How to Clean and Shine a Stainless Steel Sink
Stainless steel sinks are designed to look impressive but require the right cleaning approach — the wrong products dull the finish, cause discolouration, or leave scratches. Here's the complete method for cleaning, deodorizing, and restoring the shine.
Daily Maintenance
- Rinse the sink after every use — food residue left in the sink etches the stainless steel and dulls the finish over time
- Dry the sink with a cloth after rinsing — water left standing on stainless steel causes water spots and mineral deposits, particularly in areas with hard water like southern Ontario
Regular Cleaning
- Wet the sink surface
- Sprinkle baking soda over the entire sink — it's mildly abrasive and deodorizing
- Scrub with a damp cloth or non-scratch scrub pad, always working in the direction of the grain (the visible brushed lines in the stainless steel — usually running lengthwise in the sink basin)
- Rinse thoroughly
- Wipe dry with a clean cloth
Alternative: Bar Keepers Friend
For more stubborn staining, water marks, and discolouration, Bar Keepers Friend is the best product for stainless steel sinks:
- Wet the sink, sprinkle Bar Keepers Friend, scrub with the grain, rinse, dry
- It removes rust spots, mineral staining, and discolouration that baking soda alone won't address
- Use sparingly — it's more abrasive than baking soda
Restoring Shine
After cleaning, a few drops of mineral oil applied with a soft cloth and buffed in the direction of the grain restores the shine and creates a protective layer that repels water spots and fingerprints. Baby oil or olive oil also work.
Deodorizing the Drain
- Pour baking soda down the drain
- Follow with white vinegar — the fizzing action loosens buildup in the drain pipe
- Allow 10 minutes
- Flush with boiling water
- Place a lemon or orange rind in the drain and run cold water while grinding if you have a garburator — it freshens the drain and blade area
What Not to Use
- Steel wool: scratches stainless steel permanently
- Bleach: can stain and discolour stainless steel — particularly damaging if the steel comes into contact with bleach for more than a few minutes
- Scrubbing across the grain: causes fine scratches that catch future debris
- Leaving steel items (cast iron pans, steel wool pads) in the sink — metal-to-metal contact causes rust transfer to the stainless surface
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