Stainless steel sinks are very functional because they don’t chip or stain like porcelain or plastic. However, their sleek and stylish beauty and high quality practicality do come at a cost.
Stainless steel sinks can be a pain to keep clean as they easily reveal each and every fingerprint that connects with its surface. The skin basin can also dull over time as grime builds up on the surface.
Why should you and your employees care about having clean stainless steel sinks? First and foremost there is absolutely nothing more important that a clean kitchen sink. This area is famous for harboring potentially harmful bacteria and should be cleaned and sanitized frequently.
Secondly, a clean sink helps develop pride among employees. If the kitchen sink is kept clean, that habit can spread to other areas of the business, like the counter space, nearby office desks, appliances and more. In short, it is a morale booster that can have a powerful domino effect.
Chances are you’ve already tried several solutions to this problem with varying amounts of success. It’s clear that plain dish soap doesn’t do the trick because while the cleaner works hard on dishes, it leaves behind a greasy film on the stainless steel. Instead try some of these approaches to the problem:
Regular maintenance. After every dish cycle, take a moment to give the sink surface a regular wipe down. This simple action can do wonders to help maintain its appearance and keep the built-up grime off shining clean dishes.
Make sure to also wipe around the edge of the sink. Grab an old toothbrush and tackle the gunk that collects within the stainless steel grooves and whisk away those annoying little fingerprints with a clean, dry dish towel. By cleaning the surface at every shift change, you’ll give yourself some real peace of mind that none of the nasty sink deposits are ending up on your clean dishes and glassware.
If your stainless steel sink is in a company break room, post a sign that reminds employees to take care of any messes promptly. Often break room sinks are popular place for pouring old coffee and flat soda down the drain, but if the sink isn’t rinsed after the substances are flushed down the drain, odor and grime can quickly become a serious issue.
Take it up a notch. In addition to daily spot cleanings, schedule weekly sessions with a heavy-duty professional cleaning agent. Champion Sprayon Stainless Steel Cleaner is an oil-based cleaner that easily tackles smudges, grease and oil stains on stainless steel sinks. Not only will it clean the surfaces to an eye-popping shine, it will protect them against future water spots, odors, stains and fingerprints while restoring its luster at the same time.
A natural approach. Another tip is to reach into the pantry for smart, natural cleaning solutions. Items like olive oil or that magic potion housewives everywhere swear by, white vinegar and water, may just be the right touch of gentle cleaning power that you need. Olive oil in particular will take stainless steel sinks from dull to glossy.
Just a few words of caution when utilizing natural cleaners: Make sure you completely wipe off the excess – especially if you are using olive oil to boost the shine factor as it can leave a slick layer of oil behind. Also, if you don’t like the bitter smell of vinegar, add some fragrant essential oils to the mixture of vinegar and water or dilute the vinegar more.
Choose with right cloth. Some cleaning cloths may be too abrasive for stainless steel sinks, so be sure to have plenty of microfiber dishtowels or cleaning rags on hand. Microfiber is a gentle, affordable material that won’t leave any streaks behind.
Some types of sponges or paper towels can be too rough on stainless steel surfaces and leave unsightly scratch marks behind.
