How to Clean Stainless Steel Appliances the Easy Way

Image courtesy of cubemate/Flickr.

Stainless steel appliances and fixtures are gorgeous in any kitchen, but spills, fingerprints, marks and scratches can take away from their beauty. Cleaning these appliances isn’t hard though, and with just a little maintenance the stainless steel in your kitchen will sparkle and make the entire room look sharp.

If you constantly notice water stains on an appliance or around your faucet it may not be working correctly, so contact Seaford plumbers who can make sure you don’t have a leak.

Kitchen Sink and Faucet

Constant use can make a stainless steel sink dingy and dull, but you can easily make it look like new. For basic cleaning, just use hot water and soap or a paste made of baking soda and vinegar. Soak some paper towels in vinegar and lay them around the base of the faucet and let them sit. In about an hour, you can remove the towels and wipe grime away.

To rid the sink of water spots or rust, treat the area with rubbing alcohol. Dip a soft cloth in it and rub the marks away. You can use commercial products designed specifically for scratches on stainless steel sinks to remove small scratches. For major scratches, use a very fine grade of sandpaper that has been soaked in water to very carefully buff the scratch out.

Stainless Steel Appliances

You can use similar methods to clean appliances like ranges, ovens, refrigerators and even toasters and counters. The secret to making stainless steel appliances shine is to clean them in the direction of the grain. Dirt and grease get trapped in the grain, so if you don’t clean in the same direction, the grime will stick to the surface and your appliance will still look dingy.

If you want to go the commercial cleaner route, look for a product that is labeled specifically for use on stainless steel. For quick touch ups, you can use a soft cloth dipped in white vinegar or club soda.

To protect your appliances against fingerprints and other marks, apply just a small drop of olive oil or baby oil to a soft cloth and wipe it across the surface in the direction of the grain.

No matter what cleaning method you use, be sure to wipe the appliance or sink dry immediately after cleaning to avoid water spots and rust. Stainless steel is very tough, but in the kitchen it has to stand up to a lot of wear and tear. Use these methods to make your appliances and fixtures look like new and protect them from fingerprints.

We are Seaford plumbers that specialize in leak detection and repair, so contact us if you have a leak that is leading to water spots.