When your brand-new stainless steel fridge, dishwasher, oven, or other appliance first arrives, it has a pristine gleam that instantly brightens up your kitchen. By day two, however, your appliance has lost its luster thanks to grubby fingers, water drips, and messy accidents. Luckily, there are easy ways to make your stainless steel surfaces look like new, no matter how old or well-loved they may be.
While using a targeted cleaner (Good Housekeeping Seal holder Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaning Wipes)is a simple fix, make your appliances and sinks sparkle again by following these tried-and-tested tips from Carolyn Forte, director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab. Take a look at this guide on how to clean stainless steel, including how to best remove streaks and add shine.
How to Clean Stainless Steel
Unlike other surfaces, stainless steel is surprisingly easy to clean: just wipe away any streaks or sumdges with a speciality cleaner like Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaning Wipes or Magic Stainless Steel Magic Cleaner. Use a little elbow grease to get rid of any oil residue or fingerprints. If you don’t have any stainless steel cleaners on hand, you can use other at-home cleaners for a quick spiff up. Avoid scouring powders, steel wool, bleach, and ammonia to prevent damage to the appliance’s finish.
- Dish Soap: Mix 1 teaspoon of dish detergent and 1 quart hot tap water. Using a microfiber cloth, rub the detergent solution onto the marks in small sections, going with the grain. Rinse with clean hot water only, and dry immediately with a clean cloth.
- Mineral Oil: Apply a light coating and buff well to avoid any tacky buildup. Whatever you do, stay away from food-based oil, including vegetable and olive oil, because they can turn rancid.
- Windex: Spray a dry cloth with ammonia and vinegar-free window cleaner, and then wipe the surface clean.
How to Get Streaks off Stainless Steel Appliances
Regardless of what kind of stainless steel cleaner you’re using, make sure to wipe the cleaner in the direction of the metal’s grain. (FYI, streaks are the result of wiping against the grain or in a circular motion.) For extra shine, use enough cleaner to dissolve grease and buff with a clean microfiber cloth afterward.
How to Get Stainless Steel to Shine Again
While you can use dish soap or mineral oil to remove pesky marks and smudges, the only way to bring back your appliance’s natural shine is by using cleaners formulated specifically for stainless steel. On top of that, look for a cleaner with a protectant to repel soil and fingerprints like Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaning Wipes. That way you won’t have to clean your appliances as frequently.
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