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Removing scratches from stainless steel appliances
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I just wanted to thank Cary from Toronto for recommending the Revere copper cleaner [linked by editor to product info at Amazon]. While it didn't completely remove the scratches/rub marks (yes, I too used the wrong side of the stupid sponge) it helped tremendously. Now you can only see them in certain light which is a huge improvement. One note, the directions say to apply it in a circular motion, obviously you want to apply it with the grain of your finish. With shipping I think it cost around $7, so it's a much cheaper alternative to some of the other products out there. Hope this helps.
Josh Cox- Omaha, Nebraska
January 4, 2008
If you have an "etched" water/liquid drip down your stainless appliance or on your sink, try this solution:
1. On a wet paper towel or cloth, place a large amount of baking soda [linked by editor to product info at Amazon]. Gently yet steadily rub baking soda over drip going WITH the grain. Once entire drip is repeatedly covered, continue rubbing baking soda over entire panel or appliance. This creates uniformity throughout the metal.
2. Use Windex Multi-Surface spray or similar to remove excess baking soda and provide a clean surface (might I suggest not using regular Windex as a substitute). If drip "etch" is still visible, repeat steps 1 and 2 until unnoticeable.
3. Use Stainless Steel Magic [linked by editor to product info at Amazon] (usually comes with stainless appliances) or equivalent polish to seal and finish the job. Be sure to thoroughly buff off the polish when it first dries so you do not leave streaks.
4. Step back and enjoy your dripless appliance.
This process has worked for me on both a Bosch dishwasher and Frigidaire refrigerator. The refrigerator gets especially bad drip marks because of the in-the-door water system. When I get sick of looking at them, I do this.
I use the exact products mentioned so alternative products may not lead to the same results. Also, this does not work very well on removing scratches so I would not recommend spending the time on this for that reason.
So I hope this helps at least SOME people here! Happy scrubbing!
- Millersport, Ohio
January 7, 2008
I recently updated my kitchen with granite counters and brushed stainless steel appliances, sinks & faucets. I love the look and want to keep them looking great. Reading all your e-mails has made me realize that scratches and water marks could be a real problem, and I am already aware that the rings I wear could be potential stainless scratchers, so am trying to be careful as I use and and clean my appliances and sinks. I have already scratched my primary kitchen sink, either with my ring or a scouring pad (too late I realized that scrubbing dishes in the sink with this pad would result in inadvertent sink scratches).
Over the holidays I stayed at a Hampton Inn in Chincoteague, VA where I admired the spotless stainless steel sink in the bar area of my room. I asked the manager how they kept it so spotless. At 5 years old, it looks better than my month old sink. He gave me an almost empty can of a product that they use, and said they use it every time they clean, and they swear by it. It is called
Sheila Shine [linked by editor to product info at Amazon]. Has anyone ever used this? I tried it on my sink, and while it doesn't get rid of the scratches, it certainly shines up the sink. I am wondering if repeated uses, especially on the my KitchenAid refrigerator or GE Profile stove and microwave, could have any negative impact - i.e. buildup, etc. Would appreciate any feedback from anyone who has used this product, before I go online and buy any.
- Stevensville, Maryland
January 7, 2008
To clean the paint from the paintbrush, my paint contractor scratched my double stainless steel sink.
I was hurt and very angry. I have been living with these scratches since June 2006. I see your comments on Scratch Be Gone. Do you think that will help or be too abrasive?
Hoping to see my sink free from scratches again!
homeowner - Elkridge, Maryland
January 12, 2008
Hi Susan and Janice, if you'll let me I'd like to taut the laurels of our Scratch-B-Gone kit. Janice, you've lived with those scratches much too long and if you want to remove all of the scratches Susan then the answer is Scratch-B-Gone. Please don't just take my word for it but read more about what others are saying and actual pictures at our website (link above). Scratch-B-Gone is the only recommended product for complete refinishing and scratch removal of all 'real' Stainless steel appliances, sinks and grills. Sheila Shine is a very good product but one thing most tend to do is leave a layer of film behind and it tends to get oily. If you use this, be sure to wipe it all off for better results and handling. The makers of Sheila Shine also recommend this. Best to both of you.
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Barry Feinman Restore It Yourself, Inc  Carlsbad, California |
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January 13, 2008
Has anyone tried to buff out scratches in a stainless steel sink using finest steel wool? I would like to know if this would work for otherwise new sinks with minor scratches from pots and pans.
Anne Moffett- Indio, California
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January 16, 2008
If you can find fine Bronze Wool [linked by editor to product info at Amazon], it might be worth a shot, Anne. But steel wool can cause stainless steel to rust. Before a stainless sink is shipped to you from the factory it undergoes a special 'passivation' treatment in acid designed to dissolve any microscopic particles of steel that may become attached in the manufacturing process.
January 16, 2008 Ann, I would suggest not using steel wool when trying to bring about this repair particularly in a water environment as any particulate dust left behind will rust and stain your sink. All the best.
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January 19, 2008
Hi,
I did a stupid thing and got mad because I could not get a few stains off my stainless steel dishwasher and used the green scrub side of an everyday sponge and ruined the finish. I read all the articles, went to Home Depot and only found Scratch Away for stainless steel sinks so I thought what the heck stainless is stainless. It included about
5 different small sand paper finish pads. It was tough for me to bring myself to use this on my dishwasher but I had no choice so you basically scratch the entire surface until you come down to the fine sandpaper finish pads. Then polish. Well it got the scratches out! BUT the finish is smeary; I tried Brasso to see if that would help, vinegar like one person said. But it still is smeary. Any suggestions?
Barb
- Buffalo Grove, Illinois
January 23, 2008
Hi Barb, as you stated Scratch Away specifically states for use on sinks only. This is due to the prolonged and tedious process of cycling through the many abrasive pads to get scratches out. The manufacturer actually will tell you not to use their product on appliances other than sinks. This is because you will have to do the whole surface to get the remain to match in color and texture. Assuming your dishwasher is 'real' stainless and doesn't have a clear coat film, Scratch-B-Gone will help you repair this problem. Hope this helps. All the best.
