HOW TO CLEAN STAINLESS STEEL
I‘ve had stainless steel appliances for over eight years. For eight years, I have dealt with those pesky finger prints and who-knows-what smeared all over the front of the appliances. My appliance manuals always recommend special cleaners for stainless and have warnings against using other chemicals that could ruin the finish.
But I have never found those special cleaners to work as well as good ol’ Windex.
I know it was a risk to put Windex on my appliances, but we got sick and tired of how awful our stainless looked all the time! We reasoned the finish couldn’t look any worse than it did! But even after years of using Windex and paper towels to clean them, we have never had any problems with the finish at all. It works BEAUTIFULLY! We’ve had many of the major brand appliances and found Windex to work on all of them.
We have what appears to be a “stainless” sink and it is AWFUL to clean. The sink gets rusty, it is impossible to clean and I just don’t like it. Not all stainless steel is the same quality, apparently. Windex does NOT work on my sink, FYI.
So, I’m wondering if you have any of your own tips for cleaning stainless?
I love the inside of my new dishwasher, seriously, this Electrolux is like a TANK inside and always looks clean and shiny!
If you could choose any appliance finish for a new kitchen, would you choose stainless or not? What would be your finish of choice?
And please share your stainless steel cleaning tips in the comments!
disclaimer: use products on your stainless appliances at your own risk.
This post is the last of a six part series on Homemaking, sponsored by Electrolux as part of Homebuzz. I received an Electrolux appliance in exchange for my participation. The opinions stated in this post are my own. My old dishwasher is being donated to a worthy cause.
The other posts in this series are here:
My New Dishwasher, Order from Chaos,
3 Truths and a Lie, How to Organize a Kitchen
Here’s another Bon Ami / Barkeepers user…and when it gets really bad around the handles, I use toilet bowl cleaner and let it soak on for awhile. I have some Simple Green Stainless Steel cleaner that isn’t too bad; not great for cleaning the sink, but it works on the fridge and dishwasher and little appliances. Thanks for the Windex tip!
Thanks for the tip . . . our Chicago apartment is the first time I have had stainless appliances and they were already a bit mucked up. I will try windex.
I have had a stainless sink and had great success with my all time favorite cleaning tool – the magic eraser. Always use it wet and gently and with the sink. . . follow the grain. Rinse well, as it leaves a little residue. Works like a charm.
fondly,
Glenda
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Twitter: JoanAdolf
says:
On stainless steel I spray WD-40 and wipe with a paper towel.
I’ve been using Olive Oil on all of my stainless steel applicances. It cleans and prevents fingerprints for weeks.
This works the best Olive Oil is awesome and lasts for weeks in the house with 2 year old touching everything.
The absolute best product to clean SS is Sheila Shine. An appliance repair guy gave me a can of it once and I was amazed. I’ve used it since. Just google it. You’ll find it. Buy it. You won’t believe it.
I am always changing products to clean my stainless steel appliances. This weekend I mixed some vinegar and water in a spray bottle and it worked great!
Twitter: melissalewis
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I have stainless for the first time. I love the beauty, but with the beauty comes the pain of constant preventing smudging and cleaning smudging. Thanks for the tip.
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Without a doubt the best thing I’ve found for cleaning stainless is the Mystic Maid towels you can find online. You just soak in plain old water, wring out and wipe. It’s also fabulous for windows – honestly puts windows cleaned with Windex to shame.
One of my clients told me about Mystic Maid cloths. Bought my on Amazon.com. About $10 each – large and reusable.
I use Holloway House Lemon Oil. It is amazing! It erases every smudge and fingerprint in seconds. I was going insane over how my new appliances looked, what with the smearing, etc., until I stumbled upon the lemon oil. I’m sure any brand would be just as good. It is probably a similar effect that the person who uses olive oil gets, but the lemon oil smells good!
