Baking soda is an efficient home remedy to clean stainless steel. Make a paste out of baking soda and water and rub it gently on the surface, always in the direction of the grain. If you see any white residue left from the baking soda, just wipe away with a dry, clean cloth.
Whether it is your kitchen sink or your stainless steel appliances, skip using the magic eraser on your stainless. When you use a magic eraser on stainless steel items, it will give the appearance that your steel is duller than usual.
The Best At-Home Methods for Cleaning Stainless Steel
Many people swear by the simple combination of vinegar and olive oil for keeping their stainless steel appliances clean. Add white vinegar to a clean spray bottle. Spray down your stainless steel appliance.
Baking soda is an efficient home remedy to clean stainless steel. Make a paste out of baking soda and water and rub it gently on the surface, always in the direction of the grain. If you see any white residue left from the baking soda, just wipe away with a dry, clean cloth.
Use a microfiber or soft cloth when wiping down your appliances. Avoid cleaners that can damage steel and finishes. Instead, clean your stainless steel appliances with a dish soap like Dawn® Platinum. Its unique formula is tough enough to break up grease and grime while staying gentle on stainless steel surfaces.
While hydrogen peroxide can be effective at cleaning some types of jewellery, it is not recommended for use on stainless steel.
Combine one part vinegar with eight parts water. Spray the solution on the stainless surfaces and let it sit for five minutes. Afterwards, rinse with cool water or wipe with a damp cloth. After your stainless steel surfaces have dried, sprinkle them with olive oil and wipe them with a clean cloth.
Simply boil water and a few tablespoons of white vinegar together in your stainless steel pan—just enough to cover the mess in question—then dump it out and wash with soapy water. For more stubborn messes, try the above method of combining vinegar with baking soda.
Be careful not to use any of the following on your stainless steel appliances as they can scratch or damage the finish: products containing bleach, abrasive or grainy cleaners, glass cleaner, oven cleaner, ammonia or abrasive cloths or pads like steel wool.
Don't Use Them On Your Car
Or any other delicate surface, for that matter, like silverware, glass, or metal surfaces. Dry erasers have the abrasiveness of a 3000 grit sandpaper – very fine, but can still mar shiny surfaces – like your stainless steel appliances!
Many stainless steel appliances include cleaning instructions that advise avoiding abrasive cleaners. When using Windex to clean stainless steel, it is essential to wipe in the direction of the metal grains. In addition, you may also use oil as a type of conditioner for stainless steel after cleaning it with Windex.
These items will destroy the plastic parts. Do not use Goo Gone® on stainless steel appliances unless you have tested it in an inconspicuous area first. In some cases, Goo Gone® can discolor or darken stainless steel.
There are two reasons for this: The first is that, when added to a cold pan, proteins are able to create bonds with the metal surface, effectively sticking the two together. Second, stainless steel is a porous (read: uneven) material.
Vinegar is highly acidic and should (almost) never be used on stainless steel because it can begin to eat through the protective coating over time. While it may not be evident at first, you will gradually start to dull the surface as the acid eats its way through the exterior coating and will make an uneven finish.
Maintaining Shine on Stainless Steel Appliances
Begin by wiping down surfaces with a microfiber cloth or a soft rag. This removes dirt, grime, and fingerprints easily. For tough stains, use a stainless steel cleaner or a vinegar and water mix. After cleaning, buff the surface with a dry cloth to bring back the shine.
For stubborn grease spots or water scaling, wetting a soft cloth with a diluted vinegar solution can do the trick. Mix a solution of 2 parts water to 1 part vinegar. Wipe the entire surface from top to bottom, and never let vinegar sit on the surface.
Surprisingly, even stainless steel can sometimes succumb to the abrasive nature of baking soda. Never use baking soda in its powdery state to clean stainless steel appliances. However, you can still use it if you make it into a paste with water. Or you can use dedicated stainless steel cleaners.
If you notice hard water spots on your stainless steel appliances, vinegar is an effective way to remove them, says Parnell. Soak a soft cloth in vinegar and apply it directly to the stained area.
As you will read above and below, to avoid scratches on your stainless steel, you should never use anything rough or bristled, and definitely do not use steel wool. You should also never use paper towels. Paper towels leave behind lint and depending on the brand of paper towel you use – it can also leave scratches.
To make: Start with a clean spray bottle. Pour in white vinegar, Blue Dawn liquid dishwashing detergent and water. Apply the spray top and shake to mix. To use: Shake to mix then spray it liberally on the stainless steel surface you want to clean.