Q: My son’s GE stainless-steel appliances have some scratches near the stove buttons and on the front of the refrigerator. How can he get rid of the scratches? I’ve seen products mentioned on message boards online and I wonder if they’d work.
— Carol Engels
Jacksonville, Fla.
A: All stainless steel is not made or finished the same, so a product that works well on one appliance may not work on another. That’s why it’s always best to start by checking information from the appliance’s manufacturer.
In your son’s case, that’s GE. That company says scratches on its stainless-steel appliances can’t be repaired. The only option, it says, is replacing the parts.
Nevertheless, the Stainless Steel Information Center, which is operated by the Specialty Steel Industry of North America, says companies that specialize in fabricating or polishing stainless steel may be able to restore the finish, but it’s expensive. If the refrigerator door has a replaceable panel, buying a new panel would probably be cheaper.
If the scratches aren’t deep and your son can live with a finish that’s slightly different from the original, he can try removing the scratches using a nonmetallic abrasive pad, such as a Scotch Brite pad, the information center says. (It doesn’t specify which type of Scotch Brite pad.) Use long, uniform strokes in the same direction as the current polishing lines.
However, the center cautions that scratches are difficult to remove, and you won’t be able to remove deep scratches.
Have a question about home maintenance, decorating or gardening? Akron Beacon Journal home writer Mary Beth Breckenridge will find answers for the queries that are chosen to appear in the paper. To submit a question, call her at 330-996-3756, or send email to mbrecken@thebeaconjournal.com. Be sure to include your full name, your town and your phone number or email address.