Use a damp soft microfiber cloth then polish with a dry microfiber cloth. It works! No chemicals! (I got a nice soft microfiber mitt at Crate & Barrel)
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This is what I do on all my ss appliances and Jennie’s right–it works great and is cheap!
For your sink I swear by Bar Keeper’s friend. It’s a citrus based product and works great on pans too. It comes in a powered and a liquid form…the liquid is best but is a bit harder to find. Bed Bath and Beyond is a good source or I’m sure Amazon has it. Use the liquid in the shower to remove soap scum from your glass/tile – works like a charm and no sticky chemical smells!
I use Pledge. Works like a charm, and I LOVE the smell! And I use Comet in my SS sink.
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I once worked cutting paper all day on a large stainless steel table. The manufacturer recommended Pledge and that is what was used to keep it shiny and dust free. I have gotten great results on my stainless steel sink as well. I use the orange version and it smells great, too.
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Lemon Oil!
Barkeeper’s friend works miracles on stainless steel!
I have stainless appliances, and I found an easy way to keep them clean. I use microfiber cloths. I wipe the appliance first with damp one and then use a dry one. Works great! I use microfiber dishtowels, so I just wipe everything with it after I finish with the dishes.
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We use Mrs. Meyer’s stainless steel cleaner on our stainless stuff and Mrs. Meyer’s white powder scrub stuff in our stainless sink–especially on rust and other thick, yucky residue.
Twitter: gardenhomeparty
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Hi Melissa,
I had used special stainless cleaner for the first 3 years. Then I heard that good ol’ Pledge works. And it does! I don’t know about the sink…we opted for porcelain. I would install stainless again but I do love some of the new white appliances by Viking.
Karen
I also use mircrofiber cloths, dampened with water and flip to dry! I love my Kitchen Aid stainless steel appliances!
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Pledge! Pledge works on many surfaces.
I have found that Zud, Cameo or Bar Keepers Friend works great! First, you wet a sponge, then sprinkle the powder (of any of the above) directly on to the dry sink. (Works best if the sink is either dry or just a bit damp.) Then scrub with the wet sponge in the direction of the grain of the stainless. Your sponge will actually turn BLACK from all the tarnish in the sink. Scrub for a few minutes then rinse well and dry with a clean cloth. Super shiny and clean! I’ve been doing this for years!
I also use micro-fiber cloths when I’m through with the dishes. Just be sure to wring out the cloth as much as possible before using, then simply wipe out the sink. I use the micro-fiber cloths for washing my dishes, too and they work GREAT. Also use them to clean windows (no chemicals), just be sure to wring out the cloth as much as possible to avoid streaks. Even works great for dusting! Geez, sounds like I’m a salesman for micro-fiber cloths, but they truly work great on anything!! Truly!
2 words…MAGIC ERASER!!
PAM spray and a microfiber cloth on your applinces.
Barkeeper’s Friend on your sink, rinse, dry, PAM spray and microfiber cloth.
Eucalyptus Oil works well on stainless! And safe when you’ve got kids around. Double bonus!!
Twitter: snoozeq1
says:
Ooo! Hv to try eucalyptus oil. But– I agree on Windex! I do not have stainless appl’s, but I use Windex on everything. It’s great for the porcelain finishes, and even my *antique* porcelain topped table, little cupboard,etc. I, do, however, have a lo-grade puny stainless sink. Ick. I gave up&used comet on a microfiber to strip all the errors&goop. Then I put Maas polish on it! Yup, the same stuff I use on silver, silverplate, copper, must I shaddap…yes I must. But it keeps it shiny for-almost-ever! So I can vinegar,rinse&pat dry. When it fades, I go for the Comet or BonAmi &polish again. And it’s usually about the time I need to Maas everything else! So,that’s my tip.
