Polishing Stainless Steel

Want to get back the shine that your newly bought stainless steel utensil had? Well, many believe that stainless steel does not stain. Basically, stainless steel is more resistant than other types of steels, but not stain-proof. Though known to be resistant to rust and corrosion, after constantly coming in contact with dirt and water, these are at a risk of getting stained and rusted. Especially the items that come in contact with heat source for a prolonged duration, are more prone to get affected. Sometimes, though the surface is not stained, there are fingerprints on the surface, taking away its shine. To get back the shine and a clean look that stainless steel has, is not a tough task. Here are some ways of polishing stainless steel which you can opt for.

Ways of Polish Stainless Steel

Baking Soda
You will need ½ cup of baking soda and 2 tsp of liquid dish washing detergent. Take these in a bowl and stir well to form a thick paste. You can add water if required for making the paste. For the appliances, apply this paste with a sponge over the surface. Leave it for 5 minutes and start rubbing the surface with a sponge. You can also use a toothbrush with soft-bristles for rubbing. First try the toothbrush on the base to check whether it is forming any scratch marks on the surface. After scrubbing, wash off the appliance with lukewarm water. Now wipe it with a soft cloth and rub with a dry soft cloth. Finish polishing the appliances by olive oil or baby oil.

Lemon Oil
Firstly rub it with a soft clean and dry cloth. This will remove all the dust and dirt. Now take lemon oil on a soft non-linting cloth and carefully apply it all over the surface. Remember, only small amount of this is enough. After 5 minutes start rubbing the surface with the same non-linting cloth. Rub it thoroughly for some time. This will not only polish and give it a shiny, new look, but will also protect the surface from those fingerprints which quickly take off the shine. This is also one of the best cleaners. Apart from lemon oil, you can also use other natural oils like olive oil. Mirror finish is what you can give the objects and appliances with these oils.

Vinegar
All you need is white vinegar or apple cider vinegar. Apply vinegar on the entire kitchen sink surface using a cloth. You can also spray vinegar using a spray bottle. Now take clean cloth for buffing and start rubbing the surface thoroughly in circular motions. Best to use a lint-free cloth.

Commercial Polish and Cleaners
Specially formulated stainless steel cleaners and polishes available commercially can also be used. Apply them using soft cloth and follow the directions of use mentioned on the product. You can also use commercial glass cleaner which is known to work best. These are best for removing stains and getting rid of rust.

These were some ways of cleaning and polishing stainless steel. Try these on those pieces which are lacking shine and give them a new look in a few minutes.