Polish it with a paste of baking soda and water, especially if you have some stuck on gunk on the sides of the sink. “Use a soft cloth to help any abrasion from happening,” Willatt. “Then wipe clean with paper towels. This combo will easily clean your surface but may not remove any hairline scratches.”
To restore the stainless steel in your kitchen, a combination of white vinegar and oil makes a fantastic solution. Yes, it sounds like a salad dressing, but trust us, white vinegar and oil works wonders on stainless steel.
- Mix a few drops of mild dish soap with warm water. - Dampen a microfiber cloth in the soapy water and wipe down the stainless steel surface to remove dirt and fingerprints. Rinse: - Use a clean, damp microfiber cloth to wipe off any soap residue. Dry: - Use a dry microfiber cloth to thoroughly dry the surface.
The Best Way to Clean Stainless Steel? Olive Oil! Yes, you read that right! The key to streak-free, gleaming stainless steel is right in your kitchen cabinet--olive oil. This simple yet effective cleaning method is a game-changer, and once you try it, you'll never go back to store-bought cleaners again.
Do a preliminary clean of your appliance with vinegar: Spray your appliance liberally with vinegar. Wipe it down: Using either a paper towel or a very soft cloth, wipe the vinegar off in the direction of the grain. This should remove the initial debris from your appliance and start to shine it up a bit.
While a professional polish may be necessary for tougher jobs, you can get your stainless steel looking great with something you have right in your pantry: olive oil! From your stainless pots and pans to the door of your refrigerator, a few drops of oil will get the job done.
Typically, you should progress from 240 to 400, then 600, and finally 1200 grit. For a mirror finish, you could go a step further with 2000 grit sandpaper. Set your sander between 4,000 and 6,500 RPM for buffing stainless steel. Be careful to move the sander at a 90° angle to any noticeable scratches.
A stovetop cleaner such as TriNova is also effective in cleaning grimy stainless steel range hoods as well as oven and dishwasher doors. More great options for cleaning stainless steel are a grill cleaner or even a silver polish like Wright's.
Wire brushing involves using a wire brush or a wire wheel on a power tool, such as a grinder or drill, to create a brushed effect. Again, it is essential to move the brush or wheel along the grain of the stainless steel to maintain a consistent pattern.
Soapy water, WD-40, and even toothpaste can be used to polish metals, but actual polishes work a lot better and a lot faster.
Hard water can leave white, cloudy-looking residue on your stainless-steel pans. To get rid of this chalky buildup, bring a mixture of one part vinegar to three parts water to a boil in the pan. Let it cool, then wash with soap and water.
If you want your appliances to shine, a neat trick would be simply to apply a few drops of olive oil before wiping your stainless steel appliances down with a cloth. This gives it a great deep shine that will complete your kitchen's modern, sleek look.
Apply a bit of baking soda on the surface, then apply white vinegar (it can be in a spray bottle or a small amount dabbed on a kitchen towel). Gently wipe away the spot with a soft cloth or paper towel and rinse with warm water. Another insider secret for banishing buildup, according to Shimek, is to use club soda.
Shine it Up!
While scratch-removal is often best left to the experts, small scratches can often be removed with a simple home remedy – simply apply a thin layer of toothpaste to the small scratches and buff gently with a toothbrush. This gets off superficial and small surface scratches like a charm.
Rubbing alcohol is the key to shiny stainless steel because it evaporates quickly without leaving a residue. Making the solution is easy. Mix a 1:1 equal part solution of water and alcohol. Then spray it on the surface and wipe it off with a microfiber cloth in the same direction as the stainless grain.
On the other hand, some people recommend glass cleaners, such as Windex, for stainless steel because it gives a real shine, and you cannot tell if it is brand new or not. Additionally, ammonia-free Windex cleaners are available for cleaning stainless steel.
Baking Soda Paste: Make a paste with baking soda and water, then gently scrub with a non-abrasive sponge. Vinegar Solution: Soak pans in a vinegar-water solution to remove stains. Polish: Use a stainless steel cleaner or olive oil to restore shine. Dry and Store: Ensure pans are completely dry before storing.
If you're going to cook over high heat, use oil with a high smoke point, such as grapeseed or sunflower. If you're only cooking over medium heat, olive oil works too. Avoid cooking sprays, which can polymerize onto the pan's surface and become difficult to remove.
Vinegar and olive oil are two must-haves in any kitchen.
They're ideal for cleaning stainless steel surfaces too! Here's how to use them: Wipe down the surface to remove any dust and grime. Spray a small amount of vinegar (white or apple cider vinegar) onto the surface.
Using oil when cooking with stainless steel is crucial for preventing food from sticking.