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
Barkeepers Friend found where you find Comet. It has no odor, doesn’t scratch and makes stainless sinks, stoves and ventahoods shine like they when they were brand new. Stainless cookware also looks like new when you polish them with this.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.A word of caution – many stainless steel appliances warn to always rub with the visible grain or you will damage the finish.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The best stainless steel cleaner is WD-40! Wipe and shine…
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have heard rhis but never tried it because of the smell. I know WD-40 is a natural product. I saw a thing on TV about it. If you dont mind the odor it is probably the best thing you could use. Amazing product.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I agree! My appliance repairman showed me this trick. It takes only a few seconds to spray WD-40 on a microfiber cloth and wipe to clean and shine the surface. Doesn’t seem to attract dust and grease as quickly as when I use other products. I use it on my fridge, oven, range hood (that’s always the worst!), dishwasher, and microwave.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Would it be possible to make the printable copy without the pictures, so it will fit on one sheet of paper? Love the ideas. Thanks.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I second this request! It takes way too much paper and ink to print one of these blogs as all the pictures get printed as well, and aren’t really necessary. Thanks for the great ideas!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Use the PrintFriendly button first, you can customize the page (including removal of pictures) before printing. You can also make a downloadable PDF to have a digital copy for your library.
We already have one! Simply click the green button towards the bottom of the post that says “Print Friendly.” This will bring up a preview where you can make the pictures smaller, remove them altogether, or choose to delete whole paragraphs. This way, you can print only the information that you really need!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Oh, thank you! No more strong chemicals to try not to inhale.
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