Last Updated: October 16, 2024
Stainless steel is durable and sleek, but it’s also prone to unsightly smudges. Read on for answers to all of your stainless steel cleaning questions.
Stainless steel is elegant and durable, but it’s also prone to unsightly smudges and sloppy smears. Even if you love your stainless steel appliances, you don’t have to love cleaning them — but with these quick and easy tips, you just might.
To understand what makes stainless steel special, let’s talk about what steel is.
Steel is made up of mostly iron, which is prone to rusting and stains. Stainless steel has the addition of chromium to give the steel a little extra oomph — making it tremendously strong and rust- and stain-resistant.
Stainless steel is ideal for appliances that see a lot of use, but keeping it shiny requires regular TLC.
The best stainless steel cleaners include stuff you might already have in your kitchen:
Vinegar is safe to use on stainless steel and helps remove oil and grime.
Fill a reusable spray bottle with a combination of 1:1 white vinegar and water. Spritz it on, and wipe it off — no need to rinse!
Love the idea of vinegar but hate the stink? Aunt Fannie’s Cleaning Vinegar and Cleaning Vinegar Wipes will definitely do the trick — as Grove writer Phoenix can attest to.
Mild, natural dish soap is non-abrasive and cuts through grease and grime with ease.
Squeeze a drop onto a damp microfiber cloth, scrub, rinse, and dry.
(Read about how natural dish soap works without harsh chemical ingredients.
Baking soda is a powerful all-purpose cleaner. Its slight abrasiveness won’t harm your stainless steel, but it will help unstick stuck-on stains.
Make a thick paste with baking soda and water, and apply it to tough stains. Let it sit for 20 minutes, then wipe, rinse, and dry.
You can also try Mrs. Meyer’s baking soda cream cleanser to ensure your stainless steel will be scratch- and streak-free.
Microfiber cloths are the best thing to use to clean stainless steel since they won’t scratch the surface.
Read up on how microfiber removes dirt and most bacteria with nothing but water.
Wondering who Grove is, what types of products we offer, and how to get a free gift set when you sign up? Learn more about flexible monthly shipments, customizing your shipment, and joining millions of happy households — no monthly fees or commitments required.
Here are more must-know tips on how to clean your stainless steel appliances, like refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, and more.
First, try the baking soda paste method.
If that doesn’t work, soak a clean microfiber cloth in a cup of steaming hot vinegar and lay it over the stain. Let it sit for 20 minutes, then wipe the stain away with the cloth.
If wiping the surface of your stainless steel with dish soap or baking soda, rinse thoroughly afterwards to avoid streaks.
If you use vinegar and still have streaks, fingerprints, or smudges, give your appliance another go with it.
Still streaky? Read on to learn how to shine your stainless kitchen appliances.
Baby oil or olive oil will shine your stainless steel and make it look good as new. It’ll also leave a protective coating that will help prevent future smudges.
Put a small amount of oil on a microfiber cloth and buff the stainless steel in the direction of the grain.
Watch this video to see stainless steel cleaning in action:
Want to make it super-extra easy to shine up your stainless steel without emptying your pantry?
Try Pure Sense Stainless Steel Cleaner & Protectant or Method Stainless Steel Cleaner + Polish.
Stainless steel cookware is dishwasher safe, but it's best to wash them by hand. Although you already have your methods for washing your own dishes, we have some simple hacks you might not be aware of. Wash your pans in warm, soapy water, and dry thoroughly.
To remove burnt- or stuck-on food, try one of these tricks.
Set the pan on the stovetop, and add a couple of tablespoons of baking soda and a quarter-inch of water.
Boil until the water evaporates and use a microfiber cloth to scrub off the leftover residue.
Grab Green makes these sweet Cookware & Bakeware Cleaner Pods that make quick work of cleaning stainless steel pans. Just put some water in the pan, toss in a pod, wait five to 10 minutes, then scrub.
Full Circle Power Couple Pan Scrapers have a recycled plastic side that easily scrapes away hard-to-remove food from your stainless cookware.
(The other side is made from recycled nylon, which you can use on your nonstick and cast iron pans.)
To avoid damaging your stainless steel appliances, be sure to not use the following:
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