Can You Buff Scratches Off Stainless Steel?
These days, stainless steel is a common sight in many households.
Many appliances in modern kitchens are made from stainless steel, in addition to cookware, sinks, and fixtures.
Stainless steel is a type of metal that resists corrosion and tarnishing. This makes it ideal for kitchenware and other household items.
Unfortunately, stainless steel can be prone to scratches and surface damage.
You can try using abrasive cleaners or even rubbing alcohol, but these methods won’t always work.
If you want to get rid of those pesky marks, then you should consider using some proper hardware for the job.
Fear not, as there are ways for you to get rid of those annoying marks for good.
Whether it's your fridge, microwave, or dishwasher, there are plenty of options for methods of removing scratches from the brushed metal surfaces.
It’s easy to get those brushed metal surfaces back into shape if you know how. Let’s take you through the process step-by-step.
Fine Scratches
Of course, the smaller the scratch, the easier it is to remove. For fine scratches, all you need to remove them is a stainless steel cleaning product such as Comet or Revere.
These products can be used to gently buff out any small surface scratches.
Some appliance manufacturers have their own brands of surface cleaners for their stainless steel products, which may be more effective on your particular appliance.
These products can normally be found at department or home improvement stores.
Applying a stainless steel polish regularly can help stop scratches from happening.
Steel polish helps conceal minor scratches and helps prevent further damage.
This works best for stainless steel products that already have a protective coating, instead of using cleaning products which might damage the protective layer.
Deeper Scratches
For deeper scratches on stainless steel, you may need to break out the fine grit sandpaper if polish won’t cut it.
For brushed metal surfaces, you will want to use a piece of wet fine grit sandpaper.
Make sure to use wet sandpaper, as this works best on metal surfaces and won’t cause more scratches.
This should be followed up by a rubbing compound to finish it off.
How To Buff Out Deep Scratches With Sandpaper
Use a fine-grit sandpaper (200 grit), and wet it using tap water.
Then start rubbing the wet sandpaper onto the scratch, going in the same direction as the grain, in only one direction following the brushed pattern.
Don’t sand back and forth. Make sure to keep the sandpaper wet. Do this until the scratch blends in.
If the scratch is too deep, you may need to use a coarser sandpaper before switching to a finer grain sandpaper to finish the surface.
Follow up with a rubbing compound to smooth out any rough edges.
Sanding techniques work best on uncoated stainless steel appliances.
Do not use this method on simulated stainless steel or stainless steel panels that have a fingerprint resistant coating on them.
Scratches and marks should be removed before applying any finish.
Rubbing and buffing in the direction of the grain removes any residue left by the sandpaper.
For best results, spray the surfaces of your stainless steel with vinegar, and then apply a clean microfiber towel to remove any residue from the cleaning products or sandpaper.
A clean microfiber cloth is the best thing to use to wipe off the surface, as it gently removes any debris or dust without causing more damage.
Cleaning And Polishing Stainless Steel
Continue rubbing until the surface is shiny and smooth.
Don't use anything hard or abrasive on it because it could leave permanent marks.
Also, if you do not know how to clean stainless steel properly, then you may end up damaging it permanently.
So, before you start using any sort of cleaning product, make sure you read the instructions carefully.
Using a high quality stainless steel cleaner to remove stains and scuff marks is always the best option, as these products are designed specifically for this purpose.
You should avoid using other household cleaners on stainless steel because these products contain acids and abrasives that can ruin the finish.
Instead, use a stainless steel cleaner that contains only mild detergent.
After the surface is clean, it’s a good idea to spray it with vinegar.
This removes any remnants of chemicals from the stainless steel surface.
Once the surface is clean and dry, you can polish the stainless steel by applying a small amount of oil to a microfiber cloth.
You can use olive oil, vegetable oil, or mineral oil. Each type of oil works great for stainless steel.
Make sure when polishing to rub with the grain of the stainless steel. Apply more oil if necessary.
To prevent scratching, make sure to only use a small amount of cleaner. Allow the appliance to sit for about 30 minutes before rinsing it off.
If you want to protect your stainless steel appliances, then you need to use a clear coating.
This is obviously dependent on what sort of stainless steel appliance it is.
Clear coatings are easy to apply and last longer than regular finishes.
However, you must be careful not to apply too much because excess coating can lead to discoloration.
It's recommended to apply two coats of clear coating to achieve good coverage.
To maintain the shine of your stainless steel appliances, you could use a stainless steel finishing powder.
This type of powder is safe to use on most types of materials.
Simply mix the powder into a paste to use, and does not require any special equipment.
Just sprinkle it on the surface and allow it to dry naturally.
When you're finished, wipe off the excess powder with a clean microfiber cloth.
Most people think that cleaning stainless steel is difficult.
But, there are several ways to clean stainless steel effectively.
You just need to find the right method for your needs.
The easiest way is to use a stainless steel cleaning product.
Summary
Removing scratches from your stainless steel appliances is easy when you know how.
You can get your kitchenware back to looking good as new with our easy methods.
Remember, you should always buff with the grain, even at the polishing stage.
If the fine sandpaper isn’t sufficient to remove any deeper scratches, use a coarser grain of sandpaper before switching to the finer sandpaper.
We hope that our tips and tricks have helped you get rid of those pesky scratches.
