Stainless steel appliances are a designer’s dream – they are sleek, elegant, and create a beautiful contemporary look. However, if you own stainless steel appliances, you likely quickly realized that living with them day-to-day was another story altogether.
While there are perks to stainless steel appliances, such as their look and they do not rust easily, there are also challenges to keeping them clean. You may have been surprised to learn that your stainless steel was not stainless after all.
If you do not keep them clean, you’ll find that they lose their sparkle and become a dull grey colour. Additionally, fingerprints show easily, especially if you have little messy hands around your kitchen.
Cleaning your stainless steel appliances properly is important. As you’ll see in this article, there are a lot of “don’ts”, since there is the real risk of damaging or scratching your appliances.
Without further ado, let’s go into how to clean your stainless steel appliances and the types of things you should and should not do.
DO: Read your manufacturer’s instructions and the instructions for any stainless cleaner you use.
It is always a good idea to read, and follow, the manufacturer’s instructions on how to clean your stainless steel appliances.
DON’T: Use steel wool or an abrasive brush.
As mentioned, stainless steel is sensitive. Steel wool or an abrasive brush will definitely leave lasting scratches.
Instead, opt for a soft cloth or a microfibre cloth.
DO: Think about the cleaner you are using.
Different cleaners will have different results. Cleaners that are okay to use include plain old soap and water, window cleaner, and of course, a cleaner specifically designed for stainless steel.
Pay attention to your tap water if you’re using it to clean your appliances. If there are too many minerals in your tap water, these will leave a residue.
Your safest course of action is to use distilled or filtered water.
Of course, you can also use a number of homemade cleaners or household items. The internet is full of suggestions of what to use, such as vinegar, baking soda, baby oil, and olive oil
DON’T: Use a cleaner that contains bleach or chlorine on stainless steel.
Never, ever use cleaners with bleach or chlorine. They are known to stain and damage stainless steel.
DO: Wipe in the direction of the grain.
When you are wiping your appliances – with a microfibre or soft cloth, of course – pay attention to how you are wiping. Wiping in the direction of the grain is the best way to ensure that there are no streaks.
DON’T: Try something new on the whole appliance. When in doubt, test a small area first.
If you have a new cleaner or want to try Pinterest’s latest method and you’re not sure how it will work, test a small, out-of-sight area. That way, if there are issues, the damage will be limited.
Don’t let fingerprints or other stains get the upper hand when it comes to your stainless steel appliances. Follow these do’s and don’ts and enjoy your modern kitchen!