Due to its durability and aesthetic, stainless steel has become a kitchen staple for appliances, countertops, sinks and range hoods. But, as much as we’d like it to be true, it turns out stainless steel is a misnomer. Stainless steel is highly susceptible to water stains and fingerprints.
Additionally, dirt, grease, grime and dust can cause your stainless steel surfaces to rust if they are not cleaned regularly.
It’s not difficult to keep your stainless steel surface is top-notch condition with products that are common in any home. The products that can be used to clean stainless surfaces include:
Dish soap and mineral oil
White vinegar and olive oil
Club soda
WD-40
Glass cleaner for fingerprints
Lemon oil furniture polish
Commercial cleaners
Water
Rubbing alcohol
Avoid using abrasive cleaning products, because they can scratch the surface. Recognize that stainless steel, similar to wood, has a directional grain. Best results occur when you clean with the grain, because it allows the cleaning products to remove dirt, dust and grime that build up in the grain’s tiny crevices.
Use a microfiber cloth to clean your stainless surfaces. Apply dish soap to the cloth to clean, and then polish by applying a small amount of mineral or baby oil to a second cloth and polish the surface along the grain. The same process should be followed if you clean your stainless with white vinegar for cleaning and use olive oil for polishing.
Apply club soda directly to the stainless surface, wipe in the direction of the grain and then remove residue with a microfiber cloth.
WD-40 cleans and polishes simultaneously and provides an added bonus of deterring fingerprints.
Glass cleaner is another effective way to remove fingerprints. Simply spray a microfiber cloth and apply in a circular motion to remove fingerprints and then wipe dry. Note: spraying glass cleaner directly on the surface can create drip marks and the possibility of splattering. Instead spray it onto your cleaning cloth.
The same technique should be used for lemon-oil furniture polish. Don’t spray you surfaces directly. Instead, apply the polish to a microfiber cloth and rub into the surface and then wipe clean with a second cloth.
There are commercial cleaners made specifically for stainless steel that can be used to remove stains and scratches and for polishing. However, these cleaners generally carry a larger price tag than the other solutions.
And if you don’t want to use the materials identifies in this blog, you can maintain your stainless surfaces simply by wiping them down with warm water and removing residue with a lint-free cloth.
You will be best served if you remove the knobs from a range or cooktop when you clean it in order to reach grime and grease that is underneath the knobs.
The handles on cabinets and appliances that are used every day should be cleaned at least once per week. The same applies to stainless steel range hoods. Another material that is effective for cleaning stainless steel range hoods is rubbing alcohol. Spray rubbing alcohol onto a microfiber cloth and apply it over the top of the hood and then wipe clean with another cloth.
With a little bit of weekly TLC, you can keep your stainless steel surfaces looking like new. For other great ideas for cleaning and maintaining cabinets, tile, backsplashes and other materials in your kitchen, please call our showroom at 603-448-9700 or visit us at 105 Hanover Street, Lebanon, NH 03766
