Care Guidelines for your GEMINI and COSMO Stainless Steel Sink
Care & Clean Instructions
GEMINI has tested general household cleaners to measure their effectiveness in cleaning our sinks. To clean and maintain of your sink, use one of cleaners like Bar Keeper's Friend, Scratch-B-Gone or Shiny Sinks Plus that you can buy in shops. Maintenance and proper handling can retain the beautiful look of your kitchen sink for years.
Oil, grease and fingerprints
These are generally removed with washing up liquid and hot water but a solvent may be required. Care must be taken to use the proper safety precautions if using solvents.
Tea stains
These are generally removed with washing up liquid and hot water but a solvent may be required. Care must be taken to use the proper safety precautions if using solvents.
Hard Water Spots and Scaling
A multi-purpose cream cleaner, applied with a damp cloth, will generally remove water marks. Heavy limescale can be loosened by soaking in hot vinegar solution. (3 parts hot water to 1 part vinegar).
Rust marks
It is unlikely that such marks will actually be rusting on the stainless steel sink itself. They are more likely to be the result of small particles of “ordinary steel” which have become attached to the surface then subsequently rusted. Causes can be debris from steel wool scouring pads, use of steel kitchen utensils, old water supply pipes or sometimes even new taps can pass pieces of steel after installation. Removal is usually possible with a damp cloth and a multi-purpose cream cleaner. Occasionally it may be necessary to resort to a proprietary stainless steel cleaner to return the surface to its original condition.
Repair Scratched Stainless Steel
Like many metallic surfaces, your stainless steel sink will scratch. These are merely usage scratches and over time will blend into the overall finish of your sink with proper cleaning. One should not use rough material for the cleaning of the stainless steel sinks as it can leave scratch mark on the surface. Stainless steel can scratch easily if steel wool or some scouring powders are used, and harsh chemicals, such as bleach, can damage the color and even cause pits in the surface. The best cleansers to use are non-abrasive and non-toxic and they won't break your budget because they can be found right in your refrigerator and cupboard. Use a non-metal scouring pad to rub the cleaner in, always rubbing in the direction of the grain. Keep the stainless steel wet with the cleaner as you work, and rinse the pad often. Rinse the surface and wipe dry.
Don’t forget! – always finish off by rinsing your sink thoroughly with clean water to remove any residue, then dry it with a soft cloth to prevent limescale and water spotting.
Recommended Treatments
Six DOs
Do... It is best to rinse sinks thoroughly after each use. Thorough rinsing can be done by running the water for a few minutes and rubbing the cleaned area with a sponge.
Do... Avoid exposing sink to strong chemicals, such as paint removers, oven cleaners, etc. If contact occurs, quickly flush the surface with water.
Do... Run cold water when pouring boiling water into sinks to try to minimize temperature shock. With stainless it isn't as important to remember that compared to other materials though.
Do... Towel dry after each use to prevent mineral deposits from building up on the surface of the sink (although with a good quality stainless sink you can buff it back to the original "new" finish even after many years of scale and mineral build-up.
Do... Scour the sink once a week, being sure to rub in the direction of the satin finish lines (best not to purchase a "mirror" finish).
Do... Remove nail polish with a non-acetone based nail polish remover and flush with water.
Ten DON'Ts
Don't... Allow food or beverage residue, metal canned products, or mild steel or cast iron cookware to remain on sink surface for long periods of time as this can result in permanent staining of the sink.
Don't... Cut directly on sink surfaces.
Don't... Set hot pans directly into sinks.
Don't... Scour the sink across the satin finish lines. Scouring across the satin finish lines can damage the original sink finish.
Don't... Allow liquid soap or other household cleansers to dry on the surface of the sink. Most brands contain chemical additives, which will affect the finish.
Don't... Use drain cleaning products that contain sulfuric or hydrochloric acid.
Don't... Leave standing solutions of chlorine bleach and water in the sink for extended periods of time. Chlorides, which are found in most soaps, detergents, bleaches, and cleansers, are very aggressive to stainless steel. If left on the sink too long they can cause surface pitting.
Don't... Use a steel wool pad to clean your sink. Steel wool pads have a tendency to break apart and small particles of steel can become embedded in the surface of the sink. The steel particles will rust and will give the appearance that the sink itself is rusting.
Don't... Use rubber mats or dishpans in the sink to protect the finish. Leaving rubber mats or dishpans in the sink can lead to surface rust or possible pitting. Instead use stainless steel bottom grids. If you do use mats or dishpans please remove them after each use.
Don't... Leave wet sponges, cloths, or cleaning pads on the sink. This can lead to surface rust.