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Barry Feinman Restore It Yourself, Inc Carlsbad, California |
February 19, 2008
In 2006 I bought all new GE Profile Stainless Steel appliances for my kitchen. I LOVE them! They are a brushed stainless with, what I call, a satin finish.... just gorgeous. I clean them daily as needed with Stainless Steel Magic [linked by editor to product info at Amazon], and once a week I go over them thoroughly applying the stainless steel magic with a paper towel and then "buffing" them with a lint free towel. Since I bought these I have made a fuss about putting away any Scotch Brite sponges with the green pad on one side, before I have company, for fear that a well intentioned relative might scratch any of the appliances. And my husband knew this! Well, on Sunday I went out and came home to my husband telling me how he emptied and reloaded the dishwasher for me...only to notice that he SCRATCHED the front of my dishwasher in 2 places! He rubbed up and down and side to side! AHHHHH! After reading the tips here, I tried Revere Copper and Stainless Steel Cleaner on one of the scratches. Big Mistake! The scratch is still there AND the cleaner appears to have created another noticeable "patch", which is larger than the scratch, where I used it.... almost like it rubbed a "top coat" off the finish. I'm sorry I touched it!
Kathy Orehostky- Jackson, New Jersey
February 20, 2008
All of these suggestions sound great, and I am eager to try one. But what can I do for a fridge that has "faux" stainless steel on its doors? I do not know what the material is made of. It looks like stainless, but a magnet cannot stick to it. Any suggestions?
I, too, tried to remove the sticky glue the manufacturer used to attach the product specs, and ended up scratching the surface, against the grain no less.
I may try one of the buffing products such as Brasso [linked by editor to product info at Amazon] or Barkeepers Friend [linked by editor to product info at Amazon], but am hesitant to actually use one of the Scotchguard or 3M pads b/c the fridge is not actually a metal. Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
Emily Bates- Birmingham, Alabama
February 22, 2008
Hi Kathy and Emily, sorry to read of your dilemmas. Have you read the blogs discussing our Scratch-B-Gone product. Let me address each of your problems and possible solutions. Emily, you write that the appliance is non-magnetic yet you call it 'faux' finish. In fact, 'real' 304 Stainless steel is Non-magnetic; where as, those refers which hold magnets are actually steel frames with a protective finish or synthetic skin wrap. Why do you say it is not real? Was it sold as 'finger print or smudge-free'? If so then it may have a clear coat, protective finish. And for you Kathy, GE Profile is usually 'real' Stainless steel unless it is sold as "Clean Steel", their name for a coated finish. Is this the case? I suspect you both have 'real' Stainless but have used poor repair solutions which have 'burnished' the surface repair and created typical bright spots. If this is true them our Scratch-B-Gone will fix these problems. Since I get a lot of inquiries about "How Do I Know If I Have A Coated or Imitation Finish", we have put together a pretty thorough review of manufacturers with coatings and quick tests you can do to determine if your appliance has a coating. You can find this on our website. From our home page you will be directed to a test page. Please feel free to contact me to discuss when in doubt. While there also look at our many safe cleaning products for Stainless and whole kitchen. All the best!
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Barry Feinman Restore It Yourself, Inc Carlsbad, California |
March 9, 2008
I just got a KitchenAid SS side-by-side fridge (KSRG22FTSS). It looks great, but I just noticed that there are small scuff marks and a light scratch on one of the doors. The marks are right near where the handle meets the door, and I'm 99% sure it was caused by the manufacturer (scuff marks are in the shape of the handle). These marks are barely noticeable but they make me love my fridge less. :( I am a VERY picky person (and it drives my family crazy sometimes).
Should I try something like Scratch B Gone? Is it available in Canada (I'm in Toronto)? The thing is, I've tried using various scratch-removing methods on other products before, but the end result is usually a patch that looks shinier/duller than the original. This has me really worried, and I see reviews that suggest that this has happened to some people with Scratch B Gone. Again, the scuff marks and scratch are small and can only be seen up close and when the light catches it at certain angles. I'm worried that I'll end up making it look worse, with an off-finish patch visible from far away.
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
March 18, 2008
I've got an Elkay SS sink and it is less than a week old and my mother-in-law (yes the dreaded mother-in-law) cleaned a crock pot in it an there are some minor scratches. I tried barkeeper friend and some 000 steel wool with veg oil and there are still some minor scratches. Will Scratch-B-Gone work in this situation? Do I need to do the whole area, or just the scratches?
Phil Hartzel- Scranton, Pennsylvania
March 23, 2008
Happy Easter Phil. Thanks for asking specifically about Scratch-B-Gone. Yes, Scratch-B-Gone will work very quickly to fix these scratches. Scratch-B-Gone re-scratches the original grain and returns a new finish to the damaged surface. No you won't have to do the entire surface as our proprietary formula, Ultra Shine, quickly oxidizes the locally refinished surface to match surrounding surfaces. Our process allows you to locally restore a scratch with remarkable results..Have a nice Easter.
Hi Jerry, the Scratch-B-Gone process is designed to successfully remove light scuff scratches from Stainless while chemically blending the repaired areas to closely match surrounding surface tone. We have had hundreds of success ourselves and hear successes of those who have used Scratch-B-Gone on problems like yours. Thanks for specifically asking about Scratch-B-Gone. It is now the only manufacturer recognized restoration products for Stainless appliances, sinks and grills. All the best
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Barry Feinman Restore It Yourself, Inc Carlsbad, California |
March 25, 2008
Just yesterday I scratched my Frigidaire refrigerator with one of those "hard surface" kitchen sponges. I wasn't thinking. I think my surface is faux like one of the previous posters.
After panicking I decided to use the
Zep Stainless Steel Cleaner we had on hand and IT WORKED! I'd be lying if I said you couldn't see the scratches at all anymore, but it made a HUGE difference. I can't see the swirls unless I'm really looking.
If you can't find it I would guesstimate it works similarly to WD-40 [linked by editor to product info at Amazon] which I saw referenced on the forum a few times. Both are oil based so I would recommend starting there if you have a fridge similar to mine. Good luck!
- Atlanta, Georgia
March 26, 2008
I have a 72" GE Monogram Refrigerator and Freezer. The housecleaning company I have been using must have used a scrubbing pad or a dirty cloth the last time they cleaned because now I have swirly scratches all over the units. I just ordered the Scratch B Gone but after reading the postings, I am a little worry about some of the people who said the product made it worst. Honestly, I would not care as much if it doesn't work as much as I care about it getting worse. Should I be worry? The scratches are very very light, almost like the swirly marks on a car.
