For reasons of aesthetics and to maintain corrosion resistance, stainless steels need to be cleaned. To maintain the surface’s appearance and integrity, routine cleaning of some kind is required. It is simple to clean stainless steel sinks using a variety of techniques. Unlike some other materials, stainless steel sinks can never be “worn out” by excessive cleaning; in fact, they actually benefit from it.
Every kitchen can benefit from a stainless steel sink, which is also more hygienic and easily clean than you might imagine. However, if not maintained regularly, stainless steel can quickly start to rust or look dull. Learn how to take care of a stainless steel Campervan sink by referring to these ten guidelines, and your kitchen will always be spotless.
How Come The Sink Is So Difficult To Keep Clean?
As you prepare food, wash produce, prepare meat for cooking, prepare a casserole, clean up during meal preparation, or even after a meal, the cleanliness of the sink is obviously a basic requirement. However, cleanliness and that pristine, never-used appearance are entirely different things. The sink in an RV is constantly in use.
Fill the water reservoir for the coffee maker, get more water for the dogs’ bowl, put some in your travel water bottle, wash your hands, peel an orange, rinse them, make some toast, rinse them again, get more water for the dogs, take out the trash, and so on throughout the day. There appears to be constant use of the sink and faucet. Every time you use the sink, water also spouts onto the sides and the faucet.
Few people spend the time to clean the sink thoroughly after each use, so those water spots remain there, drying and leaving calcium deposits around the edges of every droplet. When water spots accumulate, the stainless steel loses its bright, shiny appearance and starts to resemble a galvanized industrial finish rather than the clear, cloudy appearance you remembered when you first saw the RV.
Tips To Make Your RV's Stainless Steel Sink Shine?
Stainless steel sinks can be kept looking professional in a simple way with little upkeep. The durability and enduring good looks of stainless steel contribute significantly to its beauty. Your stainless steel products will maintain their brand-new appearance for many years if you follow these few basic “how to” sink cleaning tips.
1. Use A Metal Grid
Food and chemicals that stick to the surface of an RV stainless steel sink due to scratches can cause corrosion and rust. To avoid scratches, placing a rubber mat at the bottom of the sink may be alluring, but this can also trap food and chemicals. Replace it with a metal grid to make it possible for everything to pass through the sink and down the drain.
2. Rinse And Wipe Down The Sink
Preventing water spots is one of the most crucial things you can do to keep your stainless steel sink from looking worn out. To prevent water from drying out and leaving stains, wipe the sink completely dry after each use. To keep any food particles or cleaners from adhering to the surface, it’s also crucial to frequently rinse and wipe down the sink.
3. Use Vinegar
You most likely already have vinegar in your pantry, which works great for cleaning stainless steel sinks. Try rinsing the sink with vinegar after you’ve finished washing the dishes for the evening and wiping it dry. Repetition every day or every week will keep your sink clean.
4. Use Microfiber Cloth
Though less difficult to clean than the sink, the RV small sink stove top, microwave, and refrigerator still show every fingerprint and smudge. They can all be cleaned with a damp microfiber cloth to keep them all looking their best, and the surface can then be carefully dried with another clean microfiber cloth.
Before starting to clean the surfaces, make certain that neither cloth has any sharp or scratchy debris attached to it. Avoid scratching the stainless steel surface. Move your microfiber cloth towards the “grain” of the stainless steel that can be seen as you clean the flat surfaces. Do not use any abrasive tools or materials. To keep smudges and fingerprints off the appliances, repeat this process as often as necessary.
5. Wash Everything Immediately
To keep the stainless steel’s shine, you shouldn’t let food sit in the sink. Dishes should be washed right away or put in the dishwasher rather than being left to soak. Rinse it after washing your hands, cleaning it, or draining the salty pasta water from the sink.
6. Use Baking Soda
Another effective homemade cleaning solution for your stainless steel sink is baking soda. Make a thick paste by combining a half cup of baking soda with about three tablespoons of water.
Apply the paste to clean. A soft cleaning cloth or sponge is used to apply the paste to the sink. You can use water to wash away the baking soda paste or vinegar to boost the cleaning power of baking soda. Baking soda will fizz when combined with vinegar, and vinegar can be used to polish sinks. To avoid water stains, dry the sink with a clean cloth.
7. Use Club Soda
The real heroes in maintaining stainless steel sinks are everyday kitchen items. Your stainless steel sink will sparkle if you use club soda. The RV kitchen sinks drain should have the stopper in it. Pour club soda in. Just enough to cover the sink’s base will do. You don’t need much. Club soda should be spread all over using a soft cleaning cloth. After rinsing, wipe down the sink to dry it.
8. Use a Soft Scouring Pad
You can use a soft scouring pad to remove stubborn messes like food that is stuck on surfaces and won’t budge with regular cleaners or baking soda. When the mess starts to stick, scrub it against the grain of the steel. After cleaning the sink, rinse it once more and give it a thorough drying.
9. Don't Use Steel Wool Or Wire Brushes
Common household cleaning tools like steel wool or wire brushes are ineffective on stainless steel, though they work well on other types of metal. These objects may scratch the sink, leaving iron fragments that may cause the stainless steel sink to rust.
10. Use Olive Oil
Try using olive oil, yet another item from your pantry, to make your clean stainless steel sink shine if it’s still a little dull-looking.
- A clean, dry sink is a must.
- A dry, lint-free cloth should be dipped in a few drops of olive oil.
- For a shiny finish, buff the sink with a cloth.
Avoiding Certain Things Is Advised: A Few Donts For Stainless Steel RV Sinks
- Don’t let towels, rags, sponges, soap cleaners, or sponges dry on the sink’s surface. They can harbor bacteria or other undesirable objects in addition to dulling the surface directly below them.
- Rinse frequently to prevent the chlorides in most cleansers from dulling stainless’s natural luster.
- Stainless steel sinks should never be cleaned with steel wool pads. Rust and corrosion can result from the leftover iron particles.
- If the task at hand requires a little extra work, again in the direction of the grain, try a ScotchBrite-type scouring pad for hard-to-clean projects.
- Cookware made of cast iron and steel shouldn’t be left in the sink for long. Stainless steel can develop surface rust and staining when iron and moisture are present.
- Avoid using rubber dish mats, wet sponges, and cleaning pads in your sink for an extended time. They can become stained and discolored as a result of the water that they collect.
- Do not use your sink as a cutting board, just as you would not use it to clean your dishes. Naturally, knives and other sharp kitchen tools will damage your sink’s surface.
Cleaning your RV kitchen sinks regularly will help keep them looking great for many years. Remember that most messes can be cleaned up, and your appliances can avoid staining by simply washing with mild detergent, warm water, and rinsing. Make cleaning a habit, remove water stains, work with the grain, stay away from abrasive cleaners, and avoid using sponges. For maximum corrosion resistance, regular cleaning is crucial.
Bottom Line
The best way to avoid water and surface rust stains on your RV sink is to dry it regularly. Do a quick, light cleaning every time you use the sink to keep it looking gorgeous. Avoid allowing liquids to sit for too long and remove waste residue before it dries.
To protect your hands when handling cleaners, put on some rubber gloves. Cleaning agents should never be combined. Certain products react to produce hazardous gases. There are a huge variety of blended or compound cleaners available. For information on solvent applications on stainless steel, users are advised to get in touch with solvent suppliers. Solvents should not be used in closed areas or when smoking.
