How to Clean Stainless Steel Appliances
I have had stainless steel appliances for more than eight years. During that time I’ve battled fingerprints, smudges and other streaks that show up on the fronts of the appliances. The manuals that came with our appliances recommend special stainless cleaners and warn against using harsh chemicals that might damage the finish.
Still, I’ve found that plain window cleaner does a remarkably good job.
At first it felt risky to spray window cleaner on our appliances, but we were tired of seeing them look dull and streaked all the time. After years of using a common glass cleaning product and paper towels, our appliances continue to look great—no damage, just a nice, even shine. We’ve used this method on several major-brand appliances with consistently good results.
One caveat: not all stainless is created equal. We have a stainless-looking sink that stains and rusts easily and is difficult to clean. Window cleaner does not work on that sink. If your stainless is lower quality or has surface issues, results may vary.
Do you have any tips for cleaning stainless steel?
I also love the inside of my new dishwasher. Our Electrolux model feels extremely sturdy and always looks clean and polished.
If you could choose any finish for a new kitchen, would you choose stainless steel or something else? What finish would you pick?
Please share your stainless-steel cleaning tips in the comments.
Disclaimer: use cleaning products on your stainless appliances at your own risk.
Prefer white appliances? See the related post about choosing white appliances.
This post concludes a six-part series on homemaking, sponsored by Electrolux as part of Homebuzz. I received an Electrolux appliance for participating; the opinions expressed are my own. My old dishwasher will be donated.
The other posts in this series include:
- My New Dishwasher
- Order from Chaos
- 3 Truths and a Lie
- How to Organize a Kitchen
- My Dishes: Lessons Learned