Removing stain from stainless steel

[Slowbra]

I picked up a used stainless steel sink for the garage off craigslist. It's a high quality piece and looks great. However there is a stubborn stain on it from what looks to be a water valve leaking over time. It had slight surface rust over the stain that came off easily.



Anyhow, I've tried everything short of sandpaper to remove this mark (Bar Keepers Friend, metal polish, mothers metal polish etc.). You can't feel it on the surface whatsoever.

Got any suggestions on what to try?

 

[hayhauler71]

2000 grit wet dry paper

 

[PnHmech]

Did you try scotch bright?


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[nine4gmc]

CLR Stainless Cleaner

 

[shopnut]

I had some nasty stains on my shop sink and tried everything to take them off. Finally resorted to ultra fine grit sandpaper and it did the trick (large 3 compartment sink took 2 hours of sanding though)

Then the next time, I tried "The Works" toilet bowl cleaner. Worked like a charm with only mild scrubbing with a nylon bristle brush. Might want to give that a try. I picked it up on Amazon.

EDIT: Here's a link for you:
http://www.theworkscleans.com/toiletcleaner.html

 

[Stuart in MN]

This is a popular product for cleaning sinks: http://www.barkeepersfriend.com/

 

[hayhauler71]

This is a popular product for cleaning sinks: http://www.barkeepersfriend.com/

see post 1

 

[Slowbra]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll try the sandpaper and scotch brite ideas first since I have them readily available.

 

[southalabama]

Ditto. Barkeepers friend. Works wonders. Walmart or most grocery stores

 

[mikec35]

You might have to take away a bit of the surface with sandpaper then polish it, it may still show scratches though. I've had success with scotch brite pads in conjunction with a polishing creme. The problem is that stainless steel is not stain proof, it stains less...

 

[Twiggss]

hmmmm.... Have you tried barkeepers friend?

 

[rlitman]

see post 1

I saw it. Doesn't mean he used it "right". Use the powder only. Mix it with just enough water that it is still peanut butter thick. And use a lot of elbow grease. It WILL work.

 

[zcar751]

+1 for Hayhaulers recommendation. If you had rust then you will have surface damage that may not be evadent to the touch but visible to the eye from the pitting. Just make sure you sand with the grain of the metal and not in a circular pattern.

 

[wssix99]

I had a dishwasher with a similar problem. If caught early, CLR and scotchbrite worked fine. For really thick scale, i used baking soda, with a little water (so it makes a paste) with the scotchbrite to polish it out.

 

[Slowbra]

I've been using bar keepers friend for as long as I can remember. It's great stuff and cleaned the rest of the sink perfectly. This stain is a bit stubborn and needs some more aggressive action. I'll post updates after I try some if the suggestions.

 

[Slowbra]

If you had rust then you will have surface damage that may not be evadent to the touch but visible to the eye from the pitting. Just make sure you sand with the grain of the metal and not in a circular pattern.

That's exactly what I thought too. I'll make sure to go with the grain with fine grit sandpaper.

 

[jjohnson70]

Try Bar Keepers Friend.

 

[rsanter]

Soft scrub and scotch brite pad

Bob

 

[TapperMan]

Then the next time, I tried "The Works" toilet bowl cleaner. Worked like a charm with only mild scrubbing with a nylon bristle brush. Might want to give that a try. I picked it up on Amazon.

EDIT: Here's a link for you:
http://www.theworkscleans.com/toiletcleaner.html

If you go this route, be careful and test it in an inconspicuous spot first. Fumes from The Works can stain some types of stainless steel, as I've personally found out.

 

[rlitman]

That's exactly what I thought too. I'll make sure to go with the grain with fine grit sandpaper.

The picture isn't that clear, but you'd be surprised at how coarse the finish of many brushed stainless sinks are. Usually it is somewhere between 240 and 320 grit. Go with too fine a grit sandpaper, and you'll burnish the surface and make it look funny.

The metal does not actually have a directional grain BTW. That is just the grain of the "brushed" finish. There are special tools to repair this that use a wheel that is similar to scotch brite.

 

[Slowbra]

The picture isn't that clear, but you'd be surprised at how coarse the finish of many brushed stainless sinks are. Usually it is somewhere between 240 and 320 grit. Go with too fine a grit sandpaper, and you'll burnish the surface and make it look funny.

The metal does not actually have a directional grain BTW. That is just the grain of the "brushed" finish. There are special tools to repair this that use a wheel that is similar to scotch brite.

The picture is definitely terrible. The same spot exists on the backside, which is where I will expirement first. I found a video online showing the use of various grit scotch brite pads (I had no idea that existed) to remove scratches. This is not a scratch, but definitely left a lasting mark.

 

[wayne55]

Scotch brite pad in the direction it was originally sanded.

 

[rlitman]

Yes. Depending on the finish, either the grey or the purple will probably be what you want.

 

[dreamingmuscle]

steel wool #1 then #00 finish with #0000 if you like. Use it with your bar keepers.

 

[rlitman]

OMG NO steel wool on stainless. Repeat after me, no steel wool on stainless.
That transfers iron to the surface and activates the stainless. There's not much worse you can do.
If you want to use a stainless steel pot scrubber, that is ok.