Stainless steel appliances, pots, and barbecue stands need to be polished so they maintain their shine all the time. Just imagine taking out a dull and boring barbecue stand on the next guy’s night.
Before you throw in the towel on the shine of your stuff here are some cool tricks you can use to refurbish and restore the shine of your steel products.
Baking soda
Drying your stainless steel pots and pans by wiping them with a dry cloth is the most effective way to make sure that watermarks do not tarnish their overall look. If there are burn marks in the interior, sprinkle some baking soda on the burn marks and then wash them away with a soft sponge.
Baking soda & vinegar
Steel Sinks are the most vulnerable to watermarks because of the splashes that happen to them when washing dishes. To remove those watermarks, you may want to use harsh agents like bleach or other aggressive chemicals. For your safety, be a little careful if you decide to use harsh chemicals.
Instead of using those harsh agents, use baking soda to clean out those watermarks. Sprinkle two tablespoons of baking soda on the steel surface while it is still dry and then dampen a cloth to spread the baking soda all over. Afterward, pour vinegar over the baking soda and let it sit for 10 minutes and then rinse the sink and dry it with a towel.
Lemon oil
Clean the surface of the stainless steel object you want to polish by removing all marks of grease and all food remnants using a soft sponge with some mild detergent. Use mild detergent to avoid soap streaks all over the surface of that object.
After washing it with that soft sponge and detergent, dry it with a dry cloth and then pour some lemon oil on a dry cloth and apply the lemon oil all over the surface. Wipe it with a dry microfiber cloth to remove the excess lemon oil.
Olive oil
Using the same method mentioned above, remove all marks of grease and all food remnants using a soft sponge with a little mild detergent. After washing it with that soft sponge and detergent, wipe it with a dry cloth and then use some olive oil to shine the surface. After a few minutes, use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe off the excess oil.
Crumpled newspaper
A dry newspaper to shine the outside of your pot or pan can also be used if you are on a budget. Using a thoroughly crumpled newspaper, firmly wipe the pot or pan repeatedly until it starts to shine.
Toothpaste
Toothpaste is the wonder item. It contains enzymes that will remove any scratches, marks, dirt, or grime on your jewelry, glass, CD’s mobile phones, and much more. You can use toothpaste that doesn’t contain silica to clean your jewelry pieces although it may be a little bit aggressive and may ruin them.
If you choose this method, follow the next steps. First, apply toothpaste with a cloth and clean it up. Rinse it and then dry it afterward keep it safe and keep it clean.
Retail polishing products for cookware and jewelry
To get that perfect shine use some:
- Stainless steel cookware polish
- Stainless steel polish
- Jewelry cleaner
You can purchase all of this from your nearest grocery store or hardware. There are many types of stainless steel polishes that you can choose from, ranging from a wide variety of tasks and industry-specific polish.
Ensure that the chemicals you use are not too abrasive for the type of stainless steel you want to polish or the results may ruin the overall appearance of the object you want to polish.
What you should avoid
Scratching and pitting
Do not scratch your stainless steel by using steel wool, steel pot scrubbers, or sharp objects. You may also consider buying a sink mat for your stainless steel sink to avoid getting it scratched and pitted by sharp metal objects you are washing.
Bleaching
Remember not to use bleach because bleach contains chlorine which doesn’t pair well with stainless steel as it eats through the protective films.
Keep it simple and keep it nice but if it doesn’t work, don’t try too hard because it might end up ruining the overall appearance. Sometimes it may be beneficial to make the sacrifice of keeping your stainless steel with that one stain rather than making it look worse.
However, If the stains on your jewelry don’t come off, it is better that you consult your jeweler so that they can shine it for you. Through this method, you can get the right to shine at the right price.
Conclusion
With so many methods at your disposal, polishing and cleaning stainless steel is easier than you thought. Upgrading your kitchen by polishing the stainless steel appliances adds to the look and feel of the kitchen. Or be it any other stainless steel appliance in your house, polish it without worrying about the greasy smudge and streaks. Go with the grain when you clean your valuable fridge, dishwasher, sink, etc. and the shine will speak for itself.
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