How to Clean Stainless Steel Appliances

Want to know how to clean stainless steel appliances? These are the best ways to get them clean AND smudge & streak free!

There are a lot of stainless steel cleaners and DIY cleaning methods out there but they don’t all give the same results. Before our kitchen remodel, I used a spray stainless steel cleaner that did an ok job cleaning but was smelly and left streaks.

When I got my new appliances I really wanted my refrigerator, dishwasher, and range to shine so I put the top methods of cleaning stainless steel appliances to the test. Today I’m sharing which methods worked best! Let’s get cleaning… (post contains affiliate links – full disclosure statement available {here})

Stainless Steel Cleaning Tips

No matter what method you use to clean stainless steel appliances, I have two important tips to help you get the best results. The first is to always clean with the grain of the stainless steel rather than against it or in a circular motion.

Also, don’t just let your stainless steel cleaners air dry, use a microfiber cloth such as {these} (again, with the grain of the metal) to dry and polish your newly cleaned appliances. They do a much better job than paper towels (no lint left behind!) and can be washed and reused.

Now let’s get going with the best methods of cleaning stainless steel appliances:

1. Store Bought Cleaners

I’ve tried several store bought stainless steel cleaners and my favorite is Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish that you can find {here}. It works best when you apply it with a microfiber cloth, spraying it on your appliance and wiping in the direction of the grain. Once you’ve cleaned off all of the streaks, smudges and stains, use a clean microfiber cloth to buff your stainless steel until it shines! Weiman also makes {these stainless steel wipes} which are super convenient.

What if you prefer a natural store bought cleaning product? Try Therapy Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish that you can find {here}. It gets an impressive 90% 4-5 star reviews by over 15k reviewers and is plant-based, solvent-free formula with a coconut oil base.

2. White Vinegar

If you want to use a natural cleaner that you probably already have in your kitchen, give white vinegar a try! Place it in a spray bottle and spray it onto your refrigerator, rub with a microfiber cloth with the grain of the metal, and dry with a clean microfiber cloth. This method required a little more elbow grease for me but it did get the job done!

3. Simple Dish Soap

Want to know how to clean stainless steel appliances in another super simple way? Use a mild dish soap diluted in a bit of water. This method is particularly great for cleaning off any greasy smudges or fingerprints. As with other methods, rinse off any soap residue and dry & polish with a microfiber cloth.

This water-based cleaning method isn’t going to give you the best results if you have hard water since it can leave spots and streaks so use a different method or use distilled water in place of tap water.

4. WD-40

Years ago an appliance repair person told me that they keep WD-40 on hand to clean stainless steel appliances because it does a better job than anything else.  Recently I gave it a try and was impressed – it did a nice job and definitely left my stainless steel appliances with a nice shine. The downside is the smell (kinda gross). Also, it’s flammable so you’d definitely want to be careful and not use it around an open flame such as an in-use gas range.

3LPE Coated Steel Pipe used in pipeline transportation

5. Barkeepers Friend & Mineral Oil

The combination of liquid Bar Keepers Friend (you can get it {here}) and mineral oil is the method that works best for me! First use a damp cloth to apply Bar Keepers Friend. You’ll be amazed at the dirt and grime that ends up on your cloth, even if you thought it was clean! And if you have an older appliance with a few rust marks, Bar Keepers Friend works great on those too:

You can also try liquid Soft Scrub (without bleach) in place of liquid Barkeeper’s Friend (I’ve had several people tell me it works great for them).

After you’re done cleaning with Bar Keeper’s Friend, wet the back side of that same cloth and rinse the Bar Keepers Friend off. Then use a dry microfiber cloth to dry your stainless steel and add shine! If you have any streaks, follow up with a light application of olive oil or mineral oil, wiping off any excess:

You can find regular mineral oil at most grocery and drug stores and online {here}. This two-step combination works beautifully and has virtually no odor.

6. Norwex Cloth

I’ve heard from several of you that you use nothing but a damp Norwex EnviroCloth and it works great! They’re pricey suckers (you can buy them online {here}) but I’m super intrigued to see if they live up to their hype so I ordered one! I’ll follow up after using it, telling you what I think.

What NOT To Use On Your Stainless Steel Appliances

Just as important as knowing how to clean stainless steel appliances is how NOT to since some cleaners can harm stainless steel finishes. For example, Magic Erasers are awesome for cleaning all sorts of things but not stainless steel! They’re similar to very fine sandpaper and can scratch and dull stainless steel surfaces. Any other abrasive pads, abrasive sponges, scouring powders, and steel wool are also on the do-not-use list.

You also shouldn’t use bleach or other chlorine products on your stainless steel appliances (so if you use Soft Scrub, make sure it’s not the type that includes bleach).  Also, don’t use ammonia based cleaners, including most glass cleaners such as Windex.