How to Refinish Kitchen Sinks

Stainless steel kitchen sinks can begin to look scratched and faded over time with use and wear. Eventually, they may even become an unsightly embarrassment in the kitchen. Refinishing a kitchen sink is not as challenging as one may think, and it requires only a few small tools and a little elbow grease.

Step 1

Rub down the entire sink with a dry steel wool pad. The dry pad is the equivalent of sandpaper on a steel sink, and it will remove unsightly scratches. Use another wool pad to remove the caulking from around the outside of the sink.

Step 2

Rub a Magic Eraser cleaning pad over the entire outside edge of the sink to remove stains and food.

Step 3

Wash the entire sink with warm water and baking soda. To help the baking soda remain in place while you're scrubbing, wet the sink and dust the entire sink with 1/4 cup of baking soda. Add more as needed.

Step 4

Re-apply a fresh layer of caulking around the sink and allow it to dry for 24 hours. Cut the caulking tube at an angle to avoid the need to use additional tools during the application. Gently squeeze the tube and slowly apply the caulking around the edges of the sink to create a seal and prevent water leakage. If the caulking begins to clump, run a dish scraper tool across the surface to remove the additional caulking.

Step 5

Wax and buff the entire sink with car wax for added scratch and stain protection. Apply the wax with a clean cloth. After a few minutes, buff the wax off with another clean, dry cloth.