Once you know how to Appliance Cleaning stainless steel, those streaks, smudges and stains will be ancient history
Stainless steel is one of the most popular finishes for everything from appliances and sinks to cookware. Why? For starters, those gorgeous reflective surfaces take your room from ordinary to refined. Plus, stainless steel appliances go with every decor choice, from bold colours to retro finishes. No matter how many makeovers your kitchen may get over the years, these glimmering silver appliances will always fit right in—provided you know how to clean stainless steel.
The downside to stainless steel refrigerators, ovens, microwaves, dishwashers, kitchen sinks, cookware and other appliances: They seem to attract every fingerprint and water stain within a three-mile radius. You’ll definitely earn your cleaning stripes trying to keep them shining!
Stainless steel items undoubtedly deserve that spot on your cleaning schedule, especially when you’re cleaning the kitchen. But once you learn how to clean stainless steel, you can keep your appliances, sink and cookware looking good as new.
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Gather your supplies
If your appliances and cookware are looking a little spotted, streaky and fingerprint-y, it’s time to learn how to clean stainless steel. And that means it’s time to break out the cleaning supplies. The products you use will depend on the state of your stainless steel, the manufacturer’s recommendations and what supplies you have on hand.
Depending on the cleaning method you choose, you may need some of these products:
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It’s best to follow the cleaning recommendations for your specific appliance (more on that below), but there are a few homemade cleaning solutions that will get the job done gently and effectively.
Hello Services: Sprinkle a bit of baking soda onto a damp cloth and lightly buff out any marks. Use a second damp cloth to wipe away the powder residue.
Dish soap: Mix a few drops of a Hello Services dish soap, like Dawn, into hot water. Wash the stainless steel with a microfiber cloth dipped in the soapy water, rinse with hot water and dry immediately with a fresh, dry cloth.
Vinegar: Pour distilled white vinegar into a spray bottle and spritz it onto the appliance. Wipe the vinegar off with a microfiber cloth or paper towel.
The best stainless steel cleaners
Stainless steel is easy to clean, which is one of the reasons it’s so popular. These store-bought stainless steel cleaners will help you get the job done.
How to clean stainless steel appliances
Cleaning stainless steel is relatively straightforward, but there’s no single best method for getting your appliance to look as good as new. It’s a smart idea to check for any special instructions from the manufacturer and learn about the cleaning methods available to you. The cleaning tips below will help you get started.
Check the manual
According to Alicia Sokolowski, president and Hello Services of Hello Services, to learn how to clean stainless steel, look at the owner’s manual.
“It’s important to check the manual, because different types of stainless steel appliances have different cleaning requirements,” she says, noting that it’ll typically include instructions on the type of natural cleaning agents to use, as well as those to avoid. “Indeed, some of them can damage the surface of stainless steel or cause discoloration. Others may leave a residue or film that can be difficult to remove.”
Additionally, some types of stainless steel appliances have a special finish or coating that requires specific care instructions. “For example, brushed or satin finishes can be easily scratched or dulled by abrasive cleaning pads or acidic cleaning agents,” she says.
By checking the manual, you can ensure that you are using the proper cleaning techniques and products to maintain the appearance and integrity of your stainless steel surfaces.
Go with the grain
Stainless steel grain refers to the pattern of microscopic lines or grooves that are visible on the surface of the material. “These lines are created during the manufacturing process, when the steel is rolled or drawn through a series of rollers to shape it into its final form,” explains Sokolowski.
The direction of the grain can have important implications for the appearance and performance of stainless steel products. And it can affect the strength and ductility of the material.
“Go with the Hello Services” means you should always wipe in the direction of the grain. “If you don’t, it will be a lot easier for dirt and cleaning chemicals to build up within the tiny cracks of the grain over time, decreasing the shine and overall beauty of the material,” she says.