sprayed wax on your sink, appliance, or other stainless items to dry. Next, pick a paper towel or a clean, soft cloth and buff the surface until you attain a mirror finish.
Summing It Up
The look of a dull stainless steel sink or item may be annoying. But as illustrated above, you can restore it to look as new. Good news? The process of restoring a stainless steel sink to a mirror finish is a breeze.
What makes it exciting is that you can use various things to make your stainless steel super shiny, as described above.
Some like olive oil, baking soda, and vinegar are easily accessible from your kitchen’s cupboard or store, while others are available in the store next door. Some cost a few pennies while you need to dig deep into your pockets to acquire some such as branded stainless steel polishers.
Expensive polishers come with added benefits such as protecting the stainless steel from corrosion, water spots, and other stains. If you have the money, it’s worth investing in one.
Whichever the case, all items discussed in this article as stainless steel polish works out great. You need to know your stainless steel item’s condition and budget before you pick a polish. It will ensure you pick the right one to make it super shiny.
Also, some products like car polish, Spray Wax, and aluminum polish work like magic in making stainless steel gain its original shine. On top of that, they protect the item from rust and water, prolonging its life.
It’s also possible to remove scratches from a stainless steel sink as demonstrated above. If your stainless steel item has no scratches, you can clean it without scratching it as this article demonstrates.
If struggling with your faded sink or item, use this guide to polish a stainless steel sink to a mirror finish as your starting point.
