Polishing stainless steel to a gloss finish improves corrosion resistance by smoothing crevices where rust can collect. It's perfect for automotive parts with its chrome-like shine, but it needs an adequately prepared surface.
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.
Baby oil or olive oil will shine your stainless steel and make it look new, and it'll leave a protective coating that helps prevent smudges. Put a small amount of oil on a microfiber cloth, and buff the stainless steel in the direction of the grain.
To make: Start with a clean spray bottle. Pour in white vinegar, Blue Dawn liquid dishwashing detergent and water. Apply the spray top and shake to mix. To use: Shake to mix then spray it liberally on the stainless steel surface you want to clean.
Avoid cleaners that can damage steel and finishes. Instead, clean your stainless steel appliances with a dish soap like Dawn® Platinum. Its unique formula is tough enough to break up grease and grime while staying gentle on stainless steel surfaces.
One of the most effective ways to restore a stainless steel finish is by using vinegar and baking soda. Start by mixing equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture onto the surface of the stainless steel and let it sit for several minutes before wiping it away with a soft cloth.
Using Baking Soda
Baking soda is fantastic because it is great at removing food stains, grease and water deposits. Add in a small amount of vinegar which will cause the paste to fizz and then clean the paste away. Your stainless steel sink will look a lot cleaner once you have done this.
Start buffing stainless steel with sandpaper between 150 and 240 grit. Many pros suggest going from 240 up to 400, then 600, and finally 1200 grit to round out your progression. You could take things a step further with a 2000 grit sandpaper, but it's probably only helpful or necessary for a mirror finish.
You don't need any special appliances for this – simply make a ball out of aluminum foil and rub vigorously over the damaged areas. If that doesn't work, purchase a metal polish suitable for chrome. Dull spots on chrome can be polished with pure olive oil on a microfiber cloth in no time at all.
Another home hack for polishing chrome besides using chrome polish is by trying a bit of WD40. Just add a bit to a clean microfiber cloth and use circular motions to get that chrome shiny again.
Almost any metallic surface can be chrome plated from aluminum, nickel alloys, titanium, copper, steal and stainless steel. Generally speaking, there are two different types of chrome plating – hard chromium and decorative chromium plating.
Apply a high quality chrome cleaner (Cif Power & Shine Bathroom or Cif Power & Shine Kitchen are both good choices) to a clean cotton cloth, and wipe over the chrome. Leave as per the product's instructions, and then rinse with warm water. Gently remove any product residue using a dry chamois or paper towel.
Avoid using regular Windex on stainless steel, as the ammonia content can damage the material. Although it is possible to clean stainless steel with ammonia-free Windex, it is best not to take the chance because it is difficult to tell how a cleaner will react with stainless steel.
The Magic Eraser is great for many surfaces, but it is not recommended for stainless steel appliances.
Fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and white vinegar. To make the vinegar solution smell better, you can add a few drops of lemon juice. Shake the bottle well and spray the stainless steel surfaces you wish to clean. Wipe your appliances with a soft cloth, being sure to follow the direction of the grain.
Isopropyl Alcohol 100% is perfect for cleaning stainless steel surfaces as it evaporates quickly leaving no smudges. Can't get those windows clean? Isopropyl Alcohol 100% will do the trick, spray and wipe and it comes up clean and streak-free. Just like with stainless steel, Isopropyl Alcohol 100% leaves no smudges!
It can even remove scratches off not only your pots and pans but your dishes too. ' When cleaning stainless steel appliances or cleaning stainless steel sinks, or porcelain dishes and sinks, opt for the cleanser, soft cleanser, or spray foam varieties of Bar Keepers Friend to prevent scratching surfaces.