Ellen Martin- New Hyde Park, New York
April 10, 2008
Some years ago I had a dog do a number on my stainless range. He chewed the corners of the drawer and the door. Talk about a death wish, but lucky for my furry friend I love him and what the heck he didn't get what he did? I had nothing to lose the stove looked like I dragged it from the trash. I took wet - dry sand paper the black paper, wet it and started sanding. The teeth marks in some spots were deep, I could not believe it but I saved my stove. I them buffed it with fine steal wool used for furniture polishing. If your marks are deep you might want to try this. My stove lives on and is almost back to new.
Kat Mills- Denton, Maryland
March 30, 2008
I have a stainless steel refrigerator that has many hard water spots and streaks where the external ice maker and water dispenser are. That half of the refrigerator is a mess. I have tried full strength white vinegar, soft scrub, pure water, stainless cleaner, with no luck. I have searched all over the internet for answers - no luck there either. I have no clue at this point how to clean the hard water (calcium deposits in our water) from the doors. Does anyone have a way for me to clean this and to keep it clean.
Thank
buyer - Mesa, Arizona
April 2, 2008
Question for Barry (or any other expert) regarding my stainless steel. I have a GE Monogram Fridge and Double Over; GE Profile Gas cooktop and microwave; and Kitchenaid Dishwasher. Can I use Scratch B Gone on these surfaces? I am looking for a weekly (or ever more frequent) cleaning product that won't dull the metal, removes all the various stains and takes out the minor scratches. Sounds like this is the product for me but want to double check before hurting my brand new appliances. Appreciate your timely response.
Carolyn Kilkenny- Darien, Connecticut
April 20, 2008
This answer is for both Sharon and Carolyn. Scratch-B-Gone will work safely to remove those nagging water streaks from the calcium off of your doors. We also have a new product at our site called XHS or Xtreme Hardwater remover which we are soon to launch which is very effective in removing hard water mineral deposit while being safe to Stainless. As to your question Carolyn, Kitchenaid products are good candidates for Scratch-B-Gone as is GE Profile. Again, don't use Scratch-B-Gone on any appliances sold as 'CLEAN STEEL' from GE; 'SATINA' from Whirlpool/Kitchenaid. Check the model # and look for an "SS" as the last letters in their sequence. This stands for Stainless steel. Their Architectural Series has a Monochromatic Stainless but this is not the same. When all else fails look to our website for a downloadable Quick Test guide for determining if Scratch-B-Gone will work on your surface. Thanks and best of luck.
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Barry Feinman Restore It Yourself, Inc Carlsbad, California |
April 23, 2008
I just wanted to let everyone know that Scratch-B-Gone does work. After much investigation, after my refrigerator was scratch by a housekeeper with steel wool, I decided to try it. It took 10 minutes to do and looks like brand new. I am impressed with this product. It's worth the money. Its very easy to do also, you just need a little elbow grease! I am not in any way affiliated with this company or product.
Jennifer Lavi- Bloomington, Illinois
April 30, 2008
We have not-too-deep ugly scratch going against the grain right in the middle of the fridge. After checking out the Scratch B Gone site, I don't think I can use it because I have a Frigidaire "Easy Care" fridge. But "Easy Care" does say it is "genuine stainless steel," but is magnetic, and it does leave fingerprints, just not huge ugly ones I've seen on other ss appliances. So to Barry or anyone who has gotten scratches out of an "Easy Care" appliance - what can we do? I was very hopeful until I got to the 3-step-test. :(
Nicole Parsons- Hartford, Connecticut
May 1, 2008
Hi Nicole..thanks for considering and mentioning Scratch-B-Gone for your repairs. Since you've done a good job at researching this issue, I will ask you to do one more test. Find some metal polish under your sink (ie silver, brass polish). Put small drop on towel and rub in corner of door in direction of grain. If uncoated then will turn black on cloth. If this happens then Scratch-B-Gone will work for you. Magnetic quality of metal indicates that we're working with 430SS not 304SS and it is probably coated to reduce printing and reduce rust potential. All the best...please post your results. I'll be reading.
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Barry Feinman Restore It Yourself, Inc Carlsbad, California |
May 18, 2008
As a follow up to all of the posts concerning scratches in stainless steel appliances, I too, managed to scratch my fridge with an abrasive type cleaner. After reading the posts, I tried to double check with an appliance store, Sears, Home Depot, Best Buy, to see if they had an recommendations. Big waste of time... Long story short, I bought a 150 grit sanding sponge from Home Depot and went with the grain of the stainless steel and completely took the scratches out. Polished it up and the fridge looks like new again.
Brian Zeeb- Ankeny, Iowa
May 18, 2008
Spots and fingerprints on Stainless Kitchenaid fridge remedy:
I bought a floor model and used the cream that came with the Fridge but it looked worse. I have used the Cream from my Charmglow Commercial Stainless BBQ and it worked like a charm. I cannot find where to purchase it though as it only comes with the BBQ. If you can get some of this, you fridge will look great... I don't know about scratches though. Good Luck!
- Gainesville, Virginia
June 22, 2008
I recently built a home and bought a brand new (and my very first!) stainless steel, side-by-side fridge (GE). About one week after receiving it, I opened the door and it accidentally hit a nearby wooden bar stool and it made an awful lengthwise zig-zag scratch (think Charlie's Brown's shirt!). Needless to say, I was absolutely devastated and searched for hours on the internet for a solution. Thank goodness, I found this site and heard about Scratch-B-Gone. I was skeptical, since I read some reviews here that said it just made the scratches worse, but I knew I couldn't live with the scratch so I decided to try my luck and bought the .75 ounce bottle. When I received it, I used the finest grit pad that came with the kit (the grey, unwoven one) and applied the solution. I worked the pad VERY gently up and down with the grain and to my absolute shock, the scratch was becoming lighter by the second! Within about 5 minutes of careful working, I had completely buffed out the scratch. When I stepped back, however, I could still see a very slight "dullness" across the area where I had buffed (it was really no big deal, but I'm a perfectionist and wanted it to look EXACTLY as it did the day I got it a week before). I just applied a bit more solution to the pad and worked up and down about 6 inches above and below the scratch to camouflage it and within a few strokes, it worked like a charm! There is absolutely NO evidence that a scratch was ever present or that any buffing had been done. It looks like it did the day I got it. Granted, it was definitely not a deep scratch, but I am very pleased with the product and recommend it to anyone with a similar problem. One word of note: the directions say that you should apply some solution to the surface with a rag first and if the rag doesn't turn black, you shouldn't use it. This is not always the case. I applied the solution with a rag and it did NOT turn black or change colors at all. I was very disappointed since I really wanted to use it. I called the manufacturer and they confirmed that it was indeed real stainless steel and that it did not have a protective coating, so I used it and am very happy I did!
