Stainless steel sink completely discoloured

Badgergal

Hello,

Remember a while back when my sink was blocked... Well, I ended up using One Shot (which is spirit of salts I think, VERY nasty stuff that you need to use a mask with) and it reacted with something else I used that was apparently still in the U bend (Stupid of me, I know, I am lucky I never blew my flat away) and the mixture got all over my sink and made black marks like it has reacted with the stainless steel. The One Shot warns not to let it touch your sink but it shot up like a volcano...

NOTHING will get rid of them and it looks permanently dirty. I have tried wire wool type stuff etc, and bicarb and vinegar. I think I may be stuck with it but it looks terrible! Any ideas?

padzster

Try this https://www.howtocleananything.com

Badgergal

Wow what a great site! Seems some kind of metal polish may help (and lots of elbow grease) but I'm not sure where to find it...maybe the supermarket....

Nile

Have you tried contacting the product supplier customer care/helpline? They might be able to offer advice.


Can you tell us what product you'd used before and what residue was likely to be lurking in the u bend?

Does the 'One Shot' product list the active ingredients? You mention 'spirit of salts'.......is this a listed ingredient?

se999

Badgergal is there a phone number on the packaging, or a website, presumably with such a strong chemical there must be for safety reasons. To be honest from your description it sounds unlikely that you're the only one whose sink has been stained!

So they may have a suggestion, or be able to send you something.

Badgergal

I had also used bicarb, vinegar, washing soda, caustic soda and one other drain unblocking liquid that came from the 99p shop (not all at the same time)! I know now it was bad to mix those things but I was vaguely desperate at the time having no use of a sink and having to wash up in the bathroom etc...(I was too weak to unscrew the U-bend and rather scared!)

The box is at home (I'm at work) so I'll have to have a look when I get home and report back.

se999

I have problems with the bottle traps and u-bend fixings too.

For some reason sinks normally block when OH is away. But OH has some Stilsens (not sure if I spelt it right), they're a funny sort of gripping pliers. The Stilsens have good grips, and longish handles, so you can normally get the leverage to undo the connections.

My other drain cleaning kit is a plunger and one of those bendy wire things that you can put in from the plug hole or outside drain end. The bendy wire doesn't work on bottle traps though.

I'd never have coped without these. Sorry didn't spot your first post about a blocked sink

Badgergal

se999, I too had a plunger and bendy wire thingy, but to no avail this time.

Tis ok, it was a while ago now!

Mr_Proctalgia

I just understood what you have said - Spirit of salts is HYDROCLORIC ACID and you have tried Bicarb,caustic soda and something else too. :eek: :mad:

You are very very lucky to have any sink left at all, you have been very silly, what you seem to have done is mixed a very strong acid with a very strong alkali (base) I,m not surpried you had an eruption, you were lucky not to have had an explosion!

I think your sink might be ruined now!

I used to have a SS sink in my darkroom and simple fixer rotted the weld out from my sink where it was attached to the drainer and it fell out! So never mix acids and alkalis together again please. Stainless isn't that good a material.

Badgergal

I know it was silly now and I was lucky not to blow up the flat, as I admitted in the original post...I won't be doing it again.

I did hear something like that was used in the recent terrorist bombs here...and realised what I had done...(this was a few weeks before the bombs). Luckily I learnt the relatively easy way (as opposed to an explosion).

Nile

:eek:


Some of the chemicals you've tried can do a lot of damage to your skin and especially your eyes. You've been very lucky not to do some serious damage to your eyesight and skin.

Please be careful with these chemicals if you plan to use any of them again.

I speak from experience, even with PPE and working in a controlled laboratory environment.......I've had burns on my skin from sulphuric acid and sodium hydroxide. You only have seconds to get the affected area under a running water supply.......before the burning, blistering and scarring occurs.

DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT using these products again unless you're wearing gloves and goggles. Please think about safety first.