When a stainless steel sink looks dull, it's often because it's been scrubbed with cleanser that contains chlorine bleach, with a bleach-loaded scrub pad, or — worst of all — fine steel wool that comes pre-loaded with detergent and bleach.
Vinegar naturally disinfects while helping remove hard water stains from your stainless steel sink. Once your sink is clean and dry, you can easily add an extra shine. Apply a few drops of olive oil to a lint-free cloth to buff the sink and fixture until they sparkle.
Hard water may leave cloudy spots. A little bit of dish soap and some water take care of any greasy fingerprints or residue on stainless steel appliances: In a small bowl, mix a few drops of dish soap with warm water. Dip a microfiber cloth into the mixture.
If your sink shows mineral deposits — a white haze over the metal — soak a cloth with vinegar and leave it over the deposits for a bit (maybe 15 minutes), then wipe them away. You can repeat this treatment several times if necessary.
Distilled white vinegar (in a spray bottle) Olive oil. Microfiber cloths that are gentle on stainless steel (never an abrasive like a Scotch-Brite pad)
Conclusion: Vinegar can indeed damage your stainless steel surfaces if precautions aren't taken during its use.
Dish Soap and Baby Oil
Simple dish soap can also work to clean your stainless-steel appliances. 1: Clean the appliance with dish soap. 2: Put a small amount of baby oil on a microfiber cloth. 3: Move the cloth in the direction of the grain to polish and shine your appliance.
Stainless Steel
Be careful. The abrasive nature of the Magic Erasers can also scratch up the finish of your stainless steel sinks and appliances, especially if you use them and press down too hard. Too much scrubbing can cause the high gloss finish that seals most stainless steel appliances to break down.
Use a clean, damp sponge or soft cloth. A mild abrasive cleaner such as *Cameo Stainless Steel Cleaner, or *Soft Scrub (without bleach) can be used, remembering to always wipe with the grain. More stubborn soils can be removed using a damp *Scotch-Brite pad. Be sure to rub evenly with the grain of the stainless steel.
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.
Use water or vinegar as your magic cleaners.
Avoid abrasive chemicals that can break down the composition of stainless steel and reach for warm soapy water or white vinegar. Simply dampen a cotton cloth with either of these solutions, wring out the excess liquid and wipe down your stainless steel appliances.
Add some shine, naturally.
To make the surface of your stainless steel appliance shiny and protect it from fingerprints, add a small drop of olive oil to a cloth and buff it on the surface, working in the direction of the grain, and then wipe away excess with a dry cloth.
Baking soda
Its slight abrasiveness won't harm your stainless steel, but it will help unstick stuck-on stains. Make a thick paste with baking soda and water (here's how), and glop it on tough stains. Let it sit for 20 minutes, then wipe, rinse, and dry.
But, diluted vinegar is perfectly safe to use on stainless steel. Most cleaners out there dilute the vinegar with either water or baking soda to make it more friendly to the stainless steel finish.
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.
If harder stains or rust remains, sprinkle baking soda or another non-abrasive scrub cleaner on a soft, damp cleaning cloth, mixed with liquid soap. Clean problem areas gently, going with the grain of the stainless steel. Spray the surface with vinegar-water mixture or glass cleaner and wipe again.
If the protective finish on your appliance has been damaged and you notice little rust spots starting to form, dip a damp cloth in a little baking soda and rub lightly to remove the rust. Wipe clean, apply a stainless steel polish to the area and buff to blend.
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.
Skip the store-bought products and use distilled white vinegar as a homemade stainless steel cleaner. It's all you need to keep your stainless steel appliances, countertops, and sink looking great.