Lisa Jones- Cleveland, Ohio
July 6, 2008
I've looked through a lot of this thread with no real answer, so I finally decided to "bite the bullet" and just do it the way I thought might work . . . and I was right (for a change).
Some thoughtful person, following a party at our home decided to clean our expensive stainless steel DCS stove and oven with a Scotch Brite pad. Needless to say, Scotch Brite IS NOT a good way to clean anything stainless steel! Fortunately our good Samaritan realized very quickly that it was a really bad idea. Unfortunately, the stainless was marked right in front of the burners. My first thought was automotive rubbing compound or polishing compound, and I tried it, realizing it was going to take hours to remove the scratches, and I was going to end up with a shiny spot on the stove.
I checked this thread and really didn't get any help, but a whole lot of confusion. (Here's the "bite the bullet part). I have some wet and dry auto paint sandpaper in a variety of grits, so I used wet (Yes, you put water on it) 400 grit waterproof sandpaper and a good quality sanding block to try to rub out the scratches. I realized in about two minutes that I was on the right track, since the scratches were gone, however the stainless was a bit too shiny, so I hit the area with 320 grit on the sanding block. It turned out great, although still just a bit smoother finish than the original, but my fiance loves it, so I didn't drop down to the 280 grit, which would probably be the right one.
Long story short: Get a good quality automotive paint sanding block and a variety of waterproof automotive paint sandpapers, then start with about 400 grit and move down until you have the one that matches your finish. You might not have to use the sanding block on a surface that isn't flat, but I'd recommend it strongly on any flat surfaces.
Once I started rubbing out the spot using this technique, it really did only take about two minutes. The second shot with the 320 grit took a whole 30 seconds and the stove looks like new (which it is)!
It's cheap, easy and quick and you don't have to search for any magic potions!
Congratulations, you found the right answer!
- Nevada City, California,
July 13, 2008
I will follow up on the remedies for scratch removal on the "brushed stainless steel" areas, but I have a problem on the highly polished/mirror finished, smooth perimeter of my sink. It has some scratches (naturally from pots and pans)and also a "bloom" of blue and subdued rainbow colors that disappear momentarily when polished but never permanently. Hopefully someone else has already found a solution to this situation. Thank you in advance for your help.
Ronald Haslock- Westbank, BC Canada
July 30, 2008
Hi Ron. The mirror or bright polish you speak of is created by high speed buffing process with compounds. As a service company we have done this hundreds of times. This is quite simple to resolve but you will need to purchase a few things. Contact us at above banner link to discuss the process. For your brushed grained finish of your tub and basin, Scratch-B-Gone is the proven solution for all leading manufacturers of sinks, appliances and grills. All the best
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Barry Feinman Restore It Yourself, Inc Carlsbad, California |
September 7, 2008
HELP! Just moved into our new home, new SS appliances in the kitchen. The problem is with the KitchenAid refrig. Trying to do two things at once I opened the microwave pull down door and the freezer door swung open at the same time and caused a 2" scratch diagonally across the grain at the top left side of the freezer door. I am just sick by this. Any suggestions? Thank you in advance.
Cissy Sullivan- Marengo, Illinois
September 11, 2008
Cissy, Scratch-B-Gone is your ONLY answer to fix this problem. All the best...
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Barry Feinman Restore It Yourself, Inc Carlsbad, California |
September 28, 2008
Someone asked about removing the adhesive from all the stickers the manufacturers put on the appliances. I have a GE Cafe Fridge and got the adhesive off with Goo Gone [linked by editor to product info at Amazon] (one of my most favorite products anyway), the spritzed it with Fantastic to remove the grease. Using a soft cloth towel. No paper towel. It worked just fine.
Looked good until my cabinet installer used the fridge to help stand up and left hand marks all over it. My first venture into stainless appliances and I am holding my breath. Such tender care required of a laid back housekeeper like myself.
Karen Anderson- Morgan Hill, California
November 22, 2008
Scratch B Gone takes the finish off of your appliance...do not use. I wish I had my fine scratches back, now I have a huge dull cloud that stands out like a sore thumb. We used the finest grain paper for brushed stainless steel and followed the directions precisely.....You are better off just calling your manufacturer
Daniela Poliska- Chester, New Jersey
November 26, 2008
Can scratch begone be used on Wolf stainless steel cook top. MY vent is brushed but the area below it that is scratched looks shiny. My crates scratched the back of the cooktop when we were cleaning and replacing the crates. The vent is separate from the cooktop.
Deborah Driskill- Birmingham, Alabama
December 7, 2008
I used baking soda w/ water to clean my rust, water spots, & drops off my stainless steel ref. Followed by WD-40 [linked by editor to product info at Amazon] to add the shine. It worked excellent. I want to think everybody who suggested this. I didn't cost me a thing because everything was already at my house.
Kim McDaniel- Los Angeles, California
December 14, 2008
This is all crap. I have stainless steel products and have used the advice of you people - from the steel wool to the WD 40 to the baking soda. NONE of it works! What you have to realize is: if you bought stainless steel and it gets scratched - tough. nothing will restore it to its former standard. Rubbing and sanding makes it far worse and diminishes its overall surface effect. Stainless steel is for kitchen showrooms and people whose appearance of a kitchen is more important than its functionality. We all bought into the illusion. There is NO PRODUCT that can keep it maintained or preserved. I am angry at the nonsense on this site. I cannot remove any scratches and scuff marks from any of my stainless steel products, coated or not coated, no matter what product or technique I use, without doing severe damage and basically having to refinish the entire surface again. This is what they don't tell you: you have to strip the metal back below its manufactured surface and it still looks like crap after hours of work. Live with the scratches! Replace the appliances. These are your options.
