Black stainless-steel appliances are highly attractive, but they tend to scratch and peel easily. Unfortunately, it’s next to impossible to find tips for fixing this issue, including finding information for how to remove the black coating entirely.
Luckily, you can easily remove black stainless-steel coating with acetone. Acetone will strip away the coating without damaging the stainless steel underneath the coating, but you will still need to clean the appliance afterward to remove any lingering streaks.
To learn how to properly and safely remove black stainless steel coating using acetone, keep reading. This article fully explains how acetone can help you get the job done as well as what you’ll need to do to get your appliances in tip-top condition again.
How to Remove Black Stainless-Steel Coating in 4 Steps
The easiest way to remove the black stainless-steel coating from your kitchen appliances or other items in your home is to simply use acetone. Acetone is the main ingredient in fingernail polish, and it is most commonly used for removing acrylic paints among other coatings.
Get Your Supplies
The first thing you’ll need to do is get your supplies ready. The main thing you will need for removing the coating is acetone. If you are just removing a little bit of coating, using fingernail polish should work just fine. However, if you are removing the coating from a larger-sized appliance or some other large surface, you will instead need to purchase an entire jug of acetone to ensure you have enough to complete the task.
Additionally, you will need rags, gloves, and a face mask so that you can remove coating using the acetone while keeping yourself safe. (It’s bad about stripping moisture from the skin, and the fumes can cause irritation to your eyes and airways.) Lastly, you will need some basic cleaning supplies for the final step of simply cleaning up the streaks that will be left behind.
Here is a list of everything you will need:
- Acetone
- Rags
- Gloves
- Face mask
- Microfiber cloth
- White vinegar
- Olive oil
Prep Your Item and Protect Yourself
Once you have all of your supplies, prep the item from which you intend to remove the coating. If that item is a small tumbler or another stainless-steel item, simply grab it and place it in a protected area, such as outdoors to avoid the acetone fumes and on a surface you can easily work on and don’t mind getting dirty or damaged. If you are removing the coating from a large kitchen appliance, you’ll want to unplug the appliance and drag it out into the open so that you have access to all sides.
Because acetone is so dangerous to your skin and respiratory system, it’s important that you protect yourself with proper protective gear as well. To prepare yourself for the process, put on your gloves and face mask and wear the protective gear the entire time you’re working with the acetone.
Remove Coating with Acetone
Now, once your item is in an appropriate area with decent ventilation and you’re wearing your protective gear, you can remove the black stainless-steel coating from your item or appliance with your acetone.
All you need to do is simply dip the rag in the acetone, then apply the acetone-dipped rag to the item and rub it in circles. You will need to continue doing this until all of the coating is removed. You will likely need to re-dip the rag in the acetone numerous times throughout this process.
You should not need to press very hard while you are rubbing at the coating during removal. The acetone should be strong enough to eat away at the black coating while the rag helps to lift the coating’s remnants up off of the appliance.
Simply rub and scrub away at the coating with the acetone-soaked rag until the coating has been fully removed and you’re ready to clean.
Clean the Stainless Steel
After the black stainless-steel coating has been completely removed, there will likely be streaks on the appliance. This is completely normal, and it does not mean that the stainless steel has been damaged.
Instead, these are just streaks over the top of the stainless steel due to the coating and the acetone leaving residues after the removal. By cleaning these surfaces, you can remove the streaks and make your appliance look clean and new once again.
In order to clean your stainless-steel appliance, grab your white vinegar and a microfiber cloth. Spray the white vinegar onto the appliance and wipe it down completely. After the white vinegar has been applied, check to see if any streaks remain. If so, repeat this step again as needed.
After all of the streaks have been removed, dip your microfiber cloth in just a little bit of olive oil and rub it in circles against the stainless steel. The olive oil will make the appliance look super shiny. However, be sure not to use too much oil and cause a mess.
For those who prefer less natural methods of cleaning their appliances and don’t mind harsh chemicals, there are also many products available online and in stores that are designed specifically for cleaning and polishing stainless-steel appliances and providing the best possible streak-free results.
Is Acetone Safe for Stainless Steel?
Acetone is quite a harsh and intense chemical, but it is completely safe for stainless steel. It does not eat away at the steel material whatsoever, but it will completely remove the unwanted coating. It successfully removes the black stainless-steel coating that you want removed without damaging the stainless steel underneath.
Related Questions
How do you fill in scratches on the surface of a black stainless-steel coated appliance?
If your black stainless-steel appliance just has some scratches, you don’t have to remove the black coating entirely. Instead, you can just use a permanent marker to fill in the scratches. Although the permanent marker can still be seen up close, it will at least mask the scratches from a distance with no problem.
How much does it cost to replace the panels of a black stainless-steel appliance?
Instead of filling in the scratches or removing the coating completely, you can also replace the panels on your stainless-steel appliance. However, you can expect this to cost anywhere from $100 to $400.
Should I get black stainless steel?
Black stainless steel looks very modern and attractive, making it a good choice for those who care about the aesthetics of their home. Additionally, black stainless steel also doesn’t show smudges and fingerprints as easily as regular stainless steel either.
However, the coating on these attractive appliances is incredibly easy to scratch and damage, and it isn’t very difficult for it to peel away either. If you have children, long nails, or pets, it’s often best to go with traditional stainless steel instead.
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