How to Clean Stainless Steel Appliances Around the Home

Stainless steel appliances are one of the hottest trends when it comes to upgrading your kitchen. One of the question marks around that upgrade may be the general upkeep of those appliances. Stainless steel looks sleek, however it’s prone to showing watermarks, fingerprints, and additional smudges that are a part of everyday life. Our crew at Handyman Connection of Austin has put together a few tips when it comes to the right ways to clean your stainless steel appliances.

There are some very simple actions you can do in order to clean your appliances without putting too much time, work, or cleaning products into it. Be sure to take a close look at the owner’s manual, as that will outline the proper steps to take in ensuring you are cleaning the correct way while protecting the appliances. Certain finishes require different cleaning products and processes. For example, most new stainless steel appliances are finished with a clear-coat finish allowing for certain cleaning products to strip the finish off.

As you complete your regularly scheduled cleaning process around the kitchen, be sure to include wiping down your stainless steel appliances in that routine. Use a damp cloth with a little bit of dish soap and wipe down the appliances. Make sure to do this each time you’re cleaning up the kitchen, but especially when you’ve been cooking. Rinse the rag with water and wipe again to remove any leftover soap, and then wipe one more time with a dry towel or paper towel. Pro tip: Wipe in the direction of the grain, which means to start at the top of the appliance and work your way down towards the floor. This will help make sure that all of the cleaning is as effective as possible.

For those harder to remove things like leftover grease, baked-on food, or etcetera try scrubbing it off, gently. Use a nylon scrubbing tool, a very mild dishwashing detergent, and hot water. The hot water will help disintegrate the items stuck to the appliance while you scrub. Again, be gentle as you scrub so that you don’t damage the material, but that you can remove the items off. If that doesn’t do the trick, create a solution of baking soda and liquid dish soap. It’ll turn into a paste like substance. Put the substance over the area you’re trying to tackle and use your nylon scrubbing tool or even a toothbrush to gently scrub the debris or grime away. Rinse the solution away with warm water and a rag, and dry the area off.

There are a few other tactics to try if something still isn’t coming off, but those are some of the more common ways to tackle dirt and grime on your stainless steel appliances. Be sure to give our crew and experts at Handyman Connection of Austin a call for any questions or if you’re looking to complete some upgrades around your kitchen.