A timeless and beautiful choice for all types of kitchens and bathrooms is – Stainless steel. However, one annoying drawback of having stainless steel appliances at your home is that they have the tendency to catch up watermarks and fingerprints easily. If you are looking for an easy way to clean stainless steel appliances, we have the top 10 options for you. For those who don’t have enough time to read the whole post, here is a quick solution in Weiman’s Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish!
1. Dish Soap and Mineral Oil
It’s always better to clean a stainless steel surface in the direction of its grain. Steel sheets have grains which are generally not clearly visible as the ones on wood or other coarse surfaces. The visibility of grains on steel surfaces depends on how they were produced.
If you are not able to figure out the direction of the grain with bare eyes, take a soft cloth and rub it on your refrigerator horizontally and vertically. You will feel a slight roughness while rubbing against the direction of the grain. Cleaning against the grain won’t do any major harm to your appliances, but it will look smoother and glossier when wiped in the direction of the grain.
For cleaning stainless steel appliances, you will need some plain dishwasher soap and water. For a shiny, polished look, use some baby oil or mineral oil. Dish soap is an excellent cleaning agent for stainless steel surfaces. Take a small quantity of soap on a clean and soft cotton cloth or rag. Pour some water on to it to dampen the cloth, and wipe the surface of the fridge. Most of the dirt and spots will be removed in the first attempt. Repeat the process for tougher stains until the whole surface is equally clean. Dry the remaining water streaks with a dry, clean cloth.
After you have finished the process of cleaning, polish the surface with baby oil for extra shine. Pour a few drops of mineral or baby oil onto a different clean and dry towel. Rub this oil soaked cloth on the entire surface, going in either direction, evenly.
2. White Vinegar and Olive Oil
For cleaning your stainless steel appliances, you can either pour some white vinegar on a microfiber cloth and apply it on the surface, or spray directly onto it. Leave the white vinegar there for a few seconds. Wipe it clean using a microfiber rag or plain cloth in the direction of the grains. Once the stainless steel surface is free of all the dirty spots, pour a few drops of olive oil onto a clean and dry towel. Rub this oil soaked cloth on the entire surface evenly, going in the direction of the grain. Wipe away remaining oil residue from the surface to get a clean, polished and shiny look. This method does a very good job for cleaning pots, pans, and stainless steel kettles.
3. Club Soda
Take some club soda in a spray bottle, and apply it directly on the surface of the stainless steel appliances. Wipe the surface well using a soft, clean towel or a microfiber rag, following the direction of the grain. Club soda works as an excellent cleaner for all types of stainless steel surfaces. It also adds extra shine to the surface.
4. WD-40
Every household with a car can easily find WD-40 in their garage, or you can simply go on Amazon and order it via this link. It is a petroleum-based product which can make your stainless steel appliance spot free in seconds. Spray the required amount of WD-40 directly on the surface, and wipe it clean using a soft towel. It will leave your stainless steel appliance surface clean and shiny. The wax layer formed by using WD-40 keeps the surface shiny and protected against dust and fingerprints for a quite a while after it’s been used.
Note: Being a petroleum-based product, WD-40 can be hazardous to health if consumed. So you will need to be extra careful while using it on your home appliances.
5. Lemon Oil Furniture Polish
image source: parkerbailey.com
Lemon oil furniture polish can be bought from any grocery store, hardware shop or simply order it online. I use Parker & Bailey Natural Lemon Oil Polish. Click this link to check the price on Amazon. Take a small amount of lemon oil furniture polish on a clean cloth and apply it on your stainless steel appliances evenly. Then wipe it clean using a microfiber towel. Applying the furniture polish directly to the stainless steel surface could be a bad idea as it may smudge the surface, making it even more tedious to clean.
6. Glass Cleaner for Fingerprints
Families with small kids cannot avoid the unwanted fingerprints on the appliances. However, you can always try using any glass cleaner available on the market, which is designed for removing fingerprints from surfaces. One of the best is Windex. Take a small amount of the solution on a clean, dry microfiber rag, and rub it on the surface moving your hand in a circular motion. Repeat the process if required. It will not be wise to spray the glass cleaner directly on the stainless steel appliances, as it may leave drip streaks and splatter marks on the surface.
