Just because a kitchen appliance is said to be “stainless” doesn’t mean it can’t get dirty. Learning how to clean stainless-steel appliances is crucial for anyone who has them. “Stainless steel is like that sleek black car: beautiful when it’s clean and shiny, but often looks dull and dirty if it’s not properly maintained,” says Tim Conn, president and cofounder of the commercial cleaning company Image One.
As you cook or load up the dishwasher, your hands are likely to have oily residue—just take a peek at your refrigerator door, which is likely to have at least a few fingerprints around the handles. Plus, when you prepare a first-class meal, little food particles are bound to make their way to other surfaces in your kitchen, such as the stove hood and the oven door.
It’s important to know how to clean stainless-steel appliances the proper way, as using harsh chemicals can damage the shiny surface or leave permanent streaks. Here, we offer a handful of cleaning tips from the pros, covering both DIY solutions using white vinegar and olive oil and AD-tested products best suited for stainless steel. Follow these easy steps and you can say goodbye to water marks and other unsightly drips that distract from your beautiful kitchen design.
How to clean stainless-steel appliances
Step 1: Find the right stainless cleaner
Getting stainless-steel surfaces spotless is not rocket science, though it does require some elbow grease. “The frequency of cleaning your stainless-steel appliances may vary depending on the climate you live in, how active your kitchen is, and whether you have kids or pets,” says Anne Ruozzi, the cofounder of Therapy Clean, a plant-based cleaning product company. “Clean appliances whenever they get smudgy. If that’s not possible, then strive for once a week.”
Stainless-steel appliances—including microwaves, refrigerators, dishwashers, and ovens—look similar on the surface, but may require different cleaning approaches. Whether you have stainless-steel countertops, a stainless-steel kitchen sink, or stainless-steel cookware, each item deserves its own brand of TLC.
However, not all cleaning products will work wonders on this material. In fact, a regular all-purpose cleaner might actually leave stainless steel streaky. The key when searching for stainless-steel cleaning products is to look for ingredients with essential oils. It may seem counterintuitive to fight greasy fingerprints with grease, but oils actually buff away smudges.
The best cleansers for stainless-steel countertops
For surfaces that often come into direct contact with food, like stainless-steel countertops, consider a DIY cleaning solution. Fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and white vinegar, then add a few drops of lemon juice or essential oils, recommends Ron Shimek, president of Mr. Appliance.
The best cleansers for major stainless-steel appliances
AD tested Therapy Clean Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish on a fridge that is opened a dozen times a day by elementary school kids. To say that the handles didn’t look shiny through all that use is an understatement. The streak-free formula with coconut oil and lavender essential oil blend wiped the sticky mess away in less than a minute.
