The Top 6 Methods for Cleaning Stainless Steel Appliances To Keep Them Fingerprint and Grime-Free
You love the sleek and stylish look of stainless steel appliances, but you hate how they gather dust, grime, and fingerprints! If you want to keep your appliances grime-free, you'll have to learn the best way to clean stainless steel appliances and keep them that way.
Luckily, keeping your stainless steel appliances clean is easy with these simple tips. Read on to learn the do’s and don’ts of keeping your steel appliances clean.
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What Is the Best Thing To Clean Stainless Steel Appliances With?
There are lots of products claiming to clean stainless steel, but few of them work as well as promised and almost all of them produce toxic fumes.
Luckily, cleaning your stainless steel appliances is easy with a few supplies from around the house. If the grime has got you down, consider getting a non-toxic, kid-safe clean from Tidy Up Portland!
6 Ways To Clean Stainless Steel Appliances
For these easy methods, all you need is a spray bottle and some clean cloths! Microfiber cloths work best, but you can use whatever you have. Some people also swear by Swedish sponge cloths.
#1 Vinegar and Canola Oil
Oil? To keep things clean? It sounds crazy, but many people swear by this simple method. All you need for most* stainless steel appliances is a spray bottle and a clean cloth. Microfiber works best, but any cloth you have will work.
Clear your appliance of any magnets, crumbs, etc.
Fill your spray bottle with white vinegar.
Spray down the appliance with white vinegar.
Wait 30 seconds for the vinegar to work.
Wipe clean with your cloth, and work with the grain of the metal. If you aren’t sure what the grain is, start in a small area first.
Once you have removed all the vinegar, dip the cloth in a small amount of oil. A little goes a long way, so start small.
Rub the oil into the stainless steel appliance with the grain of the metal. The oil will not only lift and grime and marks but also give the appliance a clean glow.
(*There are some newer, high-quality stainless steel appliances with an oil-repelling surface treatment. If your appliance has an oil-repelling surface, it’s best to skip any cleaning methods that include oils.)
#2 Dish Soap and Baby Oil
Dish soap and baby oil* work on the same principle as vinegar and oil, but unlike vinegar, dish soap is capable of lifting grime and dissolving caked-on food. This is a good option for homes with kids where appliances get dirty.
Fill your spray bottle with water and about a teaspoon of dish soap.
Shake thoroughly and spray the appliance.
Wait 30 seconds for soap to lift dirt.
Apply a small amount of baby oil to the cloth. Remember, less is more!
Use the baby oil to polish your appliance, being sure to move with the grain of the metal.
Pro Tip: Use your soapy water to clean off your butcher block countertops next!
(*It’s important to note that some newer, high-quality stainless steel appliances have an oil-repelling surface treatment. If your appliance has an oil-repelling surface, it’s best to skip any cleaning methods that include oils.)
#3 Club Soda
Club soda is the unsung hero of cleaning. Mild and effervescent, it's perfect for lifting stains with no harsh chemicals.
Fill a spray bottle with fresh, plain club soda. Make sure it has no flavors or sweeteners and is not flat—the bubbles are important.
Spray down the stainless steel appliance.
Wipe down the appliance with a clean microfiber cloth.
Be sure to hand dry! Sitting water can cause rust on stainless steel.
#4: Steam
Steam is an effective stainless steel cleaning method. The high temperature of the steam both breaks down grime and coats the appliance evenly for a more thorough clean.
Fill your steamer with water and preheat.
Apply steam to the appliance, especially any stains or caked-on food.
After you have completed steaming, use a microfiber cloth to dry. Be sure to always move in the direction of the metal grain!
#5: Store Bought Cleaners
Store-bought stainless steel cleaners are an option, but you must choose carefully. Lots of stainless steel cleaners contain potentially dangerous chemicals, especially for homes with kids and pets.
Here are a few store bought cleaners that have been well rated by EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning:
Do all these options make your head spin? If you are worried about toxic cleaners but don’t have time to research them, there is an easy solution—Tidy Up Portland!
At Tidy Up Portland! we provide an incredible kid and pet safe clean using non-toxic products. Take the stress out of cleaning and start enjoying your home with the best house cleaning in Portland.
#6: Baking Powder
Have a rusty stainless steel appliance? Don’t want to fill your house with fumes from oven cleaners and rust removers? Baking soda can harmlessly remove rust from stainless steel appliances!
Get a small bowl and add a few tablespoons of baking soda. Then add water, little by little, until a paste forms. The consistency should be about the same as toothpaste.
Apply paste with fingers to rusted areas.
Get a spray bottle filled with water and a dime-sized dab of dish soap.
Spray appliance.
Using a flat weave towel, gently remove the paste. Work in a circular motion, the goal is for the erosive baking soda to work with the water and dish soap to lift the rust.
Wipe down the appliance with a clean, dry microfiber cloth. Use as many as necessary – you want the appliance to be very dry to avoid more rust forming.
A few final tips for sparkling clean stainless steel appliances: Be sure to always wipe with the grain of metal. Most streaks are formed when the appliance is wiped against the grain. If you aren’t sure which direction the grain is in, start in a small corner and work out, you will be able to see where streaks are forming.
What Not To Do When Cleaning Stainless Steel Appliances
Now that we’ve covered the best ways to clean your stainless steel appliances, let's talk about what products or techniques to avoid:
Abrasives: While baking soda can be used as an abrasive to remove rust, it is best to avoid abrasive cleaners and tools when cleaning stainless steel appliances. This includes scouring powders, melamine sponges, metal brushes, steel wool, etc.
Glass Cleaner: Most popular glass cleaners contain ammonia, which damages stainless steel appliances over time.
Bleach: Similar to glass cleaner, bleach destroys the protective layer on stainless steel appliances that makes them impervious to rust. If you clean stainless steel appliances with bleach too often, it can form rust.
Sitting Water/Air Drying: Always dry your stainless steel appliance thoroughly after cleaning to avoid sitting water and rust.
Tidy Up Portland! Affordable, Professional House Cleaning Services in the Greater Portland Area
When life gets busy, housekeeping often falls by the wayside. Between taking care of kids, work, and busy schedules, it can be impossible to find time to give the house a good scrub, let alone clean stainless steel appliances.
Just because you are busy doesn't mean you have to live in a dirty home. Check out Tidy Up Portland! Our female-owned business offers non-toxic cleans at competitive prices, leaving a clean you can feel good about! Best of all, Tidy Up Portland! is one of the only cleaning companies that offer convenient online booking. No waiting on hold, just visit our website to book your first cleaning!