7. Bon Ami, Flour Sack & Wax Paper
Take a soft flour sack, a small quantity of Bon Ami, and a wax paper. Spray some water on a small area of the flour sack and sprinkle a small quantity of Bon Ami on it. Rub this flour sack on the surface moving your hands in a circular motion.
Now wipe the surface clean by rubbing it in the direction of the grain with another moist section of the flour sack.
Once the entire surface is clean and dry, rub the wax paper evenly on the whole stainless steel surface of your stainless steel appliances.
For better results, move your hands quickly cleaning one section of the surface at a time. You can also clean the inner side of the refrigerator door using the same technique. The wax paper provides protection against dust and fingerprints.
8. Flour
Flour is also used for cleaning stainless steel surfaces effectively. Although this method can be a little bit messy, it can give great results when done properly. You can apply this cleaning method mainly for cleaning sinks, pots or pans but you can give it a shot on the stainless steel appliances as well.
Before sprinkling flour, wash off any extra grease or grime from the fridge surface. Let it dry for some time. Sprinkle flour on a clean soft cloth and start rubbing the surface properly in a circular motion. Once you finish your appliances will be shining like a new one.
9. Commercial Stainless Steel Cleaners
If your stainless steel appliances have some really stubborn stains or scratches and you are not able to get rid of them using home-based formulas, you can always try some commercial stainless steel cleaners available on the market. Although they may be a little bit heavy on the pocket, they could be the best way to clean a stainless steel fridge.
They also give the surface a beautiful, spotless, shiny look. Don’t forget to carefully read the instructions provided on the product and conduct a spot test before applying any commercial cleaners on the entire stainless steel surface.
Weiman stainless steel cleaner and polish
image source: weiman.com
Weiman stainless steel cleaner and polish is safe for all kinds of stainless steel appliances like refrigerators, microwave ovens, steel stovetops, trash cans, sinks, etc. Its pH neutral formula helps protect the shine of the stainless steel surface. You just need to spray a small amount of the Weiman cleaner on the stained steel surface and wipe it clean with the microfiber cloth that comes with the cleaner. See all water stains, dust and fingerprints vanish quickly before your eyes. It also removes oily or greasy spots easily. Click here to check the current price on Amazon.
CitruShine stainless steel polish
image source: brysonusa.com
Citrushine stainless steel polish is a non-toxic cleaner which can be used to clean all kinds of stainless steel appliances. Apart from stainless steel, it is also very effective on other items like trims, porcelain, brass, and chrome and ceramic. The Citrushine stainless steel polish removes dirt and dust, fingerprints and other stains from the surfaces easily, and makes them shiny as new. It also leaves behind a fresh, citrus smell. Click here to check the current price on Amazon.
Therapy stainless steel cleaner and polish
image source: therapyclean.com
The Therapy stainless steel cleaner and polish is a perfect option for all kinds of dirt, stains, prints, and smudges on your stainless steel appliances. Its plant-based ingredients include coconut oil and lavender essential oil combined with other cleaning agents like acrylates copolymer, Methylisothiazolinone. The coconut oil formula keeps the surfaces shiny and protected against dust and fingerprints for quite a while after it’s been used. This is an ideal product for cleaning outdoor stainless steel appliances. Shake the bottle well before use, spray on the stained surface and wipe gently with the microfiber towel provided in the kit. Click here to check the current price on Amazon.
10. Water and a Cloth
Lukewarm water and a soft clean cloth are enough to keep your stainless steel home appliances spotless if you use them daily. The best part is that you don’t need to bother yourself about any side effects of chemicals in this case. Just wet the cloth/rag with water, and clean the surface completely. Water can wipe off most of the contaminants. Then wipe the surface with a dry cloth to avoid any water spots.
After proper cleaning, you can polish the surface using any given method to add extra shine to the surface. Microfiber cleaning cloths are more preferable than any normal cloth for polishing stainless steel as they are non-abrasive. Special polishing cloths are also available on the market.
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