Restoration Guides
How to Remove Scratches from a Stainless Steel Sink
Stainless steel sinks take a beating from pans, cutlery and scourers, and after a few years they are covered in scratches. You can’t make a sink look brand new forever, but you can blend out most scratches and restore an even finish in an hour or so.
The golden rule: follow the grain
Most sinks and drainers have a brushed finish: fine parallel lines running in one direction. Look closely under a light and you will see them. Every stroke you make should run in the same direction as that grain. Sanding across it or in circles leaves marks far more obvious than the scratch you started with.
What you need
- A stainless steel scratch repair kit such as our Micro-Mesh Scratch-Away kit
- Warm soapy water and a cloth
- Masking tape (optional, to mark the grain direction)
Step by step
- Clean and dry the sink so grit doesn’t add new scratches.
- Find the grain. If it helps, stick a strip of tape nearby as an arrow.
- Start with the coarsest grade in the kit on the scratched area. Use long, straight strokes along the grain, with even pressure.
- Blend wider than the scratch. Work an area a little bigger than the damage so there is no obvious patch.
- Move through the finer grades, always along the grain, until the area matches the rest of the sink.
- Rinse and dry, then step back and check under a light from different angles.
What about a mirror finish?
Some sinks and most appliance handles have a polished, mirror finish rather than a brushed one. For those, a drill-mounted steel polishing kit with cutting and polishing compound gives a better result.
More in our stainless steel sink scratch removal guide.
Questions
Can deep scratches be removed from a stainless steel sink?
Deep gouges can be softened and blended, but may not disappear completely. Light and medium scratches blend out well.
Can I use a scouring pad?
A scouring pad scratches in random directions, which makes things worse. Always work along the grain with a proper abrasive.
Will this work on a stainless steel fridge?
Only if it is solid stainless. Many appliances use a coated or printed steel-effect finish that should not be sanded.
Restore your sink in an afternoon.