Lily Tryon- NY, New York
December 13, 2008
Hi, Lily. Sorry for your troubles! I agree with you that stainless steel / pseudo stainless steel / imitation stainless steel is absolutely not a robust finish. My appliances are painted and I am very glad they are.
Still, while you have been unsuccessful with your particular scratches on your particular appliances, and a number of other people on this thread have reported the same lack of success, that doesn't mean that no one has ever been successful and that the people who are claiming success are all lying to deceive you and make you waste your time. Rather, it means that the approach they suggest has offered them sufficient improvement with their particular scratches on their particular appliances that they have generously shared what they learned.
Regards,
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 Ted Mooney, P.E. finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
December 17, 2008
I used the scotch rite method with the 409 and it left a blotch on my fridge like Matt had on his post. It clearly changed the color or took off some varnish on the LG fridge and now I had two colors going. However, it did take out the scratches very well. Then I took soap and warm water to the "entire" fridge and it must have removed the coating all over because it looks 100 times better than before we had the scratches. We purchased this fridge with scratches for a discount and now we are very happy. Matt try soap and warm water and then dry with a microfiber cloth and see if that helps you out.
Jim
- Highlands Ranch, Colorado
January 23, 2009
I too am a big fan of Goo Gone [linked by editor to product info at Amazon] and similar products for removing stickers and labels, etc. and the messy residue they leave behind. I've had a lot of success with a product called Quickie brand Professional Gunk & Goo remover. I think I got it at Home Depot. It comes with a plastic scraper that fits right over the small bottle. You dispense the product right on to the scraper as you use it, and the gunk comes right off.
Connie Macchione- Vancouver, Washington
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January 25, 2009
I wouldn't bother to try another Scratch B Gone product. I bought the sister product for a few very minor scratches on my car and it doesn't work at all. Not a bit of difference. It's like rubbing water on a scratch. Chris Ajhar- Easton, Pennsylvania January 25, 2009 Hi, Chris. This thread is ludicrously long even without going off topic :-) I don't see any product called Scratch B Gone for repairing auto scratches (I'm not saying the name was never used by any other party, but I don't find anything like that with search engines). Regards,
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January 30, 2009
I purchased a GE Cafe stainless steal refrigerator for a discount price due to its scratches. After some research, I tried Scratch B Gone on a stainless steel trash can first (it looked about the same type of finish/grain). I then moved on to the fridge, and although it looks much better than before, it's not perfect. I was still satisfied at that point. However, it appeared it also removed a thin layer of the surface along with removing the scratches, which brings out a slightly different color. I then used Revere Copper and Stainless Steel Cleaner, and the refrigerator now looks great! I guess the combination works nicely. Research, practice, and apply.
Lalo Gloria- Laredo, Texas
January 31, 2009
OK, I used a scotch pad on my Jenn Air Dishwasher scratches up and down, the grain left to right. Read all the posts went to buy scratch b gone, but $50 is a bit high, tried "scratch away" 9.99 home depot, its basically different sand papers and some gunk that's supposed to "Magically" remove scratches. scratches are still there, but now I am the only one that knows it, which I consider fixed. (basically it worked) I love the WD-40 idea, if I were to do it over, I would get 600 bit maybe 800 and maybe 400 grit sand paper, wet the paper, rub out scratches and use the WD-40 to polish and wrap things up, this will take you from looking like crap to barely noticeable, they are scratches they need to be sanded out. (but the sanding does leave some minor marks as well) I am using WD-40 on all stainless appliances now.... the answer is do the best you can , it will never be factory new again.. not noticeable to the average joe is as good as it might get..
Paul Bialas- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
March 10, 2009
We just installed a brand new polished stainless steel sink. Unfortunately someone (perhaps the cleaner or maybe the painter) scratched the finish - it looks like it's been scrubbed with a scouring pad. The damage covers a spot about 3" square. What do you recommend to fix the finish? Some conditioner or polishing agent?
Alicia Wolcottgeneral contracting firm employee - Rhinebeck, New York
First of two simultaneous responses -- April 4, 2009
Our house sitter used the scrubby side of the kitchen sponge on our ENTIRE fridge / freezer doors. My wife was in tears, not what you want when you get back from vacation. There were swirly scratches over the entire thing and a spot where he scrubbed really hard (across the grain, of course).
Any way, I bought the Scratch B Gone kit and gave it a go. It did take a bit of work to get a good working method for me, but the swirly scratches are gone. However, I had to do the entire thing, and it is difficult to keep the new brushed finish you are creating as straight as the old finish. It still looks much better than the swirly marks though. It would look better after I buff it out more with the finer scrubber from the SBG kit.
Which brings me to my one complaint about the SBG kit. The tiny bottle of "ultra shine" didn't last that long and I still had to clean the surface with WD40 afterwards. I looked on line to see about buying more of the Ultra Shine, and was disappointed to see that it costs $30 for a tiny 2-oz bottle, and even crazier, it costs another $10 to ship that tiny bottle via UPS ground.
There must be some other liquid I can use to finish off my fridge. Water? Water with a little dish soap? Maybe the WD40? I'll try a few things before paying the $40 for the little bottle.
- Seattle, Washington, USA
Second of two simultaneous responses -- April 6, 2009
Alicia, Sinks take a beating AND YES there is a perfect and easy solution. Scratch-B-Gone is perfect for sinks. In fact, if you look on our website you'll find many pictures, including my 26 yr old sink, of before and after pictures. My sink took 25 minutes to bring about a brand new finish. And by the way Paul, Sorry you're settling for "I can still see the scratches" results. Next time try Scratch-B-Gone for "I can't see the scratches anymore" results.
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Barry Feinman Restore It Yourself, Inc Carlsbad, California |
September 21, 2009
I 'cleaned' my s.s. stove with a green kitchen scrubbie and severely scratched the surface. After checking this site out and seeing some interesting suggestions, I headed out to my supplier looking for some of the products mentioned. While they could supply me with what I was looking for. I'd have to order it and it would be delivered later. On my way home I passed an auto supply store and thought 'cleaning aids' and they suggested Autosol [linked by editor to product info at Amazon]. Cheap! I now have a stove top that is essentially free of all the minor scratches but with some effort, I'm sure I can remove the deeper ones. The problem will be that to achieve that goal. the stove top will be as shiny as a mirror.
Next time, before I clean a new appliance, I'll RDM.
