How to Clean Stainless Steel Kitchen Appliances

People love the way stainless steel looks in the kitchen. It’s elegant light or dark finish matches most cabinets and walls and resists rusts and corrosion.

But it does require regular maintenance.

Today, we’re taking a look at a few methods so you know how to clean stainless steel kitchen appliances.

How to Clean Stainless Steel Kitchen Appliances

If your refrigerator, dishwasher, or range features a stainless steel finish, you’re probably wondering how to clean stainless steel kitchen appliances.

Doing so will keep your appliances healthy and looking great for years to come.

In this article, we will explore the following methods:

• Store-bought stainless steel cleaners
• Homemade methods
• Mild dish soap and water
• Club soda
• Flour
• Dish soap and baby oil
• White vinegar and olive oil
• Lemon oil furniture polish

Let’s get started!

1. Store-Bought Stainless Steel Cleaners

Due to the popularity of stainless steel kitchen appliances, there’s a wide variety of cleaning products you can purchase to maintain that beautiful stainless steel finish in your home.

Some stainless-steel store-bought products can be found at a bargain. However, most can get a bit expensive – especially those that offer you a sparkling finished product.

If you don’t want to spend the money to maintain your appliances or if you don’t necessarily want harsh chemicals on all the surfaces you and your loved ones touch in your kitchen, perhaps you will want to consider a homemade solution.

2. Homemade Methods

Some of these may seem odd – and you may wonder who would have initially thought to use some of these products – but you will be surprised at the finish. If you don’t feel like spending money on expensive cleaning products, consider giving these homemade methods a try:

3. Mild Dish Soap and Water

Using a solution of a dash or two of mild dish soap and warm water, dip a soft cloth and then wring out. Gently wipe down the appliances, spending extra time in areas that have more marks, fingerprints, etc. Once you are done, wipe the appliances dry in a buffing motion with a clean, dry soft cloth.

4. Club Soda

Either rub a soft rag soaked in club soda on the appliance or spray the club soda directly onto the surface. Then, rub it in going in the same direction as the grain. Follow up with a soft, dry cloth, drying the appliance by rubbing in the same direction. It will remove fingerprints and smudges, leaving you with a nice shine.

5. Flour

This idea may seem odd – and messy – but believe it or not, flour can work to make the stainless steel in your kitchen shine again. Simply pat the flour onto the surface and then buff it out with a soft cloth. Of course, you may want to reserve this as a last option due to the mess that it will likely ultimately make in your kitchen.

6. Dish Soap and Baby Oil

This is a great combination to leave you with your kitchen appliances shiny and fresh. Just take a soft cloth with warm water and a dash of soap. This will help scrub out any grease or grime that has found its way onto your appliances. It will also remove fingerprints. For tough spots, you may need to go over them a few times.

Afterward, dry the surface area and buff with baby oil using a new and clean cloth. Try your best to go with the grain.

7. White Vinegar and Olive Oil

This method works very similar to the dish soap and baby oil. However, instead of the dish soap, use white vinegar – sans water. And, buffing out the refrigerator with a soft cloth and olive oil can give it a beautiful shine.

8. Lemon Oil Furniture Polish

Lemon oil furniture polish is not designed for stainless steel. However, it has been shown to do wonders for the finish. If you choose to use this method for cleaning your kitchen appliances, then apply the polish to a soft cloth, not directly onto the stainless-steel surface. Then, wipe it on gently, going with the grain. Buff out using a separate soft, clean, and dry cloth.

What to Avoid

It is important to keep in mind that, as you clean your stainless-steel kitchen appliances, there are a few things that you do not want to let come in contact with your appliance. For example, these include things such as:

• Harsh abrasives
• Scouring powders
• Ammonia
• Steel wool
• Bleach

These can cause great damage to the finish and will halt your ability to restore it to its natural beauty.

Stainless steel kitchen appliances are elegant in their design. Don’t get discouraged in trying to keep them shiny and clean. Find a method that works for you – whether store-bought or homemade – and faithfully clean your appliances. The more often you clean them, the less work it will take to keep them shiny and bright.