How To Clean Stainless Steel Appliances

Stainless steel appliances are a great look in any home. However, fingerprint smudges and kitchen spills can make even stainless steel look not so stainless. Follow these steps to make your stainless steel appliances shine like, well, stainless steel.

1. Lather Up.

For best results, use a concentrated dish liquid like Dawn®. Apply a few drops onto the soft side of a damp sponge. Scrunch it a few times to disperse the soap throughout the sponge and to create suds.

2. Go With The Grain.

Believe it or not, stainless steel has a grain. You should be able to see lines in the stainless steel and feel the grain with your fingers. Start at the top of your appliance and wash in the direction of the grain. If the grain is horizontal, start at the top and work your way toward the floor. Cleaning against the grain can lead to an incomplete cleaning and even possible scratching.

3. More Minerals = More Spots.

Rinse excess residue and towel dry the surface immediately with a clean paper towel to prevent etching, water spots, and staining. Water spots are formed when minerals in the water are left behind after evaporation.

The steel is now stainless again. Now, let’s try to keep it this way.