How to Remove Scratches and Imperfections from Stainless Steel

Stainless steel appliances are elegant and instantly uplift the appearance of your room. However, such devices require regular maintenance and cleaning to preserve their elegance. Although the material in itself is durable and rust-resistance, stainless steel is prone to scratching. Such scratches are prominent on steel and make it look old and of low quality.

The relieving thing is that you can remove scratches from stainless steel by following some useful tips. Today, we will explore how to do that. Let’s get started then.

Contents

Take a more in-depth look at the appliances: 1
Prep-up with the required items: 2
How to remove fine scratches on stainless steel: 2
How to remove deep scratches on stainless steel appliances: 3
Using orbital sander in removing scratches on stainless steel: 4
How to keep your stainless steel furniture absolutely scratch-free: 5
Wipe away minor scratches as soon as you notice: 6
Maintain a similar pattern while wiping the surface: 6
Avoid using abrasive pads: 6
Polish the area: 7
Don’t use harmful elements near the surface: 7

Take a more in-depth look at the appliances

Before starting, make sure to take a close look at the appliances. Each appliance has a different finish, and your strategy of removing the scratches will be different. Ensure that the finish of the devices is proper stainless steel and not merely clear coated or simulated. There are several ways of identifying the surface material, which includes:

• Brushed finish
• Fingerprints are easily notable
• Stick the magnet on the piece you are testing. If it holds firmly, the metal is possibly stainless steel.
• Linear grain that goes in different directions

Before you jump to the actual steps, make sure to clean the scratched part. You can use white vinegar and then give it a clean water rinse. There are various cleaning products available in the market. These commercial ones are extremely chemically potent, and you can use them on stainless steel. Then use a clean and soft piece of cloth and wipe it in the grain’s direction to prevent further damage.

Prep-up with the required items:

Here are the items you will need for removing scratches from stainless steel:

• Wet or dry sandpaper in several grits
• Stainless steel polish
• Sanding block
• Non-abrasive commercial cleanser – powder or liquid
• Soft-bristled brushes
• Clean and lint-free clothing

These are the essential items you will need to wipe away the scratches on stainless steel. Depending on the number or the severity of the scratches, you may need more things to achieve the right results.

Below, we will outline how to remove different types of scratches on stainless steel. Determine which one is ideal for you and implement the measure.

How to remove fine scratches on stainless steel:

• Light scratches don’t give any pain, and these are relatively easy to remove. You can even wipe these away by using a non-abrasive cleanser.
• If you use a powder, it’s better to mix a little water with it and make a paste.
• Now dampen the cloth and apply a little amount of the paste or liquid cleaner on the spot. This is a spot cleaning treatment. Rub the solution firmly on the site. This will remove the scratch in no time.
• If the scratch is still there, use a clean and damp cloth and rub it firmly on the cleanser. This will wipe away the cleaner, and the slight scratch will be gone.
• If you are not satisfied with the cleaning for the first time, apply a little amount of stainless steel polish on the spot and rub again. You can also use commercial olive oil for an efficient result.

If the non-abrasive cleanser doesn’t correctly work, you may try a method involving whitening toothpaste. This isn’t very polite and will work great on removing the scratches. If you are not sure about how to remove scratches from stainless steel with toothpaste, check out the following steps:

• Apply the toothpaste to a toothbrush. Make sure that the brush has soft bristles. Now rub the toothbrush back and forth on the scratch to remove it.
• After you are done with brushing, use damp and clean clothing to wipe away the toothpaste. Then check if the scratch is gone.
• Keep on repeating all the steps if you are not satisfied with the result at one go. You can also apply a light coat of commercial stainless steel polish or a store-bought olive oil on the spot.
• Another effective way is to keep the toothpaste intact on the steel overnight. With time, you will see that the spot is fading, and remove the paste’s residue with a clean and damp cloth.

How to remove deep scratches on stainless steel appliances:

Deep scratches require more attention from the users, and you have to use high-end products. It would help if you sanded down such deep imperfections – you can use sheets of sandpaper for this, or if you want to save money, reuse your old orbital sandpaper discs. Here is how to get scratches out of stainless steel if they are profound:

