Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Brush off minor scratches
• Part 2 of 3: Sanding away deeper scratches
• Part 3 of 3: Cleaning and polishing the steel
• Necessities

Stainless steel is an excellent choice for cookware, kitchen appliances, sinks, lamps, and other items around the home and workplace. The material is durable, has an attractive modern look and is resistant to stains and other damage. However, stainless steel can scratch. In the event of serious damage such as nicks, dents and deep grooves, you will need to replace parts or seek the help of a professional, but you can fix minor scratches yourself.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Brush off minor scratches

1. Look in which direction the grain runs. When restoring a stainless steel surface, it is very important that you rub in the direction of the grain. Look closely at the steel and determine which direction the surface appears to have been brushed. This is the grain.
   • Rubbing against the grain can make the scratches worse. That is why it is so important that you check the direction of the grain before you start.
   • The grain usually runs from left to right (horizontal) or top to bottom (vertical).
2. Choose a non-abrasive polish or cleaner. There are some polishes and cleaners that can be used to fill and smooth very light and minor scratches in stainless steel surfaces. You can try the following products, among others:
   • 3M stainless steel cleaner
   • HG stainless steel quick cleaner
   • Mr. Muscle Steel fix
   • Whitening toothpaste
3. Mix powdered polish with water. Some polishes and cleaners are sold as powder.You have to make a paste of this powder before you can apply the polish to the steel. Mix one tablespoon (15 grams) of powder with a few drops of water. Stir to mix everything, then add a few more drops of water until you have a smooth paste.
   • The paste should be about the same thickness as toothpaste.
4. Rub the polish into the scratch. Pour a few drops of cleaner onto a clean microfiber cloth. If using a paste, spoon about a quarter of the paste onto a cloth. Rub the polish gently into the scratch, making sure to rub in the direction of the grain. Because the product does not chafe, you can rub back and forth on the scratch.
   • Keep rubbing and apply more of the compound to the scratch as needed. Do this until you have brushed off the scratch.
5. Wipe off the excess polish. Wet a clean microfiber cloth with water. Squeeze the excess water from the cloth so that the cloth is just damp. Wipe the surface of the steel with the cloth to remove excess polish and make the surface shine.
6. Dry and examine the surface. Wipe the surface with a dry microfiber cloth to remove all moisture. Examine the stainless steel surface to see if the treatment worked properly.
   • Polish the surface again if the scratch has become less visible but is still slightly visible.
   • If the scratch is still quite visible, you may need to take more drastic steps such as sanding the entire surface.

Part 2 of 3: Sanding away deeper scratches

1. Choose a sanding agent. To be able to remove slightly deeper scratches from a stainless steel surface, you will have to work harder than with lighter and fine scratches. There are three abrasives you can choose from, namely:
   • Coarse (dark red) and fine (gray) scouring pads
   • 400 and 600 grit sandpaper
   • Set to remove scratches
2. Wet the abrasive. A set to remove scratches usually contains a lubricant or a polish. Put a few drops of such an agent on the coarsest scouring pad. If you are using sandpaper, soak a 400-grit piece of sandpaper in a bowl of water for a few minutes. If you are using a scouring pad, spray a few squirts of water onto the surface of the sponge with a spray bottle.
   • The liquid or polish acts as a lubricant and helps the scourer or sandpaper to glide over the surface of the metal.
3. Rub the surface with a coarse sanding sponge or coarse sandpaper. Sand in the direction of the grain and rub the abrasive in one direction on the stainless steel surface. Apply gentle, even pressure to the sandpaper or scourer. Make long, even strokes.
   • It is important to rub in one direction as rubbing back and forth on the surface can cause small abrasions on the metal.
   • To make sure you apply even pressure, wrap the scourer or sandpaper around a block of wood beforehand.
   • To find the grain, look closely at the metal to see if the surface has been brushed horizontally or vertically. That's the grain of the metal.
4. Sand the entire surface. Treat the entire stainless steel surface in this way. It's not enough to just sand the scratched area, as it will look distinctly different from the rest of the metal. By sanding the steel you are actually providing it with a new surface, which is why it is necessary to sand everything.
   • Continue sanding until the scratch has sanded away and is almost completely gone.
   • This can take 15 minutes or more, depending on the size of the surface you are sanding.
5. Sand the surface again with a finer sanding pad or finer sandpaper. When you have completely sanded the surface with the coarse scouring sponge, take the finer scouring sponge. Apply a little polish, soak the 600-grit sandpaper in water or wet the gray scouring pad. Sand the entire surface with long, even strokes, applying gentle, even pressure.
   • Keep sanding until the scratch is gone.

Part 3 of 3: Cleaning and polishing the steel

1. Wipe the surface to remove the sanding dust. Use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe the surface you just sanded. This will remove all sanding dust and small metal particles, as well as polish and water residues.
   • Even when cleaning the metal, it is important to rub and polish in the direction of the grain. Take a good look at the metal to see which direction the grain is running, making sure to rub the surface in the same direction.
2. Clean the entire surface with vinegar. Put a little vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray the surface of the metal with a few squirts of vinegar. Wipe the metal with a clean microfiber cloth.
   • The vinegar will clean the surface of the metal and remove any polish and cleaner residue.
   • Do not use bleach, oven cleaner, abrasive cleaners, or scouring pads to clean stainless steel surfaces.
3. Polish the steel. When the stainless steel surface is clean and dry, put a few drops of oil on a clean microfiber cloth. You can use mineral oil, vegetable oil, or even olive oil. Rub the cloth over the steel in the direction of the grain to polish the surface.
   • If necessary, add more oil to the cloth. Keep rubbing until the entire surface is polished.

Necessities

• Non-abrasive cleaner
• Water
• Microfiber cloths
• Sandpaper
• Scourers
• Spray bottle
• Vinegar
• Oil