Car Credit has teamed up with the Housing and Education Alliance (HEA) to help you on the road to home ownership. We all know that the kitchen is the heart of the home. And, keeping appliances clean and shiny makes your kitchen a welcome place to gather.
If you spend any time in the kitchen, you should be familiar with how to clean stainless steel. Nothing makes a kitchen less attractive than appliances covered in smudges, stains, and other buildup, so the term “stainless” is not quite accurate – it can and does get dirty.
Appliances made of stainless steel, such as ovens, microwaves, refrigerators, and dishwashers, are excellent choices for the kitchen for a variety of factors – their contemporary, sleek appearance gives a kitchen a more opulent atmosphere. Learning how to clean stainless-steel is a good idea since you might also have countertops, sinks, or cookware made of the material.
Cleaning and maintaining your stainless steel equipment properly will help prevent corrosion and long-term rusting. You can keep your appliances looking newer and longer with a little work.
Analyze the damage
Because no two spills or messes are exactly alike when it comes to stainless steel, cleaning techniques will also vary.
Smudges and hard water stains can be fairly easy to remove with a quick wipe down, but caked-on food or another more intensive buildup might call for a more powerful product—and more work on your part. Therefore, before gathering your goods, understand what you’re up against.
Go With the Grain
It’s important to familiarize yourself with the grain’s orientation. Steel has a grain, just like some fabrics and wood do. You may have noticed some light striations on the surfaces of your appliances.
In reality, the grain will run in the same direction throughout the entire sheet of steel. Typical attachments for appliances include handles and knobs made of steel. Remember that the grain may run in a different direction in these other sections.
Your appliance will lose its luster if you clean it against the grain. Wiping cleaning agents perpendicular to the grain allows more cleaning residue to penetrate the grain’s tiny fissures.
Naturally Cleaning Stainless Steel
There are a number of innovative industrial stainless steel cleaners, but they might not be the best or safest. There are many alternatives to potentially harmful commercial cleaners for cleaning stainless steel.
See for yourself by using these homemade cleaners on your appliances, but always spot-test any stainless steel cleaner before applying it to the entire surface.
A few No-Nos when cleaning your stainless steel:
Never use abrasive cleaners or cloths.
If your tap water contains minerals, use filtered or distilled water.
Do not let your stainless steel air dry – always do a final wipe with a soft, lint-free cloth to prevent spotting.
Here are a few safe, natural cleaning options:
A cloth and water
How much routine cleaning you can do with warm water and a lint-free towel may amaze you. The least dangerous method of cleaning stainless steel is this one.
Most things can be cleaned with plain water, but you may want to use filtered or distilled water if your tap water has minerals in it. To avoid water stains, dry with a towel or other fabric. Because water minerals can leave stains on stainless steel, this is crucial.
You can get great results by going in the polish lines’ direction. Because they are so good at absorbing all the water without scratching the surface, microfiber cleaning cloths are a great option when polishing stainless steel.
To give your appliances a final polish, you can purchase specialized polishing cloths that are finer than typical microfiber.
Dish soap
Before you get to cleaning, make sure you have everything you need on-hand:
Dish cleaning liquid, Sponge, Paper towel or reusable cloth
For best results, use a concentrated dish liquid. Apply a few drops onto the soft side of a damp sponge. Scrunch it a few times to disperse the soap throughout the sponge and to create suds.
Remember to go with the grain. You should be able to see lines in the stainless steel and feel the grain with your fingers. Start at the top of your appliance and wash in the direction of the grain. If the grain is horizontal, start at the top and work your way toward the floor. Cleaning against the grain can lead to an incomplete clean and even scratching.
Rinse excess residue and towel dry the surface immediately with a clean paper towel or reusable cloth to prevent etching, water spots, and staining. Water spots are formed when minerals in the water are left behind after evaporation.
Olive Oil and Vinegar
You’ll need:
Two microfiber towels, Distilled white vinegar, and Olive Oil.
Find the grain in your stainless steel by giving it a careful look. To eliminate grease and grime, dampen your microfiber cloth with vinegar and massage the stainless steel surface.
Dampen the other microfiber cloth with olive oil while the vinegar dries.
Rub in the oil with the grain to make it work. This quick, easy process will clean, protect, and shine stainless steel.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a natural all-purpose cleaner with just the right amount of abrasiveness for securely eliminating buildup.
Make a hard paste out of baking soda and water, gently wipe the cleaner into the stain with a microfiber cloth.
With a moist towel, remove the accumulation and residue.
Lemon Oil
Moisten a clean towel with lemon oil, then rub it on your appliance. Apply evenly and then clean up with a separate microfiber towel.
While lemon oil is frequently an ingredient of furniture polish, do not use furniture polish on stainless steel. It is difficult to apply evenly, making it more difficult to remove the excess.
Flour
The sink should be cleaned to eliminate caked-on filth, grease, or grime.
Bonus Tips
Always ensure a cleaner is safe for stainless steel by reading the label before using it.
- Use a spray glass cleaner for obstinate fingerprints.
- Apply a stainless steel cleaner with a paper towel to spots or scratches. Read the instructions on the label and perform the test in a hidden area. Make sure to rinse well, then pat dry with a towel.
- Use a nonabrasive cleaning powder or a paste made of baking soda and water to remove cooked-on food and grease. Use a sponge or nonabrasive pad to rub gently—afterward, towel-dry. Never use steel wool or other strong abrasives.
- Polish using a cloth drenched in ammonia or white vinegar to brighten a drab stainless steel sink. After it has dried, sprinkle flour over it. Use as much flour as you like, if you like. Next, use a soft cloth to polish the sink in a circular motion until it shines like new. It’s that easy.
Almost everyone’s kitchen contains plenty of stainless steel appliances, cookware, and sinks that need to be maintained. Your stainless steel will continue to look fantastic for a very long time with just a little elbow grease and one of the methods mentioned above.
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