How to Get Scratches Out of a Porcelain and Cast-Iron Sink
A color-coordinated porcelain sink adds an elegant touch to a kitchen. However, porcelain over cast iron is harder to maintain than stainless steel. No matter how careful you are, sooner or later tiny gray scratches caused by stainless steel pots will appear. These superficial marks are fairly easy to remove, but deeper scratches require specialized treatment and the use of a porcelain repair kit. Badly stained and scratched sinks can also be restored with a porcelain and tile refinishing kit.
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Cover superficial gray stainless steel scratches with a layer of cook top cleaner. Let the cleaner stand for 15 minutes. Buff the area with a sponge-backed pot scourer. Rinse well and dry with a paper towel.
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Scrub the area surrounding deeper scratches with a strong household detergent and a stiff bristled brush. Wipe dry. Remove all traces of detergent by cleansing the area with denatured alcohol and a soft cloth.
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Prepare the correct color paint from a porcelain repair kit. Follow the manufacturer's directions; some kits use an epoxy finish that needs to be mixed with a hardener, other kits come with a separate tint that must be mixed with a neutral base for color matching. Test the color on a paper plate before carrying out the repair
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Use the finest artist's watercolor paintbrush you can find to apply progressive thin layers of paint to the scratch until you achieve the desired color match. Blend paint edges by dry brushing outwards toward the surrounding surface. Allow adequate drying time between each coat.
References
Tips
- Many porcelain sink and bathtub manufacturers offer porcelain repair kits that match the color of their products perfectly.
Writer Bio
After graduating from the University of the Witwatersrand and qualifying as an aircraft engineer, Ian Kelly joined a Kitchen remodeling company and qualified as a Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD). Kelly then established an organization specializing in home improvement, including repair and maintenance of household appliances, garden equipment and lawn mowers.
Photo Credits
- kitchen sink image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com
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