Stainless steel sinks are popular among homeowners because of their sleek design and durability. They won’t chip, crack or fade, but you need to know how to clean Kohler stainless steel sink units.
Not knowing can cause damage to the sinks themselves. Plus, it’s very noticeable when they are dirty. We’ve put together a straightforward, easy to read guide for cleaning stainless steel sinks.
Find out how often you should be cleaning the sink. A deep clean should only be needed once every few weeks if you are rinsing it out after every use. If you think your sink is looking dirty or is a bit dull, that’s when you need a deep clean.
Table of Contents
8 Steps to Clean Kohler Stainless Steel Sink:
Step 1: Rinse the Sink Out
Before we begin you need to make sure any dishes, utensils and food scraps are removed from the sink. Rinse it out well with hot water. If you have a dispenser in your sink you can run it through a few times to ensure there aren’t any clogs.
Cleaning the sink becomes a lot easier if you start out with a partially clean surface. If you find that there are bits of food that you can’t get off, use hot water. Keep running the water over them until they are loose enough to be scrubbed away.
Step 2: Apply Baking Soda
Grab your baking soda and apply it generously to the inside of your sink. It’s a truly magic ingredient that is a natural way of getting your Kohler sink shining again.
You should start out by applying a thin coating so that they sink is covered. Make sure the stainless steel sink is damp before you start so that the baking soda sticks to the surface. This means you can coat both the bottom and the edges of the sink.
Step 3: Scrub with the Grain
Stainless steel has its own grain. Once the baking soda has been applied you need to start scrubbing. There’s a very fine art to this, and you must remember the following:
- Don’t use abrasive scourers – Things like steel wool will damage the surface of the sink and will lead to rust. Even the rough side of a sponge may be too harsh. Try to always use a soft cloth or the soft side of the sponge. A toothbrush can be handy for getting into the drain and hard to reach corners.
- Always wear gloves – Baking soda can be harsh on your skin. It will dry your hands out and make you feel uncomfortable. It’s always a smart idea to wear some gloves.
- Scrub with the grain, not against it – If you have brushed steel where there are fine lines in the material, scrub in the direction the lines are going. This helps keep the finish and will clean the steel better.
Step 4: Apply Vinegar
The mixture of vinegar and baking soda is very reactive which makes it ideal for cleaning stains. Spray the vinegar onto the baking soda. You should see it start to bubble.
This is the mixture cleaning the stainless steel, removing any stains. A spray bottle is best here because you can spray the vinegar in an even layer over the entire Kohler sink. If you don’t have access to a spray bottle, pour the vinegar slowly. The key here is even dispersal.
Step 5: Rinse the Sink
Let the baking soda and vinegar compound sit for at least five minutes before continuing. Once the bubbles have stopped forming, you are safe to rinse the sink out.
If you notice that you’re sink is super dirty or if the solution turns brown, repeat steps two to five again. If you have one stain that hasn’t come off, continue reading further down in our guide.
Step 6: Dry the Sink
Once the sink has been thoroughly rinsed you can then dry it off with a soft cloth. This helps prevents water spots from forming. The cloth or towel that you use shouldn’t shed, otherwise you’ll have bits of fuzz in your Kohler sink.
A paper towel may be more appropriate. Just make sure its thick enough that it doesn’t break into pieces during the drying.
Step 7: Target Areas
This is a powerful combination that has been made to tackle tougher spots. Now that the stainless steel sink is clean and dry you may notice there are stains.
To target specific area, take one cup of vinegar and mix it with a quarter cup of cream of tartar. This is a great mixture for those tough stains.
Rub the mix in using a soft cloth. Leave it to settle in for five minutes and then rinse it off. This is a great combination that works well on targeting stains. It should not be used over the entire Kohler sink and you shouldn’t start out right away with this method. The baking soda method is used first to show up the areas that are stained.
Step 8: Buffing
The last step in our guide is to make your sink sparkling like brand new. Get a cloth and apply a some olive oil. This gives the stainless steel a nice shine as well as giving the sink a layer of protection so that it stays cleaner for longer.
The important thing to remember here is that you only need a little bit of oil. Too much and you will end up with a greasy sink. If you do apply too much you can use a towel to wipe the excess away.
Conclusion
When you have finished all of the steps above you should end up with a sink that is much cleaner than when you started. Make sure to wipe down your sink after every use.
The above steps are for a deep clean which should be done every few weeks as part of stainless steel sink maintenance. Taking care of it in this way means that your sink will last you longer. It will also be much easier to clean in the future.
Never be too skimpy on the vinegar either. Too much isn’t going to do any harm and it’s a brilliant natural disinfectant. It’s especially useful for removing marks that have been left behind by hard water. Be careful about using any sort of chemicals in your sink.
Follow manufacturers advice wherever possible for the best results. Kohler provide plenty of advice on their website if you want to get more maintenance help. The more you maintain your sink, the better it will look.
