The kitchen sink is great. Tough, roomy, and on a good day, it sparkles. Or, maybe it doesn’t – you’re a busy person, after all! Of course, all that dishwashing can really add up, and if you’ve got hard water, then chances are your sink struggles to shine. It’s about more than just looks, though – stainless steel has to be cared for just like anything else, or it can lose its anti-corrosive properties! Luckily, it’s not a very complicated job, and you probably already have the tools you need to care for your stainless steel kitchen sink.
Cheap and Easy
To Begin
There are lots of cleaning products for cleaning your stainless steel sink, and a lot of ways to do it right, and even more ways to do it wrong. One of the most effective ways to get your sink clean is also one of the most basic – you probably already have this stuff right now! A great way to get dull, worn looking sinks back to their brightest is to sprinkle some baking soda onto a damp cloth (microfiber works great here!) and buff out your sink. Rinse it well to make sure none of that white streak stays behind, and when you’re all done, go ahead and plug the drain. Draw enough water to fill the sink and add a tiny bit of bleach. Let it sit for five minutes, then drain it away. Wipe down the faucet and handles to disinfect those as well! Then, with warm water, wipe away all the remaining bleach.
Finally
The last step is one almost everybody forgets: Dry your sink! Leaving water to evaporate leaves behind trace minerals and can wear away at the stainless qualities of your sink and leave behind surface rust. Beyond just baking soda and bleach, there are plenty of powder products that people have sworn by for decades. If you’ve never used these, you sprinkle the powder generously around the edge of your sink and into the basin. Next, take some dish soap and warm water and start scrubbing. Go from the rim to the drain so any food gets pushed where it needs to go. As with the previous method, you’ll want to finish up with a thorough drying off of your fixtures and basin to prevent water spots.
Going the Extra Mile
Particularly stubborn stains might require something a little stronger – we recommend a gritty fiber pad over any metal scrubbers. However, if you feel you must use metal, try a copper scrubber, as copper is softer than steel. Just in case it does leave blemishes, scrub parallel to the polishing lines on your sink. For an added shine, if you’re feeling adventurous, try this old folk remedy: Dribble some olive oil on a lint-free cloth and rub down all of your fixture’s metal surfaces. Much like seasoning a cast iron pan, this gives your sink an added layer of protection from water damage and makes it gleam like nothing else.
Mistakes to Avoid
Don’t ever use steel wool on a steel sink! Steel wool leaves behind particles of iron that will oxidize, rust, and damage your fixture!
Remove dish mats after you finish washing the dishes. Otherwise, food and water get trapped under them. Letting moisture discolor and stain your sink.
Don’t forget to wipe your sink dry before applying olive oil, if that’s what you’re going to do! Never forget to dry it anyway, but especially dry it before giving it a coat of oil.
Don’t mix chemicals! Some products can mix together and give off dangerous gasses like chlorine.
Lastly, don’t hesitate to reach out to professionals if you feel like your sink needs a little extra TLC. Green Bee Maids will be happy to get it shining for you in no time!