The sleek durability of stainless steel is a standard for today’s kitchens. Spills, splatters, rust, heat discoloration and fingerprints can give your appliances a dirty appearance, but you can easily clean stainless steel with the right products and techniques. Whether you’re working with a stainless steel refrigerator, dishwasher, stove, cooktop or microwave, use this guide to keep your stainless steel appliances shiny.
When it comes to cleaning your stainless steel appliances, there are a few cleaning products you can use to get buffed and shiny results. Homemade and store-bought cleaning products can help keep your stainless steel appliances clean.
Always consult your owner’s manual first to make sure your chosen cleaning method is safe for your appliance.
Baking soda and vinegar are two pantry staples that can be used to clean stainless steel. You can use baking soda by making a paste with water to gently rub on the surface of your appliance. Vinegar can be used as a stainless steel cleaner when mixed with mineral oil.
Stainless steel appliances can also be cleaned using a mixture of dish soap and warm water. Always consult your product manual before using any homemade cleaning solutions. Always apply cleaning solutions in the direction of the grain when cleaning stainless steel.
Store-bought stainless steel cleaners are optimal for cleaning your appliances, and should give them a nice polish as well. They usually just need to be sprayed onto the appliance and then wiped with a soft cloth in the direction of the grain.
Affresh® stainless steel brightener1 helps clear away rust and heat discoloration to give your stainless steel appliances a bright shine.
It is not recommended to use glass cleaner on your stainless steel appliances as it is not formulated to clean the material. Glass cleaner typically uses ammonia, which may damage stainless steel.
Be careful not to use any of the following on your stainless steel appliances as they can scratch or damage the finish: products containing bleach, abrasive or grainy cleaners, glass cleaner, oven cleaner, ammonia or abrasive cloths or pads like steel wool.
Always check your appliance’s Use and Care Guide before cleaning. If you’re using a store-bought product like affresh® stainless steel cleaning spray, make sure to read the instructions on the label before beginning. Follow the general cleaning steps below or watch a video to keep your stainless steel appliances looking like new.
If using a store-bought cleaner, you’ll probably need to shake it before spraying. Once it’s shaken up, spray it directly onto the stainless steel surface in an S pattern. If you’re using homemade cleaners like dish soap, vinegar and mineral oil or a paste of baking soda and water, apply it to the surface with a soft cloth in the direction of the grain.
Look for striations in the stainless steel finish running vertically or horizontally. This is the grain. Wipe the cleaner in the direction of the grain using a soft, dry cloth. If you’re using a homemade cleaning solution, rinse it off with a soft, damp cloth in the direction of the grain.
Using a different soft, dry cloth, buff the surface in the direction of the grain to remove any streaks.
Stubborn stains require a little more elbow grease to remove from a stainless steel finish. You can apply vinegar diluted with water directly to the stain, then immediately wipe the solution away in the direction of the grain with a paper towel or cloth.
Explore more tips for removing other types of spots and stains below:
Stainless steel brightener can help remove rust and yellow stains
Baking soda and water can help restore stainless steel with heat discoloration
Clean away water spots with the help of diluted white vinegar