Use a handheld power buffer in combination with commercially available stainless steel polish. Choose a pad that's somewhat abrasive, attaching it to the buffer and applying it to the pad as per the manufacturer's instructions. Buff the surface, starting at the edge and working in small circles.
Wash with water and soap, dry. Then, use a microfiber cloth with a dab of oil and rub parallel to the lines in the stainless steel. It restores the shine and disappears those lines for 6 months or so.
Stainless Steel Polishing by Hand
A store-bought polish and a clean, dry cloth should give it a nice shine. As you would wax a car, start at one end and work your way across the surface in circles. After you're done, use a clean, dry towel to wipe off any extra shine.
- Mix a few drops of mild dish soap with warm water. - Dampen a microfiber cloth in the soapy water and wipe down the stainless steel surface to remove dirt and fingerprints. Rinse: - Use a clean, damp microfiber cloth to wipe off any soap residue. Dry: - Use a dry microfiber cloth to thoroughly dry the surface.
Apply a bit of baking soda on the surface, then apply white vinegar (it can be in a spray bottle or a small amount dabbed on a kitchen towel). Gently wipe away the spot with a soft cloth or paper towel and rinse with warm water. Another insider secret for banishing buildup, according to Shimek, is to use club soda.
After cleaning with a vinegar-based solution, rub oil onto the stainless steel surface–first wiping in the direction of the grain, then in a circular motion to polish and shine. Most oils work equally well, but olive oil, mineral oil, or almond oil are all good choices.
WD-40 is one of the oldest methods used to clean stainless steel, so it's very likely you'll have a bottle of it lying around somewhere. To clean the stainless steel in your home with WD-40, simply spray directly onto your appliance or a cloth and wipe away. It really is that simple!
If you want your appliances to shine, a neat trick would be simply to apply a few drops of olive oil before wiping your stainless steel appliances down with a cloth. This gives it a great deep shine that will complete your kitchen's modern, sleek look.
If you do not want to use a spray bottle, you can moisten a cloth in vinegar and evenly rub the item. For light polishing, dilute the vinegar with water (1/2 cup of vinegar for every quart of warm water). Polish with undiluted vinegar on items with heavy staining.
Wire brushing involves using a wire brush or a wire wheel on a power tool, such as a grinder or drill, to create a brushed effect. Again, it is essential to move the brush or wheel along the grain of the stainless steel to maintain a consistent pattern.
To clean stainless steel cutlery, soak the utensils in a solution of distilled vinegar and boiling water for 15-20 minutes. Scrub with a microfiber cloth to remove water marks and blemishes.
Typically, you should progress from 240 to 400, then 600, and finally 1200 grit. For a mirror finish, you could go a step further with 2000 grit sandpaper. Set your sander between 4,000 and 6,500 RPM for buffing stainless steel. Be careful to move the sander at a 90° angle to any noticeable scratches.
When a stainless steel sink looks dull, it's often because it's been scrubbed with cleanser that contains chlorine bleach, with a bleach-loaded scrub pad, or — worst of all — fine steel wool that comes pre-loaded with detergent and bleach.
Most metal items can be safely washed in warm water and a mild detergent. After cleaning metal items with warm, soapy water, you can use common household staples like vinegar, lemons, flour, and salt to remove tarnish and grime. We'll take a look at the best ways to clean and remove rust from different types of metal.
When looking at a chrome product and a stainless steel product side by side you will notice a difference. A chrome plated finish is a brighter, shiner finish while although stainless steel is polished to a high mirror finish is it slightly duller and darker than chrome.
Metal Polishing Top Tips
Use the polishing compound sparingly, black grease marks will appear on work piece if too much polishing compound has been applied to the polishing buffing wheel. Remove black grease marks with a dry soft micro fibre cloth. Remember: apply polishing compound little and often.
Be careful not to use any of the following on your stainless steel appliances as they can scratch or damage the finish: products containing bleach, abrasive or grainy cleaners, glass cleaner, oven cleaner, ammonia or abrasive cloths or pads like steel wool.
While a professional polish may be necessary for tougher jobs, you can get your stainless steel looking great with something you have right in your pantry: olive oil! From your stainless pots and pans to the door of your refrigerator, a few drops of oil will get the job done.
Pour a small amount of white vinegar onto a microfiber cloth or sponge. Gently scrub the sink's surface with the vinegar-soaked cloth. "The vinegar will react with any remaining baking soda and help remove mineral deposits," says Sokolowski.
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.
Unsightly water spots form when you air dry stainless steel. Rub cloudy spots with a dampened sponge sprinkled with baking soda. Then rinse the pot clean with water and towel it dry.