David
- Vancouver, BC Canada
September 26, 2009
David, good find but if you want to get the 'real' scratches out you can do it quickly and thoroughly with Scratch-B-Gone. Scratch-B-Gone is now the most recommended surface repair kit for scratches, stains, rust, chemical and heat scorch and scuffs from all manufacturers of Stainless appliances, sinks and grills. When you're tired of settling and looking at the scratches, GET Scratch-B-Gone.
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Barry Feinman Restore It Yourself, Inc Carlsbad, California |
November 3, 2009
My maid by mistake cleaned my stainless steal range and dishwasher with the abrasive side of a sponge as you can imagine she scratched the surface in a circular motion pretty bad. the scratches are driving me crazy they are not deep can anybody tell me how can I fix it since they are brand new appliance. thank you
chuck vidal- miami Florida
November 5, 2009
Hi Chuck, this is a very common issue with those 'green scrub pads being used improperly. Hundreds of satisfied customers have used our Scratch-B-Gone product to resolve and fix this type of problem on sinks and all, non-coated major appliances. Tell you maid service about our product too as they can use it in the future to resolve similar issues elsewhere. Good luck
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Barry Feinman Restore It Yourself, Inc Carlsbad, California |
November 22, 2009
Regarding those mysterious spots and blobs that you find on the appliances. I have to ask, do you have a dog? If so fido is probably to blame, sad to say. Our Welsh Terrier Nigel loves to get his beard wet drinking and then walk around dripping. Eventually he decides to shake it off and voila! - grungy dog beard spots everywhere. I've got them on cabinets, furniture and even the TV screen. I also believe that his occasional mighty sneezes contribute to the mess. Yuck.
Thanks for the shower Nigel.
- Austin Texas
December 10, 2009
We are/were planning to buy a stainless fridge, but after reading this blog I'm nervous about the challenges many of you have with scratches,etc. But! to those of you who are having water spots,fingerprints, stains, or grease problems there is a product called Twinkle Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish [linked by editor to product info at Amazon] spray that does an absolutely beautiful job bringing your stainless back to it's original shine.
Angela Buck- Raymond, New Hampshire
January 13, 2010
i have new GE profile french top freezer bottom with water ice dispenser. I also have developed lighter spots that are multiplying on one door...what is this and how to get rid of?please...not even a year old!
stephanie perrin- mandeville, Louisiana
May 12, 2010
I have read numerous posts regarding stainless steel scratch repair, but have not seen too many regarding refrigerators. I have a GE GSH25ISXSS 25.0 Energy Starr cu. Ft. Side-by-Side Refrigerator. It is stainless steel, but I cannot determine what type of stainless steel. I greatly despise this refrigerator as it has a multitude of water streaks/stains running down the front under the water dispenser. I cannot get rid of them and before ridding myself of a quite expensive appliance was wondering if there are suggestions for this specific water stain problem. Again, I do not know what kind of SS, just that it is SS.
Sheila Borgenhome owner - Slidell, Louisiana, USA
July 5, 2010
Hi, sorry your having such a problem with your GE unit but what you describe is too common. Scratch-B-Gone will quickly fix this problem. Since you are getting discoloration, the surfaces are not coated and will respond well. Try to wipe water away quickly after each use. Best
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Barry Feinman Restore It Yourself, Inc Carlsbad, California |
July 29, 2010
I had minor scratches due to Scotch Brite. I used the rub in the direction of the grain method on my GE stove. The scratches seem to have gone but the numbers on the stove have faded. Is there a solution to this?
Cindy Jones- Cleveland, Ohio
August 8, 2010
I have a Kenmore dishwasher. I cleaned the inside with a green Scotch Brite pad and left very fine scratches behind. The inside is not brush finish. Being a perfectionist(a fault and a curse) I would like to remove the scratches; any suggestions?
John Lawrencehandyman - Fort Pierce,Florida, USA
August 13, 2010
To Patricia who had her appliances scratched by granite installer.
Hello, Patricia. I have a similar problem with light scratches on our brand new fridge (do not use magnets on a stainless steel fridge, everyone) and that's how I found your note. Your note really got my attention. If your installer is a reputable company and not your brother's cousin twice removed...or similar family member...you have every right to DEMAND that they repair or replace the damaged fridge. If they are a reputable company, they have insurance for mishaps such as this. Of course, they don't want to be bothered and there may be some expense, and it is much easier for them to just say "no", but YOU deserve to be made whole. It may have been an accident but since you didn't do it, someone IS LIABLE! They are just hoping that you will go away and may even have had a good laugh at your expense over the water cooler...but call them, explain what happened, be polite but appropriately expectant, and tell them you would appreciate the item being repaired/replaced before you have to file a letter with the BBB, Chamber of Commerce, the store that you bought your granite through (Home Depot maybe...or other reliable source) and the POPE if necessary. These companies EXPECT you to back down. On MANY occasions I had to "fight"...diplomatically...shouting and yelling does no good...puts them more on the defensive and you will be the butt of MORE jokes at the water cooler. Home Depot, for example who I think highly of, made it right when the counter top installer they sent mis-measured everything(!), forgot the backsplash, and cut one sink on the wrong side of the new countertop...all this causing 2 weeks of delays with NO countertops as I took off the old ones myself. I "bitched" and Home depot got on the company (Silestone), They replaced everything and H.D. sent me a $400 store credit for my trouble. Believe me, your granite company knows that good news impacts few, but BAD news loses many customers. Call them, politely explain the problem and your expectations. If the lack of response continues, start the letter writing and calling.
I LOVE stuff like this and I VERY RARELY lose. I am polite, professional...but I stick to my guns...even if it involves multiple calls, letters...including certified mail if necessary with c/c to anyone important you can think of. At some point for me, the actual issue loses its significance a bit and it becomes the challenge to make it right that gains my priority attention. If you're wimpy about doing this...ask your husband...or sad to say...another Man in the family to intervene on your behalf. As it stands now...you are being screwed over, you know it, the company knows it. Give them the opportunity to do the right thing. If not, turn the fan on high speed because it SHOULD hit it BIG TIME when you come out of your shell. Best of luck and I would be very interested to hear how you make out.
