The good news is, it’s probably not damaged and won’t cost you much to fix. Here are some DIY ways to fix scratches on stainless steel appliances.
I love the look of stainless steel appliances, but keeping them shiny can be a challenge, especially since I often hit them with rough objects. In fact, the first time I tried to remove a scratch from stainless steel, I used a scrub pad that was too harsh and ended up making the scratch worse.
But now that I know the right techniques and materials, most scratches are actually fairly easy to repair. Here are some suggestions from five experts.
Sometimes scratches on stainless steel can be removed. Shallow scratches can be removed or made less noticeable by polishing, but deeper scratches cannot be removed.
There are a number of non-abrasive cleaners and kits on the market that are specifically designed to remove scratches from stainless steel. Here’s how to use them:
“When filling deep grooves, always move the mat in the direction of the grain,” says Fahad Javaid, general manager of Zanduco Restaurant Equipment Supply. “While larger projects may take some time, avoid circular motions as this can cause discoloration of the equipment.”
“Because these products are specifically designed for stainless steel, they are the preferred method for regular maintenance and scratch removal,” said Alicia Sokolowski, president of AspenClean. But they are more expensive than home remedies.
For deeper scratches, some of our experts recommend using Scratch-B Gone or Scratch Pro scratch removal kits, which contain polish and sandpaper of varying grits. Be sure to follow all instructions included with the kit.
“It can remove both light and deep scratches and restore shine, but it also takes time and effort and may not be effective in removing all types of scratches,” said Shlomo Cherniak, owner of Cherniak Home Services.
Toothpaste is a popular DIY remedy. This method works best for very small scratches and routine maintenance, but is not as effective for deep or large scratches, Sokolowski says.
Test the product on a small, inconspicuous area first to make sure it won’t cause too much damage to your furniture’s surface. “Many people recommend using a mixture of toothpaste and olive oil, but I find that it causes more scratches,” says Dela Gomasi, general manager of MaidForYou.
Baking soda is slightly abrasive and is another popular DIY method for removing scratches from stainless steel. How to get there:
“This method is environmentally friendly, gentle on surfaces and affordable,” Sokolowski said. However, “it requires patience and may not work on deep scratches.”
Javaid also said that non-gel toothpaste mixed with baking soda and water can be used to make toothpaste.
It’s a quick and easy eco-friendly method that leaves a natural shine, but it only hides scratches, not removes them, and should only be used on lightly scratched areas, Sokolowski says.
When Gomasi’s team finds scratches on stainless steel appliances, he typically repairs them with fine-grit sandpaper. “To remove scratches, we typically use 800-grit sandpaper and lightly sand along the grain,” he said. “This needs to be done across the entire surface of the stainless steel.”
Javaid says soaking 400-grit sandpaper in water can also help, but he warns that using any sanding method can result in additional scratches.
If the scratches on a stainless steel surface are too deep to remove, the best solution is to replace the scratched panel or piece of hardware, Gomasi says.
Regular cleaning and polishing are important to maintain stainless steel as they can hide many minor scuffs and scratches.
Take your time cleaning. “Use a dish soap or a mixture of baking soda and vinegar and let it sit on the burnt-on food or residue,” says Javaid. “Once the soap has worked, you can easily wipe away the dirt without worrying about scratching it.”
“A used microfiber cloth can pick up tiny particles of dust and sand that can cause scratches when rubbed against the surface of stainless steel appliances,” says Gomasi. “We found that using a new cloth caused much less damage than using an old one.”
Yes, WD-40 does reduce fine scratches and add shine, but it may not be suitable for all surfaces, says Pascal. To avoid damage, test the product in an inconspicuous area first, then spray a small amount onto a soft cloth and wipe in the direction of the grain.
“WD-40 is more effective for polishing, and toothpaste is best for removing very fine scratches,” says Cherinak.
Yes, but test it on a small area first to make sure you won’t damage the surface. Use a non-gel toothpaste as it is slightly abrasive.
“WD-40 and toothpaste are very effective at removing fine surface scratches and brightening stainless steel, but their effectiveness at removing deep scratches is limited, and neither will permanently remove scratches from stainless steel,” says Sokolowski.
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