How to Properly Clean Your Stainless-Steel Appliances and Kitchen Items

AD It YourselfHow to Clean Stainless-Steel Appliances and Kitchen Items the Right WayLearn how to get those ovens, sinks, and pots spick and spanFebruary 28, 2022Its time to learn how to clean stainless steel.It’s time to learn how to clean stainless steel.Photo: bloodstone/Getty Images

If you spend any time in the kitchen, you should probably know how to clean stainless steel. Trust us, just because a material is called “stainless” doesn’t mean it can’t get dirty, and nothing makes a kitchen more unappetizing than appliances covered in smudges, grime, and other buildup.

For so many reasons, stainless-steel appliances—like microwaves, refrigerators, dishwashers, and ovens—are a great choice for the kitchen. You may even have countertops, sinks, or cookware made from the material, so it’s smart to learn how to clean stainless-steel pans as well. Not only does stainless steel look modern and sleek, but it can also make a kitchen feel more luxurious. On the other hand, the downside of the material is that it can get dirty fairly easily.

To help keep all of your stainless-steel surfaces spotless, we tapped Tim Conn, president and co-founder of Image One, a commercial cleaning company, and Ron Shimek, president of Mr. Appliance, a Neighborly company, for their best hacks and cleaning tips.

1. Assess the damage

“Stainless steel is like that sleek black car: beautiful when it’s clean and shiny, but often looks dull and dirty if it’s not properly maintained,” Conn says. Luckily, he explains, it’s easy to keep that showroom appeal if you know the proper techniques.

When it comes to stainless steel, not all messes are the same, meaning not all cleaning methods will be the same either. Smudges and hard water stains may come off pretty easily with a simple wipe down, whereas caked-on food or other more intense buildup may require a more serious product—and more elbow grease on your part. So make sure you know what you’re up against before grabbing all of your supplies.

​2. Prep your supplies

It goes without saying that you’ll need some cleaning products in order to get clean stainless-steel appliances. Luckily you’ve got a few choices, both tried-and-true DIY solutions and reputable store-bought products.

For a simple DIY cleaning solution, you’ll need white vinegar, lemon juice, and tap water. “Fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and white vinegar,” Shimek explains. You can add a few drops of lemon juice to make the mixture smell better. After you’ve made your solution, be sure to grab some olive oil, dish liquid, and microfiber cloths because you’ll be using those too.

For really tough grime, like caked-on grease, you may need to explore different methods. Stock up on either a store-bought stainless-steel cleaner or some baking soda.

No matter what cleaning solution you choose, there are a few things you should always avoid. Don’t use steel wool, scouring powders, ammonia, or bleach on your kitchen appliances—they can all be just a little too intense and damage the finish. The same goes if you’re wondering how to clean a stainless-steel sink. “No matter how grimy your appliances are, these abrasive cleaning products will only make matters worse by leaving scratches behind,” Shimek says.

3. Go with the grain

When cleaning stainless steel, there is one general rule: wipe along the direction of the grain. You’ll want to spray your vinegar and water solution onto the surface then wipe following the material’s grain. It’s usually fairly easy to spot the linear grain, but if your appliance is giving you a hard time, Shimek has a simple solution. “Try rubbing the appliance with a clean microfiber cloth both horizontally and vertically,” he says, “In doing so, you’ll then feel a resistance when the cloth runs in the opposite direction and will, of course, glide smoothly when placed in the correct direction.”

This should take care of most of your daily messes, things like water spots and finger smudges. For that residue that just won’t come off, try sprinkling a bit of baking soda on the surface, then applying white vinegar (whether with a spray bottle or kitchen towel). Once you’ve done this, wipe with a soft cloth or paper towel and rinse with warm water.

Another insider secret, according to Shimek, is to use club soda to wipe away grime. “It’s another great way to remove residue,” he says.

4. Touch up with some dish soap

“Once all fingerprints and grime have been removed, wet a second microfiber cloth with water and apply a few drops of dish soap,” Shimek says. You’ll want to gently wipe this dishwashing liquid solution across the surface. After, rinse out the soapy cloth and wipe the surface once more to remove any lingering soap. “This extra step will remove the acidic residue that white vinegar leaves behind, and it will ensure that the vinegar doesn’t interact poorly with the metal over time,” Shimek says.

5. Seal with olive oil

Now that you’ve put in all that effort to get your stainless-steel surfaces clean, you’ll likely want to keep them that way. Luckily, something as simple as olive oil can help you do that. “Olive oil acts as a protective coating that can help to protect in between deep cleaning sessions,” Shimek says, noting it can help repel smudges and mask previous scratches. You’ll want to put a small amount of olive oil on a microfiber cloth and wipe it gently back and forth along the grain.

6. Buff and polish

“There are two parts to managing stainless steel: the actual cleaning stage, and the polishing stage,” Conn says. Polishing will make sure the surface isn’t just clean, but also shining. This step can also be accomplished with a microfiber cloth and some olive oil, but the technique will be a little different.

“Polishing is best done in a circular motion, but there is rarely an issue with going with or against the grain in the polishing stage,” Conn explains.

Take a small amount of olive oil on a microfiber cloth and buff it into the appliance, working in small circular motions. Your appliance will be sparkling in no time.

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Originally posted on: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-clean-stainless-steel