From sinks and stoves to refrigerators and dishwashers, stainless steel is now a mainstay in many of our kitchens. While it looks sharp and modern when squeaky clean, it shows off droplets, dust and smudges of all kinds much more readily than many other surfaces around your home. This is a great reminder to tidy-up those high-touch surfaces often, but is admittedly a hassle sometimes in terms of upkeep.
Luckily, it’s a quick task to swipe stainless steel and make it shine in seconds, especially if you have the proper products at the ready. But you can potentially shine away your steel’s finish if you use the wrong products, so it’s vital to know the difference.
Read on to learn more about what to use with caution on your stainless steel, plus what to clean with instead—including DIY cleaning solutions that you can make with items you probably already own.
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7 Cleaning Products You Should Never Use on Stainless Steel
Before you apply anything to your stainless steel appliances, it’s helpful to get a refresher on your exact model through the product manual or website. Chances are, the manufacturer will mention which cleaning products are ideal as well as which may damage the finish.
As a general rule, however, you should avoid these tools and cleaners on stainless steel, as they may scratch the surface, stain or dull the finish:
DIY Stainless Steel Cleaners
Often a soft cloth (like Casabella Infuse All-Purpose Microfiber Cloths) that’s damp with a bit of warm, clean, filtered water should be able to swipe off light grime. Towel dry after to avoid spotting or streaks. For dirtier jobs, consider one of these homemade cleaning solutions. (Note: Before applying to your whole appliance, spot-test your cleaner on a small patch that’s as inconspicuous as possible, just to be sure it’s compatible.)
White Vinegar Olive Oil
Place distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle (such as Grove Reusable Glass Spray Bottle). Spray the stainless steel appliance with vinegar, then wipe it away with a soft, clean cloth in the direction of the “grain” in the metal. With a second soft, clean cloth, rub on a light coating of olive oil in the opposite direction.
Club Soda
Place plain club soda in a spray bottle. Spray the stainless steel appliance, then wipe it away with a soft, clean cloth in the direction of the grain.
This TikTok Hack for Cleaning Stainless Steel Appliances Is Actually Genius
The Best Stainless Steel Cleaners You Can Buy
If you’d rather use a store-bought stainless steel cleaner, these are fan favorites and are safe on most appliances.
CLR Spotless Stainless Steel Streak-Free Cleaneramazon.comMethod Stainless Steel Clean and Polishtarget.comHOPE’S Perfect Stainless Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polishamazon.comWeiman Stainless Steel Wipestarget.comMagic Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polishamazon.com
CLR Spotless Stainless Steel Streak-Free Cleaneramazon.com
CLR Spotless Stainless Steel Streak-Free Cleaner
amazon.com
Method Stainless Steel Clean and Polishtarget.com
Method Stainless Steel Clean and Polish
target.com
HOPE’S Perfect Stainless Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polishamazon.com
HOPE’S Perfect Stainless Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish
Weiman Stainless Steel Wipestarget.com
Weiman Stainless Steel Wipes
Magic Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polishamazon.com
Magic Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish
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