The Best Cleaners To Use On Stainless Steel Kitchen Appliances For Spotless Results

If you live in a modern home, chances are that you are surrounded by multiple stainless steel appliances. This material looks sleek and chic and is generally quite resilient in the face of circumstances that could corrode other metals, leaving unseemly marks. Precisely what makes stainless steel "stainless" are the inclusions of chromium and nickel that prevent the formation of rust that would normally take hold when metal is exposed to moisture and air. While stainless steel is more durable than many inferior metals, it's still imperative to use appropriate cleaners in order to get spotless results. Fortunately, there are a multitude of cleaners, including baking soda, that can give your stainless steel appliances the appearance of newness, and many are found at home.

Before delving into the cleaners that can give your stainless steel appliances the shiniest finish, it's smart to know what to avoid. Certain cleaning methods may scratch the actual metal, such as abrasive materials or substances that are particularly gritty or grainy. You'll have to think about the risk of damaging the finish. This can be done by using bleach-containing cleaners, ammonia, or oven cleaner, which can corrode the finish and result in rust spots. Now that you're familiar with cleaners that can deliver a death blow to your stainless steel, it's time to move on to those options that will optimize your stainless steel's appearance.

Those well acquainted with natural cleaning already know the powers that baking soda possesses, but despite its slightly gritty texture, it makes a solid cleanser for stainless steel. In order to clean your appliance, you'll need baking soda and water, as well as two cloths: one damp and one dry. For all of the cleaning techniques available for tackling your stainless steel, it's a good idea to lightly dust the surface first, in order to ensure that nothing sitting on the surface scratches the appliance.

Once your appliance is dust-free, mix up a paste of two parts baking soda and one part water. Gently spread this paste evenly onto your stainless steel and leave it to work its magic for 15 to 20 minutes. After this, wipe down the steel with a damp cloth, working in the direction of the grain (you might want to take note of this pattern prior to applying the baking soda paste since the white substance might obscure your ability to see). The majority of the paste should have been removed by the damp cloth, but if you notice any residue, you can wipe it away with your extra dry cloth.

Another superstar in the DIY home cleaning scene is white distilled vinegar, and it works quite well to leave your stainless steel shining, particularly when paired with olive oil. Start by making a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water, and grab a microfiber cloth while you're at it. It's worth noting that tap water (especially hard water) can leave stains and spots on stainless steel. This is because the higher mineral content found in tap water can cling to the surface of the metal and show up as residue once dry. To avoid this pitfall, use filtered water that is free from excessive minerals.

Spray the vinegar and filtered water mixture on the appliance, then wipe it dry with a microfiber cloth. Next, you'll want to pour a small amount of olive oil onto your microfiber cloth and use that to polish the appliance's surface, working in the direction of the metal's grain. Wipe away any remaining residue to create the longest-lasting shine possible. The vinegar will help to clean, sanitize, and bring shine back to your stainless steel, while the olive oil will enhance the shine even further and act as a protective coat.

While the aforementioned methods are guaranteed to work well, if you're wanting the easiest cleaning process out there, club soda could be your answer. Grab some fresh club soda (carbonation is key in this substance's cleaning power) and dampen a clean cloth with it. Working in the direction of the grain, rub the stainless steel until you notice that fingerprints and residue are beginning to lift. If you find yourself faced with an especially stubborn stain on the steel, you can either rub a little more heavily or let the club soda soak into the stain before wiping it up.

With a little persistence, you should find that the surface is sparkling clean. For the final polishing, grab a fresh, dry cloth (cleaning with a microfiber cloth can make this task easier) and wipe the surface in the direction of the grain until the appliance is totally dry. If you want to waste as little club soda as possible, pick up a multipack of the drink like these Schweppes Club Soda mini cans from Walmart for $5.36. Instead of worrying that your bottle has gone flat in the fridge, you can crack open a new can and count on full carbonation for every single cleaning session.

Nearly as simple as the club soda method is this approach, which harnesses the power of hot water vapor — steam — to lift residue from the surface of stainless steel. The steam not only will give the surface a shining finish but will disinfect it, making it a valuable cleaning option for anyone with young children or pets in the home. If you own a steamer, you're in luck! Simply fill your steamer with filtered water and let the steam wash over the appliance, holding it a couple inches from the stainless steel. Follow this up by wiping the stainless steel in the direction of the grain until it is dry and shining.

If you don't have a steamer, you can wet a cloth with hot water and use it to wipe down your appliance. If you're using boiling water or testing the limits of your tap, be extremely careful to not burn yourself with this approach and use a pair of cleaning gloves to provide an extra layer of protection. Once the surface has been thoroughly wiped down, follow it up with a dry microfiber, once again, working in the direction of the grain.

While there is a lot to be said for at-home ingredients to clean your stainless steel, there's no shame in purchasing a ready-made agent. For a versatile and naturally-based stainless steel cleaner, check out Method's Stainless Steel Clean + Polish ($6.79 at Target). Customers have given this cleaner a 4.7-star average out of 369 reviews, with many noting the impressive shine it left their appliances with. In order to use Method's cleaner, spray a dry, clean cloth with the cleaner, then wipe it over the appliance in the direction of the grain. Wipe it dry with a new cloth to reveal a shining surface with mirror-like qualities. 

After you're done cleaning, all that's left to do is admire your perfect surfaces. That is, of course, unless you've just revealed that you have more than just those annoying smudges to deal with. If your appliances have taken a beating in the past, there are also, thankfully, plenty of ways to fix scratches on stainless steel. As long as you're gentle and stick with these safe cleaning methods, however, you should be able to enjoy shining appliances without having to worry about causing any more accidental damage.