someday I will have stainless appl’s yup. And I intend to Windex them,too. If they look a little rough, I will Maas them. But I do wanna try the euc oil per @Rosa 
Twitter: snoozeq1
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PS–I *love* MagicEraser in the bathroom! It even takes off bath oil sludge, or the cream oil bodywash sludge, eeuuw. Hv horribly dry skin but ca-ca in the tub after a shower. MAGIC ERASER IS IT for the bath fixtures&leather tennies! -s-
Stainless steel polishes up fine with a drop of baby oil too, and smells lovely. But I wouldn’t choose it for a finish again, because it does mark so easily. And I’ll tell you what else I wouldn’t have again, halogen spot lights, because they blow out so quickly and with our high ceilings that means the stepladder is out all the time to replace the things. They always blow out just when we are expecting people so my husband is frequently up the ladder in the hall when guests arrive. Sigh!
When I moved into my new place, I made a deal with myself to use only vinegar, baking soda and dish soap. I have found that for my sink, scrubbing it with a tiny bit of the dish soap and the baking soda works beautifully. If I want that final spit and shine, I just spritz it with my vinegar/water mix and dry with a paper towel. I have to say, I’m impressed!
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I don’t have Stainless, and I never will, for that very reason. I don’t care if my white appliances are out of style. I will never get streaky, printy stainless steel appliances just so I can keep up with the Joneses’. I hardly ever clean the outside of my white fridge. Sorry all you ss lovers out there, I’m just not sure what the big deal is.
I’m kinda on board with you on this too Beth. I’ve got bisque appliances and am quite happy knowing I don’t have fingerprints all the time. Oh for sure, they’re probably there, but their invisible
thank goodness someone else doesn’t want stainless steel. I don’t like the industrial look and white goes with everything and it is easier to clean. now just windex on the white. Unfortunately, the builder put a stainless sink in without asking and I was stuck. I usually clean it with clorox spray for the kitchen or rub it with comet. Probably not so good for the environment but great for the sink.
BarKeepers Friend works great and it is really cheap. Its like Comet but I think there is a liquid form too. It also works great if you have a colored sink, like white or beige it gets all the scuff marks off that are left from pots and pans.
I have to agree with the above comment. I like things clean, and when I clean it I want it to look clean. So white appliances and white counter top for me. I would probably consider another counter top, but we knew we might have to do more extensive remodeling in the kitchen, so opted for the white because it will be easier to match later.
But I do like barkeepers friend, bon ami for SS, and windex for shining it up!!
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I am definitely going to be trying Windex, Sheila Shine, Mystic Maid, and Bar Keeper’s Friend! What a wonderful load of suggestions!!! Stainless is definitely not easy to keep clean!
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I have always used Comet or any powdered cleanser on stainless steel sinks. It cleans great without scratching.
I don’t have stainless steel appliances but I do have a stainless sink. Yes, the quality of the stainless affects the “look” of it and whether or not it’ll stay clean/shiny/rust-free.
Since we don’t have a dishwasher (yes, it IS possible not to have one..hee hee!) we do all our dishes by hand. Therefore, the sink’s constantly being “cleaned”, so to speak. Our water is good quality but occasionally we do get a rusty stain around the drain. When that happens, I like to use Bon-Ami. It’s odor-free and has a very, very non-scratching mild abrasive.
I’ve used all of the above on my SS appliances. But, I have also used Magic Eraser and finish with a dry paper towel to get a great shine! I use steel wool (Brillo pad) on my SS sink per Flylady sink cleaning steps! My sink is so shiny when I go back and do the Flylady process on it!
Lemon Pledge-Crazy, but it is FAST, smells amazing, and believe it or not the can even says it’s for stainless steel. I couldn’t believe it!
I like a fast spray! I’ll try the Windex too!
I highly recommend the MYSTIC MAID CLEANING Cloths. We actually sell them at our school for a fund raiser for our Art Literacy Program. They are so awesome! They are a lint free streak free cloth that cleans any surface, stainless steel, windows, granite, furniture etc. I have several that I use for different jobs. (They come in various colors)Using these, saves you on using any chemicals. You just wash them without fabric softner and hang to dry. I LOVE THEM!