- Norfolk, Massachusetts
August 14, 2010
I have a divided stainless steel sink with a mirror finish on the divider. Unfortunately, I didn't listen to my subconscious tell me not to use a brillo pad to try and remove a small scratch. Needless to say I now have a dull finish in that spot that is annoying me to no end. Will scratch b gone help?
consumer - Duarte, California, USA
September 24, 2010
I am also having lighter white spots that keep on accumulating mostly when my mother-in-law visits. Much attention has been made to scratches. Would you treat these spots the same way as a scratch. I'm sorry but relieved that I am not the only one experiencing these spots that won't come off. Thank you.
Joanne Kulkarni- Springfield, Illinois, USA
September 26, 2010
Hi :)
I own a kitchen appliance store. For years I have been fortunate to have had very minimum dings/scratches on our stainless steel appliances on our showroom floor, and when we deliver them. However, it has always been a fear for if some scratches did happen, especially on our stainless steel products.
Two weeks ago I bought Barry's system (Scratch-B-Gone) and I am having great results with it through several practice sessions on scrap stainless steel appliances that we scratched up to practice on. I wanted to have it and already know how to use it should a repair be needed (in our store or at a customers house). ...and if results keep staying consistent, we are considering adding for the public, a stainless steel repair service through our store, or either selling his kits at a retail level to our customers.
WORDS OF ADVICE TO EVERYONE HERE...
Go to a repair shop, appliance store, junkyard etc., and get a door off a scrap appliance AND PRACTICE ON IT FIRST before you use ANY suggestions on this site.
You first have to have the right materials and tools, then you need to do a few practice runs and perfect your skills (trial and error?) on something that does not matter if you mess it up or get lucky and make it look better.
There is a great peace of mind when learning on scrap stainless as opposed to a sometimes "one shot chance" at your prized appliance in case you chose the wrong materials, tools, chemicals, pads, sandpaper etc., or failed to read, or misunderstood the instructions/tips.
- Tupelo, Mississippi USA
October 2010
Thanks for a great posting, Vic, that makes real sense.
Regards,
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 Ted Mooney, P.E. finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
October 17, 2010
Dear Sir/Madam,
I have damaged my inox surface (cooker hood K¶Šppersbusch KD83750GE) and Microwave Oven Ikea NUTID MW6 while cleaning it with the wrong product. Probably glass cleaning product or other detergent. It now has some black marks, like traces, that won't disappear.
Could you please inform if any of your products can remove these stains? Would it be possible to buy the product online since I live in Belgium? or do you maybe have a distributor of your products in this country?
Thank you very much in advance.
Best regards,
home owner - Brussels, Brussels Capital, Belgium
^- Privately contact this inquirer -^
October 23, 2010
Well, I had some hairline scratches on my brand new Kitchen Aid cooktop. Bought scratch-be-gone and proceeded to scratch up my cooktop. Basically, as another poster wrote, this product is way too abrasive. Maybe for a grill or scratched up sink it's fine. But for an expensive kitchenaid it doesn't work. It dulled the finish on the area I worked on. Watched their video and used the gray pad too. It took out the scratch and dulled the sheen. I had to do the same to the entire front of the cooktop to even out the finish so it would look uniform. I was much better off with the micro scratches.
Andrew Horowitz- Boulder, Colorado USA
October 28, 2010
Hello Andrew. As the inventor and practitioner of Scratch-B-Gone, I take reviews like yours very seriously. I am sorry that you appear to have had difficulty with our kit, but as I have pointed out in many previous postings, SBG is not only recommended by but sold by and/or used in the factories by ALL of the leading manufacturers of high end expensive appliances including GE, Whirlpool which makes Kitchenaid and Maytag, Subzero, Wolf, Bosch, Electrolux, Thermador, Viking, Bertazzoni, Dacor. Scratch-B-Gone has and will continue to prove it's value and worth BUT we can't be responsible for how it is used. We are proud to report that we have helped many many folks in similar situations who have reported excellent and 'beyond expectations' results. Hope you'll give us another try.
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Barry Feinman Restore It Yourself, Inc Carlsbad, California |
November 10, 2010
Just wanted to add another vote of support for Scratch B Gone product. It DOES work great!
I have absolutely no affiliation with the product, just wanted to post a positive review in support of it (as it worked perfectly for my needs).
I originally found out about it from this site in my search to remove scuffing and scratches from stainless steel GE appliances.
After reading about it here, I was still a bit skeptical, as a few scratches were rather deep and the thought of putting sandpaper to it just didn't seem like it was going to work.
Someone mentioned that Home Depot carried the product - it does NOT. Or at least none in Austin do.
You can look up local distributors on the Scratch-B-Gone website. I went to a local BBQ Galore store down the street. They actually had 2 versions of the SBG, one a full kit, the other a little touch up kit. The little one had 2 mini scrubbers and a piece of cloth in there. Cost was $15.
The full kit was $50 and includes everything you'll need to get rid of the scratches. Sanding strips and pads, polishing compound, cloth, a learning DVD. A little "test" pad is included as well in order for you to test if you have the right finish on your stainless steel (so it's not clear coated, which will not work).
If used properly, the kit gets rid of all the scratches, even the deep ones. You just have to read the instructions, then follow them exactly (and have patience). It is VERY easy. Just use the right grit of pad(or sandpaper that's included) and GO ALONG the GRAIN. With patience, the scratches WILL be gone.
It worked awesome, $50 well spent!
- Austin, Texas
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Ed. note: Thanks for the nice testimonial, Nick, but we discourage testimonials even when they favor a supporting advertiser of the site, because the internet is largely anonymous. Suppose a competitor now submits a trashing of the product, using a fictitious name? Do we print it? Our guideline is to restrict postings to technical matters rather than commercial issues so there are no vested interests on any side of a question. Unfortunately, this thread and a few like it have wandered into the commercial area, but we want to minimize that.
November 18, 2010
Thanks to Paul Bialas of Milwaukee, Wisconsin for his post. I have spent hours on this site trying to decipher truth from myth. Despite the claims of scratch be gone being at every show room, I could not find it anywhere. I went to all the major appliance and hardware stores in my area and no one had it or heard of it. After reading all of these entries I feel better about taking the rough side of a kitchen sponge to my SS refrigerator in at least I am not the only bonehead to do make this egregious error!
