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 also use WD-40 on my stainless sink and it cleans the water spots and the little mineral deposits that want to build up in the drain crevices. I like Jillee’s cleaner, but it seems like it would be very messy.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Baby oil! It’s simple and no toxic inhalants. But only a very light mist goes a long way. It won’t be oily this way.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.LEMON Pledge works like a charm on Stainless Steel, this is the product Lowe’s uses to whip down all their SS at the end of each day.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The best cleaner – most economic and easy – is a Norwex EnviroCloth. I use these cloths to clean my whole house. Use it dry to dust, use it damp to clean appliances, glass, virtually any surface in your home. These cloths sell for $17.99 Canadian, but they are available in the USA as well.
Now I don’t need a lot of other cleaning solutions so I save myself hundreds of dollars a year on purchased cleaning products.
I highly recommend Norwex!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Norwexx products are the greatest. I love them and have a few myself. Love the microfiber wipe clothe and the dusting mitt plus the dishcloths. They wash great and are good to go for a long long time. They don’t seem to wear out.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I agree with Cindy . . . you just need water and Norwex cloth and my house shines. Norwex has silver woven into the cloth so bacteria doesn’t grow in the cloth. They are a step above the microfiber clothes on the market.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use the same cleaner I use for windows which is equal parts vinegar and water. Spray it on and wipe off with a microfiber towel works like a charm.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Vinegar works for me, sometimes if it is really dirty with oil, food, will add dish soap & water in spray bottle. Works great, no streaks.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.would that be good for an older stainless sink? i’ve rented a house for almost 6 years and the water is a bit hard, the sink when i clean it dries showing water spots and streaks….
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I would use Bar Keepers Friend. It works great on stainless steel. For other appliances, I found that Pledge and a microfiber cloth works wonders.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Absolutely! But this is the best treatment for hard water stains: http://jillee.co/2jwTDGY
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use Windex Original Spray on mine. Previously was buying all those expensive cleaners but saw this idea on Martha Stewart and tried it. Works great. The only thing it takes a few cleanings before all that oil from the other cleaners are removed. Use only the “original” Windex, it has a red top and says original. The others do not work.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My stainless refrigerator’s instructions specifically warned not to use Windex because it can cause pitting of the surface.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use Windex for cleaning everything.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use endust. Just spray on and wipe off. works on the microwave. dishwasher, any stainless. Even the finger proof finish too!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I ALSO USE END DUST. THERE IS NO OIL IN THIS PRODUCT, SO IT DOES NOT STREAK.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The best cleaner I have found … among it’s many uses…WD-40. Just silicone…PERFECT!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This is what I use too! Works like a charm!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.well a little disapointed, I thought you were going to show me how to get my stainless steel pots and pans all shiny and bright on the bottoms…
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have always used rubbing alcohol to clean my stainless steel finished frig, stove and vent hood. works like a charm.
There’s a cloth you can buy and all you use is water.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My ‘stainless’ refrigerator is not really stainless steel. More of a plasticky finish. I can’t find anything that works well on it. Will this method work?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Try spraying half vinegar, half water. If that doesn’t do the the trick, than this will!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Excellent idea ,thank you for your smart idea.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Would this work as well on a stainless steel sink with a lot of hard water spots?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes, but this is the best for hard water: http://jillee.co/2jwTDGY
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use lemon oil. Just a little bit on a dry cloth and all smudges etc are gone. Plus, the smell is great.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I simply use orange oil cleaner! It’s so easy to spray and wipe…not so messy and nothing to mix!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi, I was wondering if you can make a batch to keep- will the ingredients stay “active”. Thanks!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Not really, this is more of a one-time use cleaner.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Have you tried this cleaner on different brands of appliances? Frigidaire has smudge-free finish so it would be easier to clean than other brands. I’d love to see how this works on different brands of SS!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I usually use a SS product (non-aerosol) that I pick up at the store. One bottle lasts around a year and it is used for two fridges, a dishwasher, an oven and microwave. I don’t always have time to mix up a paste whenever I want to wipe things clean.
However, I recently heard from a friend that she uses a thin amount of baby oil on a soft cloth to clean her appliances and they always look great! I know it is very inexpensive.
Happy cleaning, ladies!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.JR
Hi, I am from Argentina, loved this post. Do you know the generic product for Borax? Thanks
Please log in or create a free account to comment.From Wikipedia: “Borax, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid. Powdered borax is white, consisting of soft colorless crystals that dissolve easily in water.”
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi, Jillee-
I also just got a stainless fridge, and already have a stainless dishwasher, stove and microwave……all purchased at different times. Since joining Pintrest, I have become more experimental.
I put rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle, and tried it on each of my appliances. They come out sparkling clean, with absolutely no effort at all. I am THRILLED!!! This has worked better than anything I have ever tried. *(Note, looking at the appliances ahead of time, all of the stainless looked a little different, so I was really pleased that it worked on all of them.
See if it works for yours! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.simple rubbing alcohol will remove fingerprints and clean and shine.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Our cleaning service recommended a product called Sheila Shine. I bought mine at Home Depot. It’s wonderful! One application lasts for a month or more. In between, just wipe with a dry cloth!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I agree on the Shiela Shine. It has been around forever and works well . One can will last a long time .
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Lots of good things!
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