For my stainless sink, Melissa, I use Universal Stone (made in Germany) an eco-friendly cleaning and polishing stone. It cleans the sink beautifully. I just bought this product a little over a month ago. It cleans a variety of surfaces. I’m still experimenting. I bought it in Canada, but I believe it is available in the U.S. I love white appliances, so I don’t have a lot of stainless steel in my kitchen.
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I use baking soda in my stainless sink and it works wonderfully well. Good tip about windex on the appliances.
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I know there are a ton of suggestions already but I had to share what just recently worked for me. I was using olive oil to polish it up and keep the finger prints at bay. But recently I have had these long water drip marks on the bottom freezer and also the dishwasher. They weren’t coming off. I even bought some Caldera SS cleaner. So I tried Barkeepers Friend on the water marks and it worked! I then used the Caldera to shine it up. I had purchased the BF because I had some rust marks on my pool decking, the no slip kind, that CLR was not even getting off and BF worked wonders on the rust. I love it!
Well, on the fridge I’m still using the Stainless Steel Cleaner that comes from Sears (it came with the fridge), but for the supposedly “stainless” sink I just use vinegar. My mother-in-law discovered it accidentally and I’ve been using it since. It’s cheap and I always have it under the sink. It’s also great for calcium build-up in my tea kettle (put some in the kettle, boll it and it’s all clean) or anything else like that. I’ll try some of the other suggestions, though, but I wanted to pass on vineger because it’s easy, cheap, everyone has it and it’s completely NATURAL. I’ve put olive oil on after if I want really shiny, but I usually don’t bother. Haven’t tried the vinegar on the fridge yet. I will when I run out of the cleaner. The SS cleaner does do a nice job. Thanks for all of the other tips everyone! always on the lookout!
OMG- never thought of trying Windex- will do now. Indeed it is a pain to clean and the vinegar solution I will have to try as well. The wipes don’t seem to work too well. Also steel wool may work on the sink.
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I use a Magic Eraser on my stainless steel sink, works like a charm! But not on the fridge, strange.
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Melissa, I found this, maybe it helps, she uses PAM
http://bargainhoot.com/2011/03/21/how-t-clean-your-stainless-steel-appliances-my-favorite-new-method/
The first time I sprayed Chlorox Cleanup on my “stainless” steele sink and let it sit for a while, I learned my sink was not stainless. I just do this once a month, followed by Mr. Clean’s Magic Eraser for anything that got missed, and it shines beautifully. I try not to use bleach or chemicals at all, but this just works best for my sink.
For my stainless appliances and granite countertops, I use a mixture of mostly water, a cup of vinegar and a few drops of lemon essential oil and it wipe it down and dry it with cloth or paper towel. I tried expensive specialty cleaners but they didn’t clean anything. This homemade cleaner works better and is healthy enough to drink.
~Heather
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i use a damp microfiber cloth and then my dry cloth to wipe it off. it works great and all i use is water!
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I also just use a damp microfiber cloth (no cleaner) and it works the best for me. In my ss sink, I use Melaleuca’s Tough and Tender in a spray bottle and scrub with a scratchy sponge- the results are beautiful!
Take a tip from a cleaning lady friend of mine: After cleaning the sink, wipe it down with lemon oil (any brand) and wipe off any residue with a paper towel. this helps keep it shiny and sparkly. I don’t do this every time I clean my sink, but I do it when we have company coming or when I just want to give it a good shine.
btw, clorox should not be used on stainless as it can ruin the finish over time.
I just heard about the Pledge tip and it does work. BUT make sure you put an old towel on the floor in front of the fridge b/c the floor gets really slippery from the over-spray. My newest dilemma is cleaning the smudges off my Ikea-type furniture that is mostly mdf and has that shiny coating. Anyone have advice?