No vinegar, no lemon: the unexpected drink that polishes stainless steel sinks to a showroom shine

The taps gleamed; the sink did not. Under the strip light, yesterday’s “clean” stainless steel looked tired – a haze of water spots, faint streaks from the spray cleaner, a dull ring where mugs had sat to drip. You wipe again, change cloths, blame the light, Google “best sink polish” and fall into an argument about vinegar versus lemon that makes your eyes glaze over faster than the chrome.

The fix, it turned out, lived in the fridge door.

One evening, a friend reached past the washing-up liquid, grabbed an open bottle of sparkling water and poured it straight into the basin. No recipes, no soaking overnight, just fizz and a soft cloth. Five minutes later the sink was reflecting cupboards like a showroom display. I didn’t expect the most boring drink at the table to be the thing that finally made the steel look new again.

The drink that quietly cuts through dullness

The “secret” is plain fizzy water: sparkling water, soda water, unflavoured seltzer – whatever you call the clear, unsweetened stuff with bubbles. Not cola, not tonic, not anything sticky or neon. Just water, carbon dioxide and, in some brands, a pinch of minerals.

In the bowl, it behaves differently to tap water. The dissolved gas forms a very mild carbonic acid that helps loosen mineral film and limescale, while the bubbles nudge grime out of tiny scratches and corners. If your usual spray leaves streaks but hard-core limescale removers feel like overkill, this sits in that gentle middle ground.

Think of it as a soft reset for stainless steel: not a heavy-duty descaler, but a brightener that lifts surface haze so the metal can actually shine.

Why your “stainless” sink looks tired even when it’s clean

Stainless steel stays rust-free; it does not stay mark-free. Everyday use leaves three main layers that steal the shine:

• Mineral film from hard water – those pale rings and speckles that catch the light.
• Soap, oil and detergent residue – invisible when wet, dull when dry.
• Fine scratches and scuffs – they scatter light so the surface looks grey, not mirror-like.

Standard kitchen sprays often move the film around rather than removing it, especially if you wipe with whatever older tea towel is closest. Abrasive powders will shift marks, but they add more fine scratching in the process. We’ve all had that moment when extra elbow grease makes the sink cleaner but somehow more matte.

Fizzy water nudges off the film without scraping at the metal. It won’t heal scratches, yet by clearing what’s sitting in them, it makes the whole surface read as brighter.

How to polish a stainless steel sink with sparkling water

You do not need a recipe; you need a bottle and a cloth. Fresh fizz works best, so if you’re opening a new bottle, let the sink have the first glass and you can drink the rest.

Step-by-step

1. Clear and pre-rinse
   Empty the sink of dishes and food bits. Give it a quick rinse with warm tap water and a drop of washing-up liquid to remove obvious grease, then drain.

2. Soak the surface with fizz

   • Pour sparkling water directly onto the sink surface, working in sections so it stays wet.
     
   • For vertical sides or taps, soak a microfibre cloth or a folded sheet of kitchen roll in fizzy water and press it against the metal like a compress.

3. Let it sit for a few minutes
   Leave the fizz in contact with the steel for 3–5 minutes. This is where the mild acidity starts loosening minerals and film. You do not need to scrub yet; just keep the surface visibly wet.

4. Gentle wipe with the grain
   Using a soft, non-scratch cloth (microfibre is ideal):

   • Wipe along the direction of the steel’s grain, not in circles.
     
   • Add a splash more fizzy water if any areas start to dry while you work.
     
   • For awkward corners or around the plug, use an old soft toothbrush dipped in the sparkling water.

5. Rinse and dry properly
   Rinse with cool tap water to wash away loosened film. Then dry completely with a clean, dry cloth or microfibre towel, again following the grain. This drying step is what turns “clean” into “shiny”.

6. Optional: the tiny oil trick
   If you like that deep, catalogue-style gleam:

   • Put a single drop of neutral oil (a bit of olive, sunflower or baby oil) on a dry cloth.
     
