Essential Tips to Keep Your Stainless Steel Appliances Looking Like New
When it comes to maintaining stainless steel appliances, appearances matter as much as functionality. A sleek, gleaming surface is one of the reasons many of our customers choose stainless steel. But without the right care, your stainless steel fridge, oven, or dishwasher can quickly lose its shine, becoming dull or, worse, permanently damaged.
Understanding the difference between coated and non-coated finishes is a crucial part of keeping your stainless steel looking brand new. This knowledge empowers you to make the right cleaning choices and avoid harsh chemicals that can turn your appliance purple (yes, really!). Let's dive into the good, the bad, and the ugly of stainless steel care, armed with this important information.
Know your coating
Before we start looking at ways to clean your stainless steel, you want to know what it's coating is. Different types of coating will require different consideration for how to clean them.
Coated
Many appliance manufacturers are now offering a fingerprint-resistant finish. Some even include this as part of the appliance out of the box. Frigidaire is a good example of this, having been offering their smudge-proof stainless steel appliances for several years. In theory, appliances with this finish are easier to clean and more resistant to fingerprints and smudges. Although we haven't done extensive testing, we also tend to see appliances in many different states clean and dirty and haven't seen much difference in how the coating helps. Generally manufacturers recommend cleaning their coated stainless steel only with soap and water.
It's important to note that the fingerprint-resistant coating is easily damaged. Even though it doesn't dissolve in water, vinegar can strip it away. This cautionary advice underscores the need to check your owner's manual before using any of the recipes that we suggest today, ensuring you don't inadvertently harm your appliance.
Non-coated
The most common finishes you are likely to find on your appliances are matt, brushed, and mirror. These three refer to how the steel was finished not a coating that was applied on top or added in the fabrication process. Stainless steel that has been finished by any of these methods is non-reactive to acids so it's safe to clean them with vinegar based cleaners.
Courtesy of Lowes and GE
Like you, when looking to solve a problem, we want to get straight to the solution. So this week, that's just what we're doing. We'll start with the good stuff, the recipes that will work on cleaning your stainless steel appliances. Then we'll move into the things you need to avoid, or else it will damage or destroy those appliances. Finally, we've got two in our last section that are just ugly.
The Good
1. Olive Oil and Vinegar
Many people use olive oil and vinegar to clean appliances. You spray down your appliances with a light coat of white vinegar and wipe it down with a microfiber cloth. Then you come back with the olive oil to gently buff the surface and protect it.
Some swear by combining the two to make a one-and-done product, so that's what we're sharing here.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of white vinegar
1/2 cup of olive oil
Instructions
Mix the white vinegar and olive oil in a spray bottle.
Shake hard before each use so that the two liquids will mix into each other.
Spray the solution onto the stainless steel appliance you're going after.
When wiping down your appliance, it's crucial to follow the grain of the steel. This attention to detail ensures you're not just cleaning, but also preserving the appearance of your stainless steel.
Finish by buffing the surface to a shine with a dry cloth.
2. Lemon juice and cream of tartar
For a citrus twist, combine lemon juice with cream of tartar. The natural acidity of the lemon will cut through stains, smudges and built on grease, while the cream of tartar acts as a mild buffer.
Lemon juice's natural acidity can cut through stains and brighten the steel's appearance.
Ingredients:
Lemon juice (from one lemon)
Cream of tartar
Instructions:
Squeeze out your lemon into a bowl and mix in enough cream of tartar to create a paste.
Apply that paste to any stained areas on your appliance.
Scrub gently with a soft cloth, and continue until the paste is gone or the stain is.
Use a clean cloth to rinse with water and dry the area.
3 Water and Vinegar
For this mixture, you will need a half cup of water, and third cup of white vinegar. However, this may leave the area smelling like vinegar. You may add some essential oil for a pleasant smell.
The mild acidity of vinegar helps cut through grease and grime without harming the surface. Here's how you can use it:
Ingredients:
1 part white vinegar
1 part water
Instructions:
Mix the white vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
Spray the solution directly onto the stainless steel surface.
