If you take good care of your stainless steel refrigerator and clean it regularly, it will keep it shiny like new, even if there are scratches on the doors. You can polish minor scratches with a little elbow grease, a mild polishing cleaner, and a rag. If the refrigerator door has deep scratches or a few scratches, you can try sanding it.
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Part 1 of 3: Cleaning the Refrigerator Door
Step 1. Get to know the fiber
Like wood, stainless steel products also have “fiber”. When cleaning, polishing, or sanding stainless steel, you should do so in the direction of the grain. Here's how to determine the fiber direction:
- Watch the door carefully. You will see small lines of brush strokes. These brush strokes indicate the direction of the fibers.
- Notice whether the fibers (brush strokes) move horizontally or vertically.
Step 2. Clean the door with a mild polishing cleaning powder
If you intend to remove scratches from stainless steel, it is important to start working on a clean surface. If there is dirt, debris adhering to the surface of the door, the polishing or sanding process can cause more damage. You can clean the refrigerator door with a mild polishing cleaning powder.
- Wet the entire surface of the refrigerator door with water.
- Sprinkle a little cleaning powder on the wet door surface.
- Moisten a clean sponge. Wipe the sponge on the surface of the door following the direction of the fibers to mix the product with the water.
- Rinse the refrigerator door with water.
- Dry with a clean microfiber cloth.
Step 3. Remove dirt and dust from the surface of the refrigerator with cleaning vinegar
Cleaning vinegar is slightly more acidic than traditional white vinegar. This extra acidity allows this gentle but powerful cleaning product to easily remove oily fingerprints. Before handling scratches, use this product to clean the surface of the refrigerator door.
- Pour the vinegar into a small bucket.
- Dampen a clean cloth with undiluted cleaning vinegar.
- Wipe the surface of the refrigerator door with a damp cloth following the direction of the fibers.
- Wipe off any excess vinegar with a dry cloth in the direction of the fibers.
Step 4. Clean the refrigerator door with a special cleaning product for stainless steel
There are several products on the market that are specially formulated to clean stainless steel. Choose a product that you usually use to clean dirt, oil, and material stuck to the refrigerator door. Before using the product, don't forget to read the instructions on the packaging.
Make sure you take the recommended safety measures, such as wearing gloves
Part 2 of 3: Polishing or Sanding Scratches on the Fridge Door
Step 1. Try polishing fine scratches with a non-abrasive cleaner first
If you add a little elbow grease, the polishing cleaner can remove minor scratches on the stainless steel refrigerator door. These cleaning products specially formulated to handle stainless steel are sold in powder or cream form.
- If you are using a powder product, first mix it with water until it forms a paste.
- Apply the paste or cream to the fine scratches on the refrigerator door with a damp cloth or sponge. When you apply the paste on the refrigerator door, don't forget to follow the direction of the fibers.
- From time to time, you can wipe the cleaning product with a clean damp cloth and check the condition of the scratches. Keep applying the cleaning product and polishing the scratched area until the scratches are no longer visible.
- If the scratch is still there, try to treat it with a slightly abrasive product, such as whitening toothpaste.
Step 2. Try polishing fine scratches with a soft toothbrush and whitening toothpaste
Unlike polishing cleaners, whitening toothpastes are slightly abrasive. If the polishing cleaner doesn't remove the scratch, try treating the scratch with a whitening toothpaste.
- Spread the whitening toothpaste on the bristles of the toothbrush.
- Use a toothbrush to apply toothpaste directly to the scratch. Don't forget to move the toothbrush in the direction of the fibers.
- Wipe off the toothpaste with a damp cloth from time to time while checking for scratches. Wipe the cloth in the direction of the fibers. Continue to rub the whitening toothpaste on the surface of the door until the scratch is no longer visible.
- Once the scratch is gone, you can wipe off any remaining toothpaste with a clean, damp cloth.
- Moisturize the cleaned area with a metal polish or olive oil.
Step 3. Treat deep scratches with wet sandpaper
If the scratch on the refrigerator door is deep enough, you can sand the gaping scratch. It's best to check with the refrigerator manufacturer in advance to find out what size sandpaper is safe to use.
- Wet the scratched area with a sponge or cloth that has been moistened with water. During the sanding process, make sure the surface is always wet.
- Wet a piece of sandpaper with water. During the sanding process, make sure the sandpaper is always wet.
- Gently sweep wet sandpaper over the scratch following the direction of the grain. Don't forget to sand the area around the scratch to make it look blended.
- Once you're satisfied with the result, you can wipe the area with a damp washcloth following the direction of the fibers.
- Dry the door surface with a microfiber cloth.
- Moisturize the treated area with a metal polish or olive oil.
- You can also add a chlorine-free paste to the water.
Part 3 of 3: Repairing or Replacing a Severely Scratched Fridge Door
Step 1. Use a special kit to repair scratches on stainless steel
If you notice a lot of severe scratches on your refrigerator door, you might want to consider purchasing a kit to repair scratches on stainless steel. Such kits can be purchased at a repair shop or online. Kits usually consist of a sanding block, three abrasive pads, lubricant, and a video on how to use them.
- Do not forget to read and follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer.
- Place the finer sandpaper on the sanding block. Apply lubricant to the sandpaper. Start sanding the problem area in the direction of the grain.
- If the scratch still doesn't go away, apply a coarser sandpaper to the sanding block. Apply lubricant to the sandpaper. Sand the scratch area following the direction of the fiber.
- If the scratches still don't go away, you can apply the coarsest sandpaper to the sanding block. Coat the sandpaper with lubricant and sand the scratched area following the direction of the grain.
- Once the scratch is gone, use the same size sandpaper to polish the entire door while following the direction of the grain.
Step 2. Get professional help to repair the refrigerator door
If you are inexperienced or if the scratch on the refrigerator door is very severe, consider getting a professional to help repair and polish it. A specialist can analyze the extent of the damage and provide several repair options. If it is not possible to polish or sand the scratch, he will suggest re-varnishing, or sanding the entire surface of the door.
Step 3. Replace the refrigerator door with a new one
If you have tried all the options, but to no avail, consider replacing the refrigerator door. Contact customer service to inquire about the availability and prices of new refrigerator doors.
The only way to repair a dented stainless steel is to replace it with a new one
Tips
- If you want to scrub the surface of the door to remove scratches, do so carefully, following the direction of the grain. Rubbing against the grain will leave a mark on the steel varnish.
- Never use steel wool to rub stainless steel. Steel wool will leave particles that will rust upon exposure to air, especially when wet.