   • Buff very lightly along the grain.
     
   • Wipe once more with a clean section of cloth to remove any excess.
     The fizzy water gets you to clean metal; the whisper of oil simply smooths how it catches the light.

Small details that make a big difference

• Use unscented, sugar-free fizzy water only. Flavours and sugars leave their own film.
  
• Avoid scourers, steel wool or gritty powders; they mark the surface and trap grime.
  
• If your sparkling water is almost flat, it still helps a little, but fresh bubbles lift more.

When this trick shines – and when it won’t

Plain sparkling water is excellent for:

• Daily or weekly refreshes – lifting water spots and fingerprints.
  
• End-of-tenancy spruce-ups – getting sinks, draining boards and taps camera-ready.
  
• Rental kitchens – where you may want to avoid harsh chemicals on unknown finishes.

It is less impressive for:

• Heavy, chalky limescale crusts around taps that have built up for years.
  
• Deep scratches, burn marks or pitting in older steel.
  
• Rust on non-stainless parts (such as cheap plug chains or older strainers).

For severe limescale, you may still need a dedicated descaler once in a while. Use that to tackle the thick build-up, then let fizzy water handle the everyday film so it never gets that bad again.

Other places fizzy water quietly works

Once people see the difference in the sink, the bottle starts travelling around the kitchen.

• Taps and mixers (chrome or stainless): wrap in a fizzy-water-soaked cloth for 5–10 minutes, then wipe and dry.
  
• Stainless draining boards and splashbacks: treat like the sink – soak, wait, wipe, dry along the grain.
  
• Fridge doors and steel appliances: spray or wipe on with a cloth, then buff dry to banish fingerprints.

Use more caution on:

• Natural stone (marble, limestone): the mild acidity can slowly etch, so skip fizzy water here.
  
• Painted or lacquered surfaces: test a hidden patch first, or just use your usual cleaner.

At-a-glance guide

Surface	Fizzy water use	Notes
Stainless steel sink	Ideal	Best for film and water spots
Chrome taps & fittings	Ideal	Wrap and soak for a few mins
Stone worktops (marble)	Avoid	Use stone-safe cleaner

Why you might actually stick with this habit

Most cleaning tricks fail not because they don’t work, but because they are too faffy for a Tuesday night. This one folds into what you already do.

You can pour the last glass of sparkling water from dinner into the sink instead of down the drain, give it a quick wipe and go to bed knowing the morning light won’t expose yesterday’s streaks. No special product to buy, no sharp smell, no need to label a mystery spray bottle that future-you will definitely forget about.

The odd thing about a small, almost lazy habit is how it recasts a whole room. A bright, streak-free sink makes even an old laminate worktop look sharper. You’re more likely to keep dishes moving, less tempted to hide mugs in the bowl and shut the door. The kitchen feels a touch more “done”, for the cost of a drink you were already buying.

FAQ:

• Does any fizzy drink work, or does it have to be plain sparkling water?
  Stick to plain, unsweetened fizzy water. Soft drinks, tonic and flavoured seltzers contain sugar, sweeteners or colouring that can leave a sticky film and attract more dirt.
• Is soda water different from sparkling water for cleaning?
  Not in any way that matters here. Soda water often has added minerals like sodium bicarbonate, which can actually help break down residue. Both work well as long as they are clear and unflavoured.
• Can I mix sparkling water with other cleaners for extra power?
  You don’t need to. Use a drop of washing-up liquid separately for greasy marks, then fizzy water as a rinse and polish. Avoid mixing it with bleach or strong chemicals; there’s no benefit.
• Is this safe for septic tanks and sensitive skin?
  It is just carbonated water, so it is generally gentle on both systems. If your skin is very sensitive, wear gloves as you would with any wet cleaning job, mainly because of the constant contact with water, not the fizz itself.
• How often should I use this method?
  As often as you like. Many people find a quick fizzy-water rinse and buff once or twice a week keeps the sink looking “new”, with only occasional deeper cleans needed.