Remove Scratches From Stainless Steel Countertops Using A Common Kitchen Ingredient

Shiny stainless steel countertops give your home's kitchen an elevated, professional feel mixed with industrial chic. These countertops are heat resistant and durable, so you don't have to worry if you accidentally set a hot pan on the counter, unlike you do with butcher block countertops. They offer a beautiful non-porous surface that cleans up easily, but like with stainless steel appliances, they can scratch easily. If you find yourself staring in dismay at a flurry of scratches on your stainless steel countertops, you only need to grab a common kitchen ingredient to remove them: baking soda.

Sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda, is an excellent way to counteract the downside of stainless steel countertops, namely its propensity to easily scratch. Baking soda is a gentle abrasive, therefore it's handy to lightly buff and remove scratches from your stainless steel. Mixing it with water creates a paste with a slight grit for easy scratch removal. Here's how to make it so your stainless steel countertops will look like they're straight from an episode of your favorite cooking show. 

Making a paste is one of the easiest baking soda cleaning hacks around. Be sure you use baking soda and not baking powder, as these two ingredients aren't interchangeable. You want a 50/50 combination of water and baking soda.  Start with 1 tablespoon of water and 1 tablespoon of baking soda, blending until you have a thick consistent paste. Avoid using too much paste and only apply a small amount on the scratch with a sponge. Use a soft, clean microfiber cloth to gently buff in the direction of the steel's grain. Once you're satisfied with the scratch removal, rinse with clean water, then dry with a dry cloth. See, it's a process faster than you can say, "Yes Chef!"

Treating scratches with a baking soda paste is best for small superficial scratches.  Deeper scratching or gouges will require other methods, such as a scratch removal kit or hiring a professional to remove with sandpaper. To avoid scratches on your stainless steel countertops, you should polish them regularly and only use gentle cleansers made specifically for cleaning stainless steel. Using non-specific cleaners may remove the steel's protective coating and make it easier to scratch. In addition, you should avoid using paper towels and other rough materials to wipe the steel as these can scratch the surface.