How to make your stainless steel sparkle
As well as looking great, stainless steel is functional thanks to its durability and the fact it doesn’t contain any substances that are harmful to the body – which is why it’s commonly used for taps, showerheads and sinks in the kitchen and bathroom.
But if you don’t take good care of it, stainless steel can become dull and even crusty with limescale, particularly if you live in a hard water area.
Follow these cleaning tips, though, and your stainless steel will sparkle more than a sequin covered in glitter at Christmas.
Why white is wrong
If your stainless steel is marked by white streaks and plagued with crusty faucets, that’s because of limescale.
Limescale is caused by minerals in the water that crystallise on surfaces, and can be a recurring problem especially if you live in a hard water area, such as the South East, which sits on rock that has a high mineral content.
Not only does limescale look unsightly, but it can affect your water pressure, turning your power shower into a miserable dribble. And the longer you leave it, the more it’ll build up – indeed, over a year a whopping 13kg of limescale can build up in the average household.
Nail limescale
Limescale is tough and you might think you’ve got to be tough on it, but don’t use bleach on it. You’ll do more harm than good that way.
Viakal Limescale Remover is specifically designed to target the toughness of limescale without being harsh. Simply spray the affected area with Viakal, leave it for up to five minutes, then wipe it away and rinse with water.
Viakal also protects stainless steel services from limescale three times longer than other cleaning products, so you’ll have to clean less – a serious bonus for busy mums.
And to polish it off…
Once you’re well rid of the limescale, it’s time to clean off the watermarks and make your steel sparkle with a good polish.
To do this, take the following steps:
1. Use a clean microfibre towel with a mix of warm water and Flash Multi-Surface Concentrated Cleaner for a powerful clean that’s so good at getting rid of grease, you won’t need any from your elbow.
If you don’t have a microfibre towel, use a sponge, but steer clear of steel wool or any scrubbers that aren’t specifically labelled ‘non-scratch’. You don’t want to end up ruining your stainless steel in an attempt to clean it!
2. Let the surface air dry or dry it with a clean towel. Don’t worry about any streaks left over, as these will be removed with the next step.
3. Pour a small amount of olive oil onto a clean, dry microfiber cloth and buff the steel in small, circular motions.
4. Use another clean, dry cloth or a paper towel to remove any excess oil.
Want to learn more cleaning tips? Check out our cleaning wizard for a whole host of ideas.
Have you used Viakal to get rid of your limescale? Let us know how it did in the comments section below.