I’ve gotten a lot of requests over the years to write a post about the best way to clean stainless steel appliances, and now that I’ve gotten some experience with keeping stainless steel fridges clean I thought I’d tackle this post at last. Here are three ways to get those stainless steel appliances to shine.
How to Clean Stainless Steel: 4 Easy Options
1. Vinegar
The first method couldn’t be simpler—just fill a spray bottle with distilled white vinegar and spritz it onto the appliance. Wipe gently with a microfiber cloth, moving the cloth in the direction of the grain.
This vinegar method will remove streaks and make the surface nice and shiny. It’s my go-to method for day-to-day cleaning.
2. Bar Keepers Friend
I love Bar Keepers Friend and use it on just about everything. For stainless steel appliances, just sprinkle some Bar Keepers Friend on a wet cloth and wipe it all over. Wipe the surface clean with a clean wet cloth afterward, and be sure not to leave it on too long, as it could lead to discoloration.
This is a great method for deep cleaning stainless steel appliances every once in a while. Since not all stainless steel finishes are created equal, certain finishes may not be ideal candidates for cleaning with Bar Keepers Friend. (Look in your appliance’s user manual for guidance, or perform a spot test in a hidden area.)
Related: 14 Things You Can Clean with Bar Keepers Friend That Will Amaze You
3. Steam
For those tough-to-clean areas of your appliances, such as door handles or any type of hardened mess, try using a handheld steamer to loosen the gunk. Using a steamer will help you avoid scrubbing, which will keep your stainless steel looking good for years to come!
If you don’t have a steamer, wet a kitchen towel with hot water and place it over the mess for a minute or two before cleaning. (Be sure to wear gloves so you don’t scald yourself with the hot towel!)
Steam is one of the best ways to make those grimy spots easier to clean, and you can use a handheld steamer to clean more than just stainless steel.
4. Cream of Tartar
Add 1 cup of white vinegar and 1/4 cup of cream of tartar to a small bowl and mix well. Dip a sponge into the mixture, scrub your stainless steel, then wipe clean with a damp cloth. Buff with a dry microfiber cloth until it reaches your desired shininess! ;-)
Why I Don’t Recommend Cleaning Stainless Steel with Oil
While some people suggest polishing your stainless steel with a bit of olive oil, I don’t recommend it. It will look nice and shiny immediately after treatment, but the oil will just end up attracting dust, smears, and smudges.
Plus, no one wants greasy hands just from opening and closing their fridge. Overall, it’s just not a great idea!
More Tips for Keeping Stainless Steel Clean
- Avoid letting any food spills harden—they get harder to remove the longer they sit.
- While stainless steel is resistant to rust, excess water and water spots should still be wiped away immediately to prevent prolonged contact. If rust does start to form, clean the area with Bar Keepers Friend.
- Always use a gentle microfiber cloth to prevent scuffs.
Which material or surface do you find trickiest to clean?
More Ideas You'll Love
I learned this from an email I got, soaking a fabric softener sheet in water for 15 minutes works wonders on stainless steel, but not only that it also works on other surfaces.. It works amazingly well!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What is the best way to clean stainless steel pots?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve tried homemade versions of different things for cleaning stainless steel and each one has a drawback. Orange oil is the way to go. I little goes a looooooong way so it will last a very long time. You can actually get professional orange oil cleaner for stainless steel and it does the best job.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What do you do when there is rust on stainless steel? I don’t want to wipe away the rust and have it come back.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The senior building I worked in has done a complete remodeling and in doing so, added a huge stainless steel refrigerator. I tried all my hacks and store bought products and nothing takes off the finger prints. The closest I came was with a simple damp microfiber cloth.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have to go get the club soda and Borax so my efforts will produce a beautiful finish for these people I help out.
I use baby oil and a soft cloth. Makes the house smell good and conditions the stainless steel. The contractor that built our son’s home shared this tip
Please log in or create a free account to comment.WD 40 or spray furniture polish (like pledge) with or without lemon in it. These work well on your stainless grill also.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Sorry, this made a mess rather than taking care of one. I had to rub and rub with the microfiber, and finally resorted to re-cleaning my fridge with the CLR I have for stainless steel. Then I had the big mess on the floor to clean up, too. Can’t recommend this method at all.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.any kind of car paste wax. very easy to put on lightly and a breeze to wipe it off with a microfiber cloth. keeps it fingerprint clean for weeks! love it!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I enjoy all the great ideas Thank you
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use a mix of vinegar and lemon juice, works great and smells nice!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What van I use instegade of Borax? It is for some reasons I do not Knowles to buy here in Sweden.
Maggis
Please log in or create a free account to comment.A wee bit of coconut oil on a paper towel does wonders on stainless steel appliances. Don’t use too much, just a 1/2 -1 teaspoon, probably, depending on what appliance you’re cleaning. Rub it on all over then wipe it all off with a clean paper towel or two. Another great use for coconut oil!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This is what I do and it works great! The tiniest amount is the key. If too much is used, it will take forever to rub it off.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.how does it not scratch the finish
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This is crazy!! Spray on orange oil! Not messy and works the same.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Where do I find spray on orange oil???
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Wendy, check at your local grocery store in the same aisle you get your cleaners. I use the stuff on my furniture and never knew it’s good for stainless steel too.
For what it’s worth, our appliance repair man advised the acid from the lemon will degrade the finish. We’ve always used pledge on a microfiber cloth and it works great.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Furniture polish works great and no messy clean-up.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you so much for this advice. I’ve tried stainless cleaner/polish and also white vinegar without success. I’d become resigned to a splotchy look on the lower freezer door and uneven polish on the rest. Just tried furniture polish on a soft cloth, and no more streaks and splotches!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I really don’t have any stainless steel appliances but I do have stainless cookware. A young lady burned something in my pot and I don’t know how to get the burned stuff off. Do you have any suggestions for getting my pot back to normal? Thank you for any suggestion you might have.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If the pan is burned on the inside, boil water, baking soda and Dawn in the pan for a few minutes. Watch closely as it can boil over. Let mixture cool then scrub inside and out with Soft Scrub. Rinse well and buff to a shine. Hope this helps!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My cleaning lady taught me to use baby oil and a soft dry rag. Works amazingly well and removes every fingerprint quickly!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Wow! Thanks for sharing!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Scarlett
My Norwex glass polishing cloth and plain water do a marvelous job at cleaning my kitchen full of stainless steel appliances!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Seems to me there should be an easier way.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I am very interested in this but not until the questions/comments from the first two posts are answered! I just had back surgery several weeks ago and don’t want to have my husband try this if it’s a little “off”! He would not be a happy camper!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Tried this today…it just fell off the dishwasher door. I had to wipe it with a wet rag several times and it looked worse than it did when I started after wiping with the microfiber cloth. Did I do something wrong??
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Same here. Left a haze and I keep wiping, but won’t go away.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Oh no! If your paste was too thick, you might need to add more club soda.
How long does this “concoction” last in a container or jar?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great idea. I will try this on my kitchen and bath faucets to. Thanks you.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What about the stains?
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