Clean your stainless steel sink thoroughly
To keep your sink rust-free for the long term, it's important to know how to properly clean a stainless steel sink. “Kitchen sinks are the workhorses of your household,” explains Sara San Angelo, founder of the website Confessions of a Cleaning Lady. “So it's no surprise that they get dirty and greasy.” You can tell when a stainless steel sink needs cleaning because grease and food particles stick to the bowl and contribute to the dirty look, she says. This can lead to rust stains that give your sink a dingy brown color.
The good news: Regularly cleaning kitchen appliances will help keep the whole space germ-free and looking like new, so don't be afraid to create a cleaning schedule that reminds you when you need to refresh the stainless steel sink or clean other stainless steel appliances.
How can I make my stainless steel sink look like new again?
Although you may want to give your stainless steel sink a super-quick clean every day with soap, water, and a sponge, you still need to give it a thorough cleaning on a regular basis. Read on for our expert tips on how to clean your stainless steel sink and give it the deep clean it needs to keep it hygienic and shiny.
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Get your sink cleaning supplies
Cleaning a stainless steel sink is relatively easy. First, you'll need a few household ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, from sponges to mild dish soap or a mild abrasive cleaner like Meliora Cleaning Products' Gentle Cleaning Scrub.
Things you definitely won't need? Vinegar, for example. That's right: While other kitchen cleaning jobs may require the super combination of baking soda and vinegar, this project only requires baking soda. Another kitchen cleaning mistake? Using bleach on stainless steel.
“You should never use bleach to clean your stainless steel sink,” says San Angelo. “What makes stainless steel 'rustproof' is a protective layer of chromium oxide. Bleach can attack this layer and leave your sink vulnerable to rust and stains. Contrary to popular belief, cleaning your sink with vinegar has the same effect, so avoid using vinegar and bleach when cleaning your stainless steel sink.”
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