How To Clean Stainless Steel Appliances

Stainless steel appliances look amazingly sleek and beautiful in any modern kitchen. However, they have acquired a reputation as being difficult to care for. It is true that most stainless steel requires a bit more work than a simple dusting. However, we are here to teach homeowners how to care for their appliances as carefully as possible without back or bank-breaking work. Read on to learn all about the best ways to clean stainless steel appliances.

The Easy Way Out

There are specialized stainless steel cleaners that homeowners can purchase from online retailers as well as brick and mortar storefronts. Usually, these products are not too complicated, but do require some elbow grease. Typically homeowners are instructed to spray the appliance with the cleaner, clean along the grain of the steel, and then buff. The buffing step is what requires some true elbow grease.

Fingerprints

One of the major complaints about stainless steel is that it picks up fingerprints extremely easily. This problem is especially prominent in households with children. If your stainless steel is clean other than little prints, there is a special trick for you. Glass cleaner is perfect for lifting prints without disturbing the shine on the steel.

Simply spray the cleaner onto a clean microfiber cloth and wipe over the prints in small circles. Spraying directly onto the appliance usually leads to drip marks and splatter in the long run. Always spray onto the cleaning apparatus first and then remove the marks.

Preventative Cleaning

The next suggestion may shock some people, however it is a cleaning solution that has proven itself rather effective. WD-40 may just be the solution that homeowners are looking for. WD-40 has a much more concentrated spray than general cleaners, so it can be sprayed onto the appliance directly. For cautious owners, spray the WD-40 onto the rag first. Then, just wipe the steel down like you would any other surface in your home. It is best practice to wipe with the grain of the metal, but certainly not required.

WD-40 does more than just clean stainless steel, it actually protects the steel from acquiring further prints. Yes, you read that right. The WD-40 cleans the stainless steel and protects it, even once you’re done cleaning. As a warning, WD-40 is absolutely great for cleaning, but it is still a petroleum-based product. While it is fine for external surfaces of appliances, do not use on any food preparation surfaces, such as counters.

Other Options

There are a wide variety of options for homebrew stainless steel cleaners. While these generally require more research, homeowners should always keep in mind that it is shockingly difficult to damage stainless steel appliance. Fundamentally, these options often boil down to something that cuts through grime and something that adds shine.