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Cleaning Stainless Steel Appliances

Stainless steel appliances are stunning and give a house a modern touch, but they can be a bit fussy to maintain. Are you wondering how to get those smudges off without streaking, dulling, or scratching the surface? With a few simple supplies, you can get those surfaces shining in no time.

Follow the Grain

The supplies you will need are equal parts vinegar and water mixed in a spray bottle, olive oil, microfiber cloth, and paper towels. After you have these items ready take a close look at your stainless-steel surface and notice which directions the grain runs in. It is important to wipe down the surface in the same direction as the grain runs.

Spray and Wipe

Spray the surface generously with the vinegar water and wipe with the grain using the microfiber cloth. Steele wool or an abrasive sponge will only damage the steel so only use soft cloths like microfiber. If a spot is especially hard to remove, then a bit of hot water can help loosen it. There are also commercial cleaning agents that are effective, just make sure to avoid anything with chlorine as this can cause the steel to corrode.

Other alternatives to vinegar:
Dish soap and water
Club soda
Commercial cleaners developed for stainless steel

Polish

The next step is polishing the surface to restore its luster. You can use olive oil, baby oil, or coconut oil for this step. Make sure your paper towel is soft enough that it won't scratch the surface. With a little oil on the paper towel wipe gently in the direction of the grain. If you use the oil in moderation and wipe with the grain, this will not be grease but simply create a nice shine and provide a bit of protection to the surface.

Alternate Option

This process takes mere minutes, but if you find the regular maintenance that stainless steel requires to be more than you want to do then you might consider investing in smudge-proof stainless-steel appliances. These are coated with a protective layer that resists smudges and fingerprints. The downside to these is that they tend to look darker and are more expensive.

By Handler Homes 5-12-2021