• Wet the sandpaper and make sure to keep it wet all through the process. Dry sandpaper can cause other scratches on stainless steel. Further, sandpapers are dry. It will cause difficulty in removing scratches if you don’t get moist it properly. If sanding by hand is not producing the desired result, you can also perform wet sanding with an orbital sander for covering a large area and for a smoother finish.
• When you are using sandpaper for stainless steel, you have to use lots of water. Make sure to use more water than you usually use while applying a cloth. The reason is that a piece of fabric is softer and quickly gets wet. This is why clothes are often used in wiping. However, removing deep stains requires a coarse material, and sandpaper is ideal for that.
• Dampen the scratch area and make sure to keep it wet all through the process. This will ensure easy and effective cleaning.
• Now, apply light pressure on the sandpaper and rub on the scratch. A good practice is to move the sandpaper back and forth by following the grain. If you use it in the opposite direction, it may worsen the scratch, and some new scratches may appear. So make sure to follow the grain.
• After rubbing for some time, check if the scratches are still there. If you are not satisfied with the result, you may try the grit and coarser side of the sandpaper and follow the same steps.
• You can also use a whitening toothpaste or olive oil, or commercial stainless steel scratch remover to remove the scratches. To sum up, the difference between eliminating a light stain and the deep color is using sandpaper instead of cloth.
• Once the scratch vanishes, use a fine grit to buff the affected area. Make sure to blend it with the rest of the parts. This will create a wholesome look on the appliance, and the scratch will not look prominent. Even the professional stainless steel scratch repairers recommend this step as an essential one.
• Now wipe the entire area with a clean and wet cloth. Make sure to follow the direction of the grain. Many often, people use new and wet sandpaper to wipe the area. This is a mistake. Since sandpapers are rough, they don’t create a blurry effect no matter how wet they are. A piece of cloth is soft and blends the scratches effectively.
• Now dry the space with a soft towel.
• You can use a light coat of olive oil or stainless steel polish as the final step. This will create a new look and also prevent the appearance of fresh scratches on the appliances.

Using orbital sander in removing scratches on stainless steel:

Orbital sanders are the handheld power tools used for sanding where the sanding blade creates a random-orbit action. A random orbit sander combines the speed of any belt sander. The latter can produce a subtle finish. Professionals often make use of these products. If the scratch on your stainless steel appliance is deep and you have some tech expertise, you can use it. Needless to say that an orbit sander can create a better finish than the DIY steps mentioned earlier.

Orbit sanders have different types, including air-powered sander, electric powered sander, and orbital floor sanders. The air and electric powered orbit sander are handhelds and quickly operational; for this reason, they tend to the best choice of orbital sander for most DIY enthusiasts. On the other hand, a floor orbit sander is a large machine roll, and one needs professional expertise to use it. Therefore, if you are trying to remove scratches from your household products, it’s better to skip the floor sander.

If you are not sure about stainless steel scratch remover, you may use a random orbit sander. It uses sandpaper disks, and some high-end ones even include an integrated dust collector. The disks are attached with a hook and loop or a pressure-sensitive modern adhesive. Sanding with an orbit sander is based on a simple principle. Here, you have to remove enough material by making small scratches to remove deeper scratches.

An example will further clarify the process. Say your appliance has a horizontal scratch of about 130 grit. You can create 390 spirits around moving in a different direction. Now, make your way through the nerves. When you near the final determination, ensure that the sand is exclusively vertical and creates a subtle finish. From dishwasher to the refrigerator – you can use the technique in removing a deep scratch from any and every stainless steel appliance.

How to keep your stainless steel furniture absolutely scratch-free:

You must be familiar with the adage – “prevention is better than cure.” The same is the case when it comes to protecting a stainless steel appliance. Remember, stainless steel is prone to scratches. Make sure to be cautious while handling such a device should you want to keep it elegant for a long time.

In the following passages, we will discuss how to keep your stainless steel made appliances scratch-free. Follow these tips minutely to reduce your hassles of removing the scratches:

Wipe away minor scratches as soon as you notice:

Many often, we wait until there’s nothing to be done. When it comes to protecting stainless steel, make sure to pay attention to the little scratches. Neglecting these can produce a negative impact. Ensure to remove the slight scratches at once so that they don’t create a deep gash.

If there are minor scratches, keep on wiping and polishing until the affected area is smooth. Keep an eye on blending the room with the surrounding area, producing a satisfactory result. Make sure to polish stainless steel in the same direction as the grain. This will effectively remove the scratches.

Once the surface looks to be uniform, use a dry microfiber cloth. Rub gently on the body to prevent the occurrence of scratch any time soon.

Maintain a similar pattern while wiping the surface:

When you are wiping light scratches, make sure to maintain a similar pattern. Wiping or rubbing in different directions can cause unsightly marks on the steel surface. This will look bizarre and ruin your appliance. So pay attention to polish, buff, or wipe the steel surface following a similar pattern.

Avoid using abrasive pads:

While removing scratches from stainless steel, don’t use an abrasive sponge or steel wool. These products can ruin the surface and cause further scratches. Stainless steel is sensitive material, and you have to treat it in a sophisticated manner. Since light scratches are relatively easy to remove, make sure to use microfiber cloths, non-abrasive sponges, and other cleaning products.

For deep scratches, you can make use of coarse sheets such as sandpapers. However, please don’t rub it in the opposite direction of the grain. Also, please don’t rub it in the areas that don’t have any scratches. That can increase the possibility of the appearance of the new blemishes. Also, use wet sandpaper and wipe the area uniformly with a fine cloth after removing the scratch.

Polish the area:

After removing the scratches, make sure to polish the surface with olive oil or commercial polishers. This will create a layer on the steel and prevent the appearance of new blemishes.

Don’t use harmful elements near the surface:

Don’t use elements like magnets, knives, or utensils near the stainless steel surface. Also, don’t place any heavy metal items on the surface.

Following these steps will ensure an effective result. We hope you have found the article useful. Could you share your thoughts with us?

Categorised in: DIY Guides, Home Improvement, Orbital Sanders