You Should Really Think Twice Before Using The Pink Stuff in These 5 Spots

Written by

Barbara Bellesi Zito
Barbara Bellesi Zito
Barbara Bellesi Zito is a freelance writer from Staten Island, covering all things real estate and home improvement. When she's not watching house flipping shows or dreaming about buying a vacation home, she writes fiction. Barbara's debut novel is due out later this year.
published Jul 11, 2024
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head on shot of a tub of the pink stuff on a kitchen counter
Credit: Ryan Liebe

I’m not usually that dramatic when I discuss cleaning products, but maybe I am now that I’ve divided my cleaning knowledge into my BTPS and ATPS eras — Before The Pink Stuff and After The Pink Stuff.

I relied on pure elbow grease and a trusty Magic Eraser to get rid of dirt and grime until I became acquainted with the popular and ridiculously effective cleaning paste. The stuff is so good that after my first successful outing with it, I daydreamed about where and what else I could clean with it. I mean, even the container says, “What will you use it on?” which is a cleaning challenge if I’ve ever heard one.

But even I know that there’s such a thing as too much of a good thing. The Pink Stuff might be made from natural ingredients, but quartz is among them and gives it the abrasive texture that makes it such a powerful cleaning agent.

It’s always a good idea to spot-test a cleaning product before you go full-on with something that might damage a surface as it cleans it. You might not think to do that with a multipurpose spray, for example, but it’s a prerequisite for The Pink Stuff. To save you some time, here are some surfaces that you should not use The Pink Stuff on unless you purposely want to fade or scuff surfaces.

Don’t use it on hot or warm surfaces.

Except for a barbecue grill, it’s usually not a good idea to clean near a hot surface. While grill masters can use The Pink Stuff for cleanup, they’ll have to wait for everything to cool off because the tub’s label explicitly advises against using the paste on hot or warm surfaces. This is likely because it also warns not to let the paste dry, which it would presumably do faster when it’s warm or hot. And since you do have to ensure that everything is wiped clean after using The Pink Stuff, that’s much easier to do when the surface in question is cool.

Don’t use it on glass.

OK, so the manufacturer doesn’t forbid cleaning glass with The Pink Stuff, but it does say “be especially careful” when cleaning it. That’s because the gritty paste and even the smallest amount of elbow grease could cause it to etch or dull glass. In short, you should skip it for some regular glass cleaner instead.

Don’t use it on highly polished steel.

This is another example of when the manufacturer says “be careful,” but it may be better to avoid it altogether. Even Consumer Reports agrees, going so far as saying skip stainless steel, too. You risk dulling the surface, so unless you plan to use the teeniest amount of paste and the lightest of hands, you might want to save yourself the trouble.

Don’t use it on anything with a finish.

If you’ve ever nicked a polished fingernail on a rough surface, then imagine that frustration magnified if you use The Pink Stuff on a glazed or otherwise finished surface, like a floor or countertop. The label says to take care when using it on ceramic hobs, for example, but it’s best to skip it completely when cleaning an electric or induction stovetop. Consumer Reports especially advises against using it on finished flooring.

Don’t use it on anything you haven’t spot-tested first.

Again, this is a protocol for any cleaning product you’re introducing to a surface in your home, but it is a must for The Pink Stuff. I’d even go as far as to say that you should test it every time you use it just to ensure that the formula hasn’t changed while it’s been sitting on the shelf — always keep it out of direct sunlight — or that you haven’t gotten overzealous in your scrubbing technique.

This is not an exhaustive list of objects and surfaces to avoid when cleaning with The Pink Stuff. And to be clear, likely videos are circulating social media praising The Pink Stuff for its safe results in the aforementioned areas.

This is where you’ll have to decide on your domain. There might indeed come a time when you say, “I just want that stain gone.” If that’s the case and you are willing to risk dulling or scratching a surface to get it clean, reach for a cloth and a bit of The Pink Stuff. Note that a bit is the operative term here. Apply a little at a time, and don’t scrub too hard — let the product do its thing, and you’ll (hopefully) be happy with the results.