How do you clean tarnished stainless steel?

First the surface is cleaned with warm water and a little dishwashing liquid and dried, then stainless steel polish is applied to a dry cloth and wiped along the grain. Steel wool and abrasive products should not be used.

Can stainless steel be cleaned with bleach?

Not recommended. Chlorine products can cause staining and corrosion on stainless steel; if contact occurs by accident, rinse the surface immediately with plenty of water.

Can cream cleaner be used on stainless steel?

On brushed (matt) stainless surfaces it can be used on stubborn marks, with light pressure and in the direction of the grain. On mirror-polished surfaces it may scratch, so test first on a small, hidden area. For details, see our article what is cream cleaner.

Why does stainless steel rust?

Stainless steel is not completely rust-proof; rust marks can form when the thin protective layer on its surface is damaged by chemicals such as salt, chlorine and hydrochloric acid, by moisture left on it for a long time or by scratching with steel wool. Iron particles left by steel wool and ordinary steel tools also look like rust spots on the surface. Clean the surface with a soft cloth and a suitable product and dry it; if a chlorine or acidic product touches it, rinse it straight away with plenty of water.

Why does stainless steel darken?

Darkening on stainless steel usually comes from a film of grease and fingerprints building up on the surface, from dried water and limescale marks, or from discolouration caused by high heat. The grease and dirt film lightens when it is cleaned with dishwashing detergent and wiped along the grain with a steel surface polish; heat discolouration around hobs and on pan bases does not go away completely with cleaning.

Do scratches on a stainless steel sink go away?

Fine scratches can be made invisible by rubbing along the grain with cream cleaner or a fine abrasive pad made for steel; deep scratches can only be reduced by professional sanding and polishing. To avoid scratches, do not drag scourers, knives or pot bottoms across the sink, and rinse sand and soil residue away before scrubbing.

Guide · Floors, furniture and surfaces · October 14, 2026

How to Clean Stainless Steel?

Stainless steel sinks, lift cabins, hoods and commercial kitchen equipment quickly lose their shine with fingerprints, water spots and grease. With the right product and the right wiping direction, these surfaces are both cleaned and keep their shine. In this article we explain how to clean stainless steel and what to avoid.

How do you clean stainless steel?

Remove dust and dirt with a damp cloth; clean greasy dirt with warm water and a little dishwashing liquid.
Rinse and dry the surface; drying is important so that no water spots remain.
Apply stainless steel polish to a clean, dry cloth and wipe the surface following the grain.
Buff with a dry microfibre cloth.
For a stainless steel fridge door and cleaning the inside: how to clean a fridge.
For the exterior and stainless steel doors of appliances: how to clean home appliances.
For granite, black and ceramic sinks: how to clean a kitchen sink.
For chrome and coated taps: how to clean a tap.
Step by step for stainless steel elevator cabins, doors, mirrors and floors: how to clean an elevator.
Stainless steel forks, spoons and knives come into contact with food, so they are washed only with dishwashing liquid: how to polish cutlery.
For steel kettles and teapots: how to clean a teapot.
For steel wire strainers and colanders: how to clean a strainer.
For stainless and chrome fittings on boats: how to clean a boat.

Tips by surface

Sink

Rinse and dry the sink after daily use. Wipe limescale stains with a neutral cleaner; do not use limescale remover or hydrochloric acid (tuz ruhu).

Lift and door panels

Wipe fingerprints with stainless steel polish, following the grain. For other common areas in apartment buildings, see the apartment building cleaning supplies list.

Commercial kitchen equipment

Clean greasy surfaces first, then polish. Detailed kitchen list: restaurant cleaning supplies.

Why does stainless steel stain?

Stainless steel resists rust thanks to a very thin, invisible protective layer on its surface. Chemicals such as salt, chlorine and hydrochloric acid can weaken this layer, and iron particles left by steel wool and ordinary steel can leave brown spots that look like rust. That is why stainless surfaces are cleaned with a soft cloth and a suitable product and then dried.

How to clean a stainless steel sink

Wash the sink with warm water and a little dishwashing liquid using a soft sponge.
Wipe limescale marks with a neutral cleaner; do not use limescale remover or hydrochloric acid (tuz ruhu).
On brushed (matt) sinks, wipe in the direction of the metal grain.
Dry the sink and, if you wish, polish it with a steel surface polish.
For granite, black and ceramic sinks: how to clean a kitchen sink.

Stainless steel sink cleaning: daily, weekly and deep cleaning

After every use: Take the food scraps out of the strainer, rinse the sink with warm water and dry it with a cloth; water droplets leave limescale marks when they dry.
Daily: Wipe along the grain with a little washing-up liquid and a soft sponge, rinse and dry; wash the strainer and the overflow hole too.
Weekly: Wipe limescale marks with a neutral cleaner and brush around the tap and the join between sink and worktop; do not use limescale remover or hydrochloric acid (how to use limescale remover).
Deep cleaning: On a sink that looks dull and scratched, apply cream cleaner along the grain with light pressure; rinse with plenty of water and dry (what is cream cleaner).
Odour and drain: Use an enzymatic odour remover against drain odour; do not pour bleach into the sink, it stains and corrodes steel.
Finishing touch: You can wipe the dry sink along the grain with stainless steel polish and buff it with a dry cloth.

What damages stainless steel

Steel wool and abrasive powders scratch the surface and make it dull.
Chlorine and acidic products such as bleach and hydrochloric acid can cause staining and corrosion on stainless steel; if they have been used, rinse the surface immediately with plenty of water.
Water drying on the surface leaves limescale spots; always dry after cleaning.

Water marks and fingerprints on stainless steel

White water marks come from the minerals water leaves behind as it dries, fingerprints from the oil on the skin; neither harms the steel, but both give a dull, neglected look. Remove water marks with a damp microfibre cloth and dry the surface at once; wipe fingerprints with glass cleaner or a damp cloth with a little washing-up liquid, then buff with a dry microfibre (how to use a glass cleaner). On frequently touched surfaces such as fridge doors, lift cabins and steel doors, stainless steel polish is applied sparingly and along the grain.

Stainless steel polish

TETİK Stainless Steel Polish is produced in a spray bottle and a 5 kg canister; the product is in the surface cleaners category. Follow the label instructions for the amount to use.

For step-by-step use of our product: how to use stainless steel polish.

Prepared by: Tetikoğlu Kimya — cleaning chemicals manufacturer since 1997. When using products, always follow the instructions and warnings on the pack.