The Unexpected Place You Should Be Using Spray Wood Cleaner Around The House

While you love the futuristic look of stainless steel appliances in your kitchen, you may have wondered if you've been secretly running a contest about which can get covered in smudge marks the fastest. Of course, different brands have different finishes and levels of shine, and some are more prone to getting highly-visible marks than others. But, if your fingerprints are guest-starring all over your toaster, fridge, or stainless steel sink, you could probably use a trustworthy cleaning solution. You might be surprised to learn that spray wood cleaners are unexpected rock stars for de-smudging your steel appliances.

One of our favorite things is finding unusual or off-brand ways to repurpose an everyday item. We like several spray wood cleaners (such as Pledge, Old English, and Scott's Liquid Gold A-10 Liquid Gold) because they nourish the wood furniture in your house, but then have this bonus of being effective cleaners, smudge removers, and polishers extraordinaire of all your stainless steel. There's something satisfying about being able to seamlessly move around the house using just one affordable product on multiple surfaces.

Although you can use any old rag, we recommend that you use a microfiber cloth on the surface of your appliances. The last thing you want is to get scratches on your pristine stainless steel, and microfiber material won't create tiny abrasions like a paper towel or a rougher textile might. 

Pro tip: Don't wipe in circles. Most stainless steel has a grain, so always wipe and clean in the direction of the grain. Spray your cloth with wood cleaner and start the simultaneous process of cleaning and buffing your fridge, toaster, microwave, and anything else that may have a surface or component made of stainless steel. It will lift your prints off and help keep it smudge-resistant for the future, too.

We have two recommendations when using aerosol and spray cleaning products: It's a smart idea to get ventilation and fans going before using them, and we strongly advise that you wear a mask while cleaning to avoid inhaling vapors. Any aerosol can is flammable, so you never want to use it around an open flame!