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I finally have stainless steel appliances in my apartment. As much as I love my shiny new appliances, I can't stand how dirty they get. I can wipe my fridge down as much as I want, but lint spreads, or I end up with smudges and watermarks. When apartment hunting, I thought a stainless steel kitchen makes a beautiful kitchen, but really a clean kitchen makes a kitchen beautiful.
The best way to clean stainless steel appliances is to use cleaning products meant for stainless steel. Leave the disinfectant wipes, Windex glass cleaner, and multi-purpose spray bottle under the kitchen sink for this one.
Stainless Steel Cleaning Products
1. Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner Wipes
Your first cleaning tip for your stainless steel appliances is to use Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner Wipes. These wipes tackle fingerprints, grease, streaks, and more. Consider using these wipes for stainless steel refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, and ovens.
The before and after pictures speak volumes. I like the idea of using wipes; you don't have to use any paper towels while cleaning stainless steel appliances. (Yay for saving money on paper towels.) You'll be putting in a lot less elbow grease.
2. Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish
If you have to clean kitchen appliances often, you may get the best bang for the buck by buying a stainless steel cleaning solution rather than wipes. Weiman's stainless steel cleaner works just as great as its cleaning wipes.
Amazon customers are calling this product flawless! How wonderful. Customer reviews are giving people all the reassurance they need to rid their appliances free of hard water spots. Use this cleaner, and your guests will be asking if you got new stainless steel appliances.
3. Sophisti-Clean Stainless Steel Microfiber Cloths
I'm a firm believer that paper towels are not great at cleaning stainless steel appliances. It seems like they move grime and lint around stainless steel surfaces as you clean. If you're aiming for a flawless appliance, be sure to use a microfiber cleaning cloth.
This soft cloth is non-abrasive and is lint-free. You can use it as a dry cloth or damp cloth. Evriholder says you don't need any chemicals, just tap water. Say goodbye to the mineral oil. Customers recommend to only clean cloths with other microfiber cloths. I'm assuming clothes piling can ruin these! You don't want that.
I think this may be the best option for black countertops that often have lint piling.
There are also several DIY methods for cleaning stainless steel. Many swear by white vinegar, baking soda, olive oil, club soda, or even baby oil. Surely these methods are diluted with warm water. If you're sensitive to certain smells, harsh chemicals, or commercial cleaners, it may be best to use DIY cleaning methods.
4. White Vinegar
I love cleaning my stainless steel sink with hot water, white vinegar, and baking soda. I think it plays a massive role in getting rid of weird smells coming from my garbage disposal.
5. Baking Soda
Baking soda and a teeny bit of bleach can go a long way when it comes to cleaning stainless steel sinks. Plus, you won't have to worry about corrosion.
6. Club Soda
I've never used club soda to clean stainless steel appliances, but I'm curious to see how it works. Give it a try!
7. Empty Plastic Spray Bottle 32 Ounce, Professional Chemical Resistant
If you decide to make a DIY cleaner, be sure to buy a plastic bottle that hasn't previously been used with other products. Even dish detergent or dish soap could make a bad mix!
Using these cleaning methods should get rid of water stains and fingerprints. If you need to clean inside your appliances, consider a good oven cleaner. And remember: it's a whole different step-by-step guide for cleaning cookware.
This post was last updated on October 23, 2020.
