How to Remove Scratches from Stainless Steel kitchen appliances

Everyone wants to remove scratches from stainless steel surfaces. But how?

Many people go for stainless steel because of its durability and look that is sleek. It proves a great choice for kitchen appliances, cookware, fixtures, sinks and many other items around one’s house and working place. However, whether it is on a refrigerator, microwave or dishwasher, stainless steel can get scratches quite easily.

The good news is that you do not have to live with the scratches on the stainless steel surface! Just follow these simple and easy steps in order to remove scrapes and scratches from stainless steel surfaces. Just keep one thing in mind! Be sure to follow these techniques and apply them on stainless steel without a protective clear coat or a synthetic surface.

Fine Scratches

In order to get rid of these fine scratches, there are many cleaners that can be found in the market that can gently buff the stainless steel surfaces. If you cannot get your hands on any of these cleaners, then go for the cleaners that appliance manufacturers make themselves,and these can be easily found at home improvements stores. You can also use stainless steel polish in order to hide or conceal minor scratches on the surface. But keep in mind that you would have to keep on applying the polish on a regular basis to keep the scratches hidden. This can prove to be the best method for appliances that are covered using a protective film.

Deep Scratches

For the deeper scratches, use sandpaper. Yeah, that’s right! Sandpaper. A single piece of wet and fine grit sandpaper can be used in order to get rid of the deeper scratches. Just be sure to keep it wet and also to follow up using a rubbing compound.

Start off with the scratch and then blend in. Look for the direction of the grain and then start the sanding process in a single direction, following the brushed pattern. Do not sand back and forth, and also never sand against the grain and by never I mean NEVER! If you have to go for deeper scratches using a courser grit paper, then go for it, but afterward, follow up using a finer grit followed by a rubbing compound.

Keep in mind that the sanding technique works on uncoated plain stainless steel panels. Do not try it on stainless panels with a fingerprint-resistant clear coat or on simulated stainless steel.

Cleaning and Polishing

After getting rid of all the scratches and unwanted marks, you can clean and polish the stainless steel appliance’s surface. Using a microfiber cloth, wipe down the surface that you just sanded. This is sure to remove any metal dust or sanding dust that has been left behind. This is also sure to get rid of any leftover water or polishing compound. Even during this, be sure to buff and rub in the direction of the grain.

In order to get the best result, be sure to spray the surface of the metal with sprays of vinegar. After several sprays, get another clean microfiber cloth piece and wipe the metal. The surface would be cleaned by the vinegar,and the traces of all the other cleaners and compounds would be removed.

Now, once the stainless steel and dry and clean, the polishing begins. Add a few drops of oil onto a clean piece of microfiber cloth. You can utilize vegetable oil, mineral oil or olive oil for this oiling purpose. Then rub the steel using the microfiber cloth, again in the direction of the grain. Add further oil if needed. Continue on doing this until you have polished the entire surface.

Stainless steel gives off a beautiful finishing and these steps that have been described above make sure that the stainless steel surface remains free of scratches. This is sure to bring out the brand new shine that you fell in love with at the very beginning.