Anyhow, after hours of deliberating and being told by every store I went to that there was nothing to be done, I took Paul's advice about what he would do and yes, it isn't perfect, but it cost me about $4 and took about 5 minutes. All I did was get a small square of 1200 grit wet/dry sandpaper, got it wet, and gently rubbed with the grain (up and down). I polished the area with a little WD40 and it looks much, much better. Even my wife is happy with the result. If you look really close, you can still see the scratches and if you catch at just the right angle or in the right light, it does look a little shinier in those spots that I rubbed, but now you really have to look for the trouble areas as allowed to being able to see them from across the room in any light or from any angle. So, all things considered I am happy with the result, which says a lot because I am kinda anal and a perfectionist of sorts.
Hope this helps some of you who like me have spent way too much time on this site trying to make some sense of all this info!
- Vacaville, California, USA
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Ed. note: Yes, Chris, this thread is far too long to actually expect people to read it all. But it's a busy public forum and lots of people have comments, so we print them all; and readers can just grab a sampling :-)
December 29, 2010
I had some spots from hot spills on my stainless stovetop. I placed a vinegar soaked paper towel on it and left it overnight. I guess it ruined the finish. It left marks with the towel's embossed markings and and it is discolored. Anything we have tried only makes it worse. Any suggestions would be appreciated,
Jean Chapmanhobbyist - Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
March 11, 2011
Yes I too have stainless steel appliances and have used the green side of the scourer on my stove top...so when I accidentally put a couple of scratches on my fridge I just thought okay...use the green side and GENTLY buff it off...to my horror I have made it worse and its on the front at eye level! As I live in Australia we can't get the revere copper and stainless steel cleaner and I DEFINITELY do not want to use sandpaper of any grade...is there another product that can be used that works? help...
suan moyle- Perth Western Australia
March 12, 2011
I used goof-off to remove the store sticker from my Kenmore Elite Trio 7857 Fridge and now I have shiny spots.
The manual does not say anything about a coating (nor do I see the words "ultra satin"). The fridge appears to be colder to the touch than my SS stove and I get fingerprints when I touch(admittedly they aren't strong prints).
Is there anything I can do to take away the shine that the goof off caused? I bought the fridge from Sears Outlet at a considerable discount ($780) and I will not be able to find anything anywhere near as nice for the price.
- Baltimore, Maryland
March 26, 2011
To: Cary A or anyone who can help me
Hello how are you, well I read your recommendation, I just wanted to make sure the product is good
and actually I clean the refrigerator by mistake with the green sponge stainless
scratching the refrigerator is my boss, and I need to remove the scratches
need a real solution, because I want to keep my job
- New York
April 2, 2011
Hello Tia, Suan and Markos. Sorry I haven't gotten back to you sooner AND YES, Scratch-B-Gone will quickly remove the green scuff damage as well as our Ultra Shine applied to a towel and wiped over the discoloration due to the sticker will instantly blend to match. Thanks for asking and best of results.
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Barry Feinman Restore It Yourself, Inc Carlsbad, California |
April 28, 2011
I have a whirlpool stainless steel side by side with ice and water in the door and there appear to be swoosh marks on the stainless steel. I have looked closely and I can't see any actual scratches yet using regular cleaner does not appear to remove them. The stainless steel is a brushed type on the handles and a grain type (not mirror finish) on the front. A) do I have a real SS fridge or is a clear coated one I've been reading about here? B) is there a way to get out the swooshes (they look like stains) without sanding?
Paul Snyder- Aurora, Colorado
June 14, 2011
I have a brand new Samsung (DMT800RHS) that is not even a week old. I had some sticky dripping down the middle of the door (possibly sugar water or something like that) and I proceeded to clean it with only a paper towel and some Zep Stainless Steel Cleaner Aerosol Spray. My problem is I did not clean with the grain but against it since the drip was down the front, against the grain. Anyway, I did not use any abrasives at all but I can see some faint scratches that are very noticeable at certain angles/light. I guess the sticky residue was enough to create the fine scratches, who'd of thought?
Any suggestions on what to try on very light scratches? I am too nervous to try any sanding paper/sponges since my scratches are fairly light. But they are still noticeable. Perhaps some sort of a polishing compound? I don't want to make a bad situation worse by leaving shiny marks or dark areas using heavy duty sanding compounds or sandpaper. Anyone else have success removing light scratches in SS using something like auto rubbing compound, Bon-Ami, or baking powder on their SS appliance? Any ideas for faint scratches that show because they run against the grain?
Thanks everyone. Great forum!
hobbyist - Long Island, New York, USA
July 14, 2011
I had scratches on my stainless steel fridge and I found by going on line that a small amount of Olive Oil applied to a soft cloth and and rubbed with the grain and then wiped with a clean cloth vanishes the scratches. My husband was amazed as he had to look real hard to see where the scratches were. I only clean my appliances now with OLIVE OIL. Sounds wacky but it really works.
Donna Fitzgibbon- Invermere, BC Canada
September 9, 2011
We have a Kenmore Elite stainless steel refrigerator with a satin finish. I stupidly used the wrong side of my sponge when cleaning which resulted in numerous surface scratches. I feel sick inside. Will scratch b gone work on a satin finish?
Terry Sanchez- San Antonio, Texas USA
September 18, 2011Thank you for your question. Yes, a satin finish just means that it has a grained finish. The only time Scratch-B-Gone would not be safe is on 'coated' or 'imitation-look' finishes.
Barry Feinman
Restore It Yourself, Inc
Carlsbad, California
December 13, 2011
Just wanted to bump this thread with my experience on
Scratch-B-Gone. I was very nervous about trying this product on a 36"
Kitchen Aid hood. The hood had MAJOR scratches on it during shipping
and we could not return because it was open box. The hood looked like
it should be tossed in the trash before I started. To say the least my
wife and I felt SICK about the damaged hood.
I felt a little strange taking sand paper to a $1,000 hood. But it
actually worked like a champ. I ended up refinishing the entire front
of the hood so that it all matched up perfectly. I don't usually post
reviews on products but this one saved me some major cash. The hood
looks brand new. If any one wants to see a picture let me know.
Thanks
Don
- Saint Charles, Iowa, US
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Ed. note: Yes, please post a picture, Donny. We thank people for
taking the time to write, but testimonials for or against a specific
product on the largely anonymous internet aren't of much reputability
anyway, and they encourage shills to post with fictitious names -- a
problem that we fight continuously :-)