How to clean porcelain sink scratches

Porcelain washbowls are notorious for scratching and staining. The scratches turn a clean, shiny sink into a dingy-looking mess. The sinks contain an enamel coating which is a glass fused to the metal sink base. The scratches collect small dirt, and this denies your sink the shiny look.

You can easily clean the sink using a sponge, baking soda, and abrasive cleansers like the Bar keeper’s Friend, fine grit pumice stone, and repair kit. The sink requires gentle care while cleaning; therefore, start with the least abrasive material.

How do you remove metal scratches from porcelain?

Can scratches be removed from porcelain? It’s easy to remove the scratches from a porcelain sink if you follow the following procedure;

• Gently wash the sink with a sponge and dish soap. Avoid using scouring pads or steel wool to avoid adding more scratches. Do porcelain sinks scratch easily? Yes, the sink tends to scratch if you use abrasive products to clean. Wipe the sink in circular motions, then rinse away the soap with a clean rag. It’s better to use the hottest water you can stand to clear the dirt and stains.
• Sprinkle a layer of baking soda to fix light scratches. Buff it with a wet sponge for 3 minutes. Rinse the spot clean to check how much scratch remains. You can still mix some ammonia or lemon juice into the baking powder for a powerful stain removing product. Remember to avoid using bleach on colored porcelain as it can damage the color or metal fixtures attached.
• Cover your sink with bleach, then spread paper towels; they will keep the bleach close to the sink, allowing it to soak the stains. You can try other non-abrasive cleaners like borax and ROG 1 to remove the stubborn stains.
• Use an abrasive cleanser to remove the scratches and stains. Use a mild cleanser like the Bar Keeper’s Friend, as it contains oxalic acid, which bleaches, cleans, and removes rust. Apply some little amount to the starches and rub with a wet sponge for some minutes. Rinse the sink and examine.
• Use fine-grit pumice to remove deep scratches. Soak the stone in water and rub it over the sink for thirty seconds. Press down slightly with the stone, then rinse and wipe the sink.
• Fix deep scratches with a porcelain repair kit, apply a light layer of the paint-on glaze with a small brush. Give the glaze some time to set. Apply a second and third coating if needed and allow it to settle. Sand smooth with the fine grit cloth provided, rinse and buff the sink lightly with a cloth.
• Apply some lemon or baby oil to make the sink shine. Apply few drops to a clean cloth and coat the sink. The oil will prevent stains from sticking to it quickly and give it a fresh smell.
• Consider using car wax to apply the sink and prevent scratches. Apply some little polish on a sponge and rub it gently on the sink. 

How do you get silver scratches out of a porcelain sink?

Silver stains are common on porcelain sinks, as well as reddish-orange rust stains.

1. Steps for using baking soda to clean porcelain sinks

In cases where the scratches are minor, use baking soda to remove them.

• Start by dusting baking soda over the surface that has scratches. It may help to sprinkle the sink lightly with water first so that the baking soda will stick. Rub the paste with a damp non-abrasive scrubbing pad or soft bristle. But for deep scratches, scrub with a medium bristle brush.
• Rinse the baking soda and the metal particles away.
• If the scratches are still present, rub the surface with a damp melamine resin foam eraser and rinse again.
• You can still consider applying a bead of whitening non-gel toothpaste or rust remover product to the scratch. Wait for 5 minutes or longer as directed on the product, scrub the surface then rinse again.
• Dry the sink to remove excess water and allow it to dry for at least 8 hours. Later observe if the sink still has the scratches.
• Scrub with a soft fabric or sponge until you remove the stains.
• You can repeat the procedure if necessary.

2. Using white distilled vinegar to clean porcelain sinks

Here are the steps for using distilled vinegar.

• Clean your porcelain sink with a cloth and liquid dishwashing soap.
• Dry the sink with a clean towel.
• Spray the black marks with undiluted vinegar and allow it to sit for 10 minutes.
• Scrub using a non-abrasive sponge and then rinse with fresh water.

3. Use scratch remover to clean your porcelain sink

If the scratches are deep, the best product to use is a scratch remover.

• Identify the direction of the sink’s grain.
• Apply the scratch remover in the direction of your sink’s grain. Exert some pressure so that the scratch comes off the sink and avoid damaging the sink with the grit.
• Buff the remaining scratch remover with a soft fabric. The remover comes with a light pad; use it to buff out the remaining scratch. If it’s necessary, you can add some water as you continue buffing.
• Rinse out the remover. Use microfiber to wipe the excess remover.

4. Clean your sink by buffing with a sandpaper

You can also use sandpaper to get rid of sink scratches.

• Use a scotch bright or sandpaper with low grit to remove the scratches. Sandpaper does well for intense scratches and bright pads for light scratches.
• Rub the pad or sandpaper against the scratches heading in the direction of the sink’s grain. Keep rubbing the scratch until it fades away.
• Apply some pressure while rubbing to ensure you thoroughly get rid of the scratches. It can help if you wrap the sandpaper around a wood block to help in adding pressure.

5. Use a cleaning product

You can use the product for slight scratches. These products are Ajax and comet that you can use to buff out fine scratches. Spread the cleaner with a cloth or sponge in your sink and completely cover the scratch. Let the product dry until it has a hazy texture. Rinse the product or use a rag or paper towel to wipe off.

Conclusion

Even as you remove the scratches, it is best to clean your sink thoroughly and prevent scratches. But when the scratches appear, attend to them immediately using the methods explained above to prevent them from further deepening and staining.