Due to its susceptibility to streaking and ability to reveal fingerprints, stainless steel presents a greater maintenance task. When cleaning, moving your cloth in a single direction and following the grain is crucial. If you're unsure how to go, try things out in a tiny space first.
Appliances made of stainless steel may rust if exposed to dust, dirt, and grime. The promise of harsh chemical cleaning treatments, typically with high price tags, to restore them to their former showroom brilliance is frequently broken.
Don't when cleaning stainless steel appliances
- Avoid scrubbers, bleach, and ammonia to prevent harming the appliance's finish.
- Never rub stainless steel against the grain of the material. When wiping, always go against the grain to avoid streaks.
- After cleaning, try to avoid letting your stainless steel equipment air dry. Utilizing a fresh microfiber cloth to buff them reduces streaks and stains and brings back the luster.
What you need
Rubber gloves: These keep additional fingerprints from destroying your hard work.
Dish soap is excellent for cleaning stainless steel since its surfactants lift oil and grime.
Warm water: A little bowl of warm water.
Microfiber cloths: Use them to clean your appliance so it doesn't get scratched.
Dish sponge: To help remove extremely difficult stains, use a sponge with a no-scuff scrubbing side.
Before you start cleaning your appliances, check your model's manual for any particular instructions before cleaning is advised for all appliance maintenance. The same methods described below are applicable if your stainless steel appliance is fingerprint resistant and has a specific finish that prevents smudges. This technique works well on both standard stainless steel and fingerprint-resistant stainless steel.
Wipe the surface
Remove anything that can obstruct cleaning the equipment, if applicable. Put on some latex gloves. Warm water should dampen a microfiber towel before wiping the stainless steel. We discovered that working with dish soap was most effective when damp surfaces were used first. Use a drop or two of dish soap with the second microfiber towel. Start wiping down the appliance gradually. Depending on the surface area of the appliance and how dirty it is, you should regularly dampen the cloth and apply a little more soap.
Take on tough stains
Most stains will readily come out with the dish soap solution and brisk rubbing with a cloth. However, some stains might be quite difficult to remove; we advise using a soft dish sponge with the same mixture of dish soap and warm water. You should alternate between scrubbing in a circular motion and rubbing up and down for especially difficult-to-remove stains.
Rinse
Completely wiping off soapy residue can be difficult and untidy. Some people make a water and dish soap solution to avoid this, although it's not actually necessary for cleaning stainless steel. To avoid spreading the soap further, as you remove the soapy residue with your wet, soap-free cloth, make sure to periodically thoroughly rinse it in clean water. When no suds are visible, you have completed the task.
What harm may vinegar do to stainless steel?
While washing stainless steel sinks with vinegar is acceptable, using it on stainless steel appliances is not advised. When using acidic or moderately abrasive cleaners to remove food particles and hard water stains and buff out scratches, stainless steel cookware and sinks may take more abuse. Different and more delicate coatings on stainless steel appliances are vulnerable to deterioration by acids like vinegar. When in doubt, it's a good idea to spot-test your chosen cleaning method on a small, hidden section of your appliance and consult the manufacturer's website for cleaning instructions.
