cleaning stainless steel

[cortina1498]

Can anybody help with ideas for cleaning an old stainless steel worktop,
it is approx 5' X 2' (sorry don't do metric). it has been stood in a cellar for quilte a while and is covered in allsorts, including paint. I am hoping to be able to bring it to a mirror finish (don't laugh, I can dream can't I).
Any and all suggestions welcome
cheers

[MKG]

Clean off all of the loose crap (don't use anything metal), wash with detergent and allow to dry. Now the miracle stuff - malt vinegar, straight from the bottle, and a bit of elbow grease. Ting!!!! (for everything except the paint)

[cortina1498]

HI MKG, many thanks for the quick reply, I will certainly try you suggestions.

[Annpan]

Lighter fluid might also help to bring out the shine (and clear rust) nail polish remover to take off sticky bits... elbow grease and care.

I used some brasso type stuff for cleaning a big shiney sign, just make sure if you use that to always work in small circular motions...some part of my sign looks odd because I wasn't consistent when cleaning it.




Brasso - a tin of waxy, stinky, polishing lint/ wooly stuff .... you tear a bit off at a time and use it for polishing metal.

The sign was a menu sign we salvaged from a restaurant and hung on our old kitchen wall, it will hang on our new kitchen wall too.... when we have a new kitchen wall to hang it on.

[Magpie]

I have cleaned paint-covered stainless steel with plain old baking (bi-carb) soda - sprinkle liberally on a damp cloth, and it acts like a very gentle abrasive. Worked well for me.

[Green Aura]

When you've got the crud off wipe it over with some baby oil!!! Fantastic.

[cortina1498]

many thanks for all your suggestions, I will start this week-end
cheers

[Cheezy]

If you've got any sterilising solutions for wine/beer making (like Chempro or Bruclean), these bring up stainless very well.

[possum]

astonish paste works well to get rid of crap off it.

If you want to polish it, then I advise getting a polishing kit for your drill, chuck on a bit of tcut and hey presto one shiny shiny sink.