Wipe it down with a clean, soft cloth, following the steel's grain.
Rinse with water and dry thoroughly to prevent streaks.
Courtesy of Bosche and Lowes
Just make sure that you don't let the vinegar sit for more than a minute in any area, as the acidity can damage the finish if left alone.
4. Baking Soda Base
For this cleaner, you will need white vinegar, four tablespoons of baking soda, one quart of water, and some lemon juice. Mix all of these ingredients together and let them sit for a few minutes. You may then apply and then rub off the cleaner paste with a dry paper towel. From there, rinse the area with water and dry it with a clean towel.
Ingredients:
Baking soda
Water
Instructions:
Create a paste by mixing baking soda with a small amount of water.
Apply the paste to the stained area.
Gently scrub with a soft cloth or sponge, following the steel's grain.
Rinse with water and dry thoroughly.
For many people this is enough. You have the recipes that work, now you just need to figure out which one works for you. Hang on, though, and you'll find out why these recipes work vs others that don't, plus one that can ruin appliances and another that wastes your time.
The Bad
Now we're into the warnings. The things that you should be told when you purchase a new stainless steel appliance, but aren't always. There are many things that can damage the pretty outside of your stainless steel appliances. It's surprising, we know, but it's the truth.
1. Steel Wool
Steel wool, like you might use to clean your pans, is straight out. This will scratch and destroy your stainless steel. These not only scratch the stainless steel, but you can leave behind particles that will rust on the exterior and leave you with a very messy-looking appliance.
2. Harsh abrasives
DON'T use chlorine bleach, chloride, oven cleaner, or other abrasive cleaners
Scouring powders
Bleach and other chlorine products
Glass cleaners that contain ammonia, such as Windex
Oven cleaners
All of these cleaners we've listed will damage the finish on your appliance, making it easier for it to be scratched or to begin rusting.
3. DON'T forget to review the manufacturer's manual.
Your manufacturer's manual will have important tips and tricks, not only for cleaning your appliance in question but also to help with things you need to avoid.
4. DON'T leave things sitting in a stainless steel sink
Plates, silverware, and dishes can all leave streaks or scratches on your sink when moved around before being put into the dishwasher. For your sink's sake, don't put off doing dishes.
5. DON'T ignore chalky, white build-up
Courtesy of Curtis Adams
Tap water, especially if yours tends to be hard water, can leave a build up behind that not only looks gross, but will begin to leave stains given time. Better to wipe away any water or residue when you get the chance. Additionally, make sure that in your cleaning you aren't using hard water, but instead use distilled water.
The Ugly
1. Avoid streaks; go with the grain.
Let's face it, no one wants streaky windows or appliances. So, just like when washing down your windows, you need to go with the grain of the appliance. It's not just about streaks, though. Going against the grain can also get pieces of your cloth of choice stuck in the grain, leaving small pieces that can cause rust or damage over time.
2. Not all cleaners will clean.
Just like we pointed out in the last section, some cleaners just don't mix with stainless steel appliances. One story we found was a woman who used Wood Surface Spray on her stainless steel fridge. In theory, it cleans away smudges, dirt and dust just as well as it does on wood, and it even protects from smudges!
Except it doesn't? According to those in the comments that found that not only does it not get the steel completely clean, but the smudges are back the very next day.
Our final and perhaps most curious tip is this: Do not use any cleaner with ammonia in it. Not only will it eat through the stainless steel, but it can also dye it purple.
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Courtesy of RDNE Stock projectRDNE Stock project
Taking the time to clean and care for your stainless steel appliances not only keeps them looking stunning but also helps them perform at their best. With the right approach—knowing the finish, using safe cleaning methods, and steering clear of harmful products—you can enjoy spotless, long-lasting appliances. And if your appliances ever need a bit more than a cleaning touch, our team at Appliance Rescue Service is here help. We’ll work with you to keep your appliances running smoothly. Reach out for all your repair and maintenance needs; we’re here to help keep your home in top shape, one appliance at a time.
Call: (214) 599-0055
Additional Reading
Fact Check: Common Appliance Maintenance Beliefs Debunked