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Bianca asked: How can I get a bleach stain off of a stainless steel sink? I have a bleach stain on the stainless steel sink in my bathroom. I want to get it off before the end of the day.
Although stainless steel sinks are resistant to many stains, they are susceptible to corrosion when exposed to harsh chemicals. Chlorine bleach is a powerful chemical that will corrode and discolor a stainless steel sink. What looks like a stain, is actually permanent damage to the surface of the sink. While it is not a guarantee, some have had success in removing this corrosion or at least improving the appearance with the steps below.
You Will Need:
- Stainless steel cleaner
- Stainless steel polish
- Rubber gloves
- Soft cloths
- Green scrubbing pad
Steps to Remove the Stain:
- If the stain is light and only on the surface, you may be able to scrub away the corrosion.
- Using a stainless steel cleaner and a green scrubbing pad, scrub the surface. Be sure to keep the area that you are working on moist to avoid scrubbing dry metal.
- Always follow the grain of the steel to avoid making additional marks.
- Once the corrosion is removed, rinse thoroughly with clean water.
- If the stain persists, apply a small amount of stainless steel polish to a soft cloth.
- Apply the polish to the surface by rubbing with the grain and applying gentle pressure.
- Add more polish as needed.
Additional Tips and Advice
- Some suggest using more bleach to “spread the color” onto the entire surface. While this will make the spot seem to blend in, we do not recommend this. In essence, you are corroding the entire surface and weakening the steel.
- Check the labels carefully for cleaning products as many of them contain bleach.
- If bleach accidentally gets applied to the surface of your stainless steel, rinse it thoroughly and quickly with water to avoid staining and corrosion.
Thanks for the tips, I am going to try this. I have a question about the written part on my stainless stove top: next to the knobs, part of my marks are fading away. How can I re-mark them?
Worked great…I’ve been trying for about a year to get this stain off. Thank you so much; GREAT advice!!!
I have stainless steel water buckets for my dog kennel. The water has iron or something in it that leaves a stain. We have tried everything we know with no success. Can you help?
Hello. I was wondering if you could give me some advice please. In my bathroom sink, I accidentally put bleach by the plug hole and left it on there and now it has taken away and striped some of the silver crown metal paint/spray off or stainless steel around the plug hole and now it has gone black, ready to rust. Any idea how to clean it and bring it back to all silver the way it was, please?
Miss B,
Try using the steps in the article. Some people have had success with removing bleach stains on stainless steel using the steps above. Good luck!
Hello. I have put bleach on the main part of a shower in the control unit itself. Any tips for removing it? Pete
Hi. I accidentally poured bleached on my stainless steel sink. It has left behind terrible stains. Please advise me on how to get rid of the stains. Thank you!
Anisa,
Follow the steps in the article above. They should help you remove the stains. Good luck!
I had a similar problem and tried all sorts to remove it. I didn’t think I’d find anything to shift it, but then I bought some Brasso. Worked like a charm! Just a few scrubs and the stains were gone, and now looks better than new! 🙂
I used WD-40. It has removed the bleached stains on my brand new stainless steel sink. My son recommended it as he uses it to clean grease and grime on his road bike and alloy wheels, ect. It has brought my sink back to looking brand new and the taps.
I used vinegar on my stainless faucet and it left it terribly discolored. Any suggestions?
Hi Elizabeth,
A stainless steel cleaner could work to remove the discoloration. If you don’t have one handy, you can try using some baking soda on a damp sponge; don’t scrub hard though as baking soda is a mild abrasive. However, the alkaline baking soda can neutralize any acidic residue from the vinegar. Another trick is to rub the stainless steel with a little oil (cooking oil or baby oil can work) to polish it up, which may also help with the stains. Good luck!