A clean kitchen sink is always a lovely sight, but some might find it challenging to keep it that way. Food can spill, cleaning products can leave a residue, resulting in gross stains all over the stainless steel.
In Wasilla, AK, you can hire house cleaning services to solve the stain problems and make any stainless steel surface shine in no time, or you can try and tackle the stains by yourself. But before you do that, it’s important to know which type of stain can be cleaned with which product.
How do I remove stains from stainless steel?
There are many factors that affect the way you can remove stains. Whether it’s a stainless steel appliance or a flat surface, the process stays the same. First, you should determine:
- How old is the stain?
- Which type of stain is it (food, chemical, rust)?
- Did the stain damage the steel?
Once you know the answers to all three questions, you can try one of the following solutions:
1. Dish soap and warm water
You can try this combination on any type of stain, as it won’t damage the surface. Just put a drop of dish soap on a wet sponge and wipe in the direction of the grain. It easily cleans up food spills. However, this might not be powerful enough for stubborn stains, but you can try soaking the surface in warm water and adding more dish soap. Let it sit for a while and then wipe it off.
2. Baking soda
If you’re dealing with a stain that’s been on your stainless steel for a long time, you can mix equal parts of baking soda and dish soap. This will make a paste that’s abrasive enough to remove dirt and grime without scratching the stainless steel. Then, rub the paste onto the surface with a paper towel until the stain goes away.
3. Vinegar
Sometimes the baking soda paste isn’t strong enough, so you have to go for the acidic option. And we don’t mean bleach, as it’s a harmful product for stainless steel. Vinegar is acidic enough to eat away every type of stain, even rust. Make sure to spray enough of the product to fully cover the area and leave it for a while.
Extra tips for cleaning stainless steel
Regardless of the method, when removing the stains, never use steel wool. It strips the protective enamel on the stainless steel and makes the surface prone to corrosion. Instead, a simple microfiber cloth or a soft brush will do the trick.
Avoid cleaning with tap water, because the minerals in it can leave white spots when the steel dries. Use distilled water instead. And if all else fails, invest in one of the special steel cleaning agents from the list of EPA-approved cleaning products.
The biggest stainless steel cleaning mistake is letting the surface air dry. Whichever product you use for cleaning the steel, always wipe it off with a dry cloth or buff it in for extra shine. Letting the product dry on the surface can leave spots, and that’s even more frustrating than the stain you were originally removing.
Need help with making your stainless steel shine in Wasilla, AK? Hire one of the best house cleaning services!
When your life is so busy that you don’t have the time to even think about housework, White Lilac Cleaning is here to help you! We can send reliable maids straight to your doorstep to make sure that every surface is spotless in a heartbeat. Enjoy a relaxing day off at Lucille Lake with your loved ones and leave the cleaning to us! Contact us today!