It can be tricky to keep a stainless steel sink looking truly clean, but I have a brilliant tip to share that makes it much easier. This tip will not only leave your stainless steel sink looking cleaner than ever, but it’ll be shinier than you ever thought possible!
All it takes to shine up a stainless steel sink is a handful of simple supplies, and one of them is likely already in your pantry!
The Secret To A Shiny Kitchen Sink
The secret to keeping almost any sink clean, stainless steel included, is to give it a good scrub with Bar Keepers Friend every few weeks. Regardless of whether your sink is made from porcelain or stainless steel, using Bar Keepers Friend is the easiest way to remove gunk, grime, and marks of all sorts.
Related: 14 Things You Can Clean With Bar Keepers Friend That Will Amaze You
But for stainless steel sinks specifically, adding one extra step can take your sink from clean to ultra-shiny!
As strange as it might sound, that extra step involves flour. Yep, the same flour you use to make your favorite baked goods also happens to be the key to a super shiny stainless steel sink!
Think of it this way—if Bar Keepers Friend is like coarse-grit sandpaper in the way that it scours away messes and marks, then flour is like fine-grit sandpaper. It’s the last little finishing touch that gives your project a professional-looking finish, and you’ll love how it finishes shining your stainless steel sink! Read on to learn how it’s done.
How To Clean And Shine Your Kitchen Sink
You’ll need:
- Cleaning cloths
- All-purpose cleaner (like my homemade all-purpose cleaning spray!)
- Bar Keepers Friend
- Sponge
- Flour
Step 1 – Wipe It Out
After emptying your sink, wipe it out with a cloth and your favorite all-purpose cleaner. After all, you probably don’t want to shine up a dirty sink!
Step 2 – Scrub With Bar Keepers Friend
Sprinkle some Bar Keepers Friend into the bottom of your sink and scrub with a damp sponge. (If you’re using the soft cleanser variety of BKF, squeeze it onto a damp sponge first and then scrub.)
Make sure to scrub the sides of your sink in addition to the bottom, and give the drain a good scrub too.
After scrubbing, rinse out your sink thoroughly. (It’s important to rinse surfaces well after scrubbing them with Bar Keepers Friend!)
Once you’ve ensured that all the residue has been rinsed away, dry your sink thoroughly with a clean cloth or a paper towel.
Note: If you have a porcelain sink, you’ll be finished at this point, so step back and admire your handy work! If you have a stainless steel sink, proceed to Step 3.
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Step 3 – Shine With Flour
After double-checking that your sink is completely dry, sprinkle a handful of flour into the bottom of your sink. Use a dry cloth to buff the flour onto the sides and bottom of the sink using small, circular motions.
Once you’ve buffed the whole sink, wipe out any remaining flour.
Then stand back and admire your handiwork! Impressive, right? Who would have thought that flour of all things would be the secret to a sparkling clean stainless steel sink? What a world. :-)
How do you keep your kitchen sink looking clean?
One thing that should also be done when cleaning a stainless surface of any kind is to scrub the surface with the “grain” of the stainless steel, not against it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The thought of anyone getting flour down the drain makes me see the plumber coming down the street.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Not if it’s followed by a sufficient amount of hot water. Plug the sink, run a couple inches of hot water into it, pull the plug, and the flour will be gone.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have never had a plumbing issue with flour going down my garbage disposal. Of course, I throw large amount of flour in the trash.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jillee, your bathtube / shower cleaner (hot vinegar and Dawn dish soap) also works wonderfully on stainless steel sinks.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great idea, Rose! Thanks for sharing this tip. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Would you be able to use this method for a SS fridge?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Suzanne, here is my post with the best way to clean stainless steel appliances. Hope this helps. : -)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The Best Ways To Clean Stainless Steel Appliances And More
What about a black composite sink? Mine has a white cloudy look to it? I have tried BF but that does not seem to work on this one.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Does anybody have a tip for a stained ss sink. I accidentally got drain cleaner on the bathroom sink. Badly and permanently stained. I think I have tried everything, but you guys are so smart! Any help?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Is your bathroom sink stainless steel, Katherine?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes. I think so. Maybe fake stainless.
I use Mrs Meyer’s Baking Soda Cream Cleaner about once a month. The smell is wonderful while scrubbing out the water spots which is usually all I have as I clean it after dishes are done on a nightly basis. My mother used Bar Keepers Friend but I never picked up that habit from her. After my first stainless steel sink, I swore I would never have another but here I am with another. I will try the flour trick though because that was interesting and would love to see if it shines up anymore than normal after Mrs Meyer’s.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.After my first SS sink I swore I would never have another but lo and behold I have another. I love the Mrs Meyer products and ran across the baking soda cream cleaner on a whim. It is amazing to say the least. I love my diy cleaners but have never found anything that works and shines a sink like Mrs Meyer’s baking soda cream cleaner. It’s fairly inexpensive and the one I purchased has a lemon verbena scent. It might just be what you are looking for.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Where do you find the baking soda cream cleaner? I’ve always used comet cleaner.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I spray my sink with rubbing alcohol( after cleaning) and buff…………..sanitized and shiny !!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Castile soap works the best for me.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What do you suggest to clean a stained corian sink.? Nothing I’ve tried works.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Have you tried Bar Keeper’s Friend? :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Will any flour work? I do not have wheat flour in my home. Thanks for all the great tips.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Any flour is fine! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I only use Bon Ami &/or baking soda, neither one will scratch. BF is abrasive!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.There is a difference in shininess – but it is clean before and after :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes! I would definitely suggest using Barkeeper’s Friend, but the flour will be pretty messy!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I also use Barkerper’s Friend to clean the inner liner of the insulated cup I use every day all day long, and the inner liner of my InstantPot. Be sure to rinse well for both. I’m apprehensive about using BF on my fridge and use another product especially for the fridge; don’t want to disturb the finish.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’d probably use a soft scrub product.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks so much Jillee! I’ve been wondering about a good way to clean and shine my (almost) new stainless steel sink. Your ideas are always so practical and since subscribing to your website I search here first for solid answers and ideas to any household challenge. THANK YOU!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m so glad Vanessa!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use a few drops of dishwashing liquid on the back of a non-scratch sponge and go over the sink, with a good rinse of hot water.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Would this be worth a try on a composite sink?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes, give it a try!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I keep my sink clean with a natural product called Earth Brite…it cleans and shine beautifully!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Wow! I just read your post about tips to make my sink shine. It’s 3:31am and I can hardly wait to get up in the morning to wash my sink! ( who would ever think that I would ever be excited about my sink?)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you so much for all of your friendly advice, it is much appreciated!
Enjoy Angie!
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