How to Clean Stainless Steel Appliances with Common Household Items

It's called "stainless," but that doesn't mean it can't get dirty. Stainless steel refrigerators, dishwashers, cooktops and ranges all see their fair share of grime, food splatter, and fingerprints, and sometimes people are uncertain of the best way to clean stainless steel appliances. We are here to give the inside scoop on some gentle-but-effective stainless steel cleaners that you've probably already got in your home. With these five great cleaning options, every inch of your kitchen's stainless steel will be spotless in no time!

Water and a Cloth

Don't underestimate good old-fashioned elbow grease. If you're looking for a convenient, effective, and safe way to clean stainless steel appliances, a damp cloth and your own muscle power is a good starting point. After you're finished, be sure to take a dry cloth and wipe off any excess water to prevent spots.

Liquid Dishwashing Soap

Another gentle and easily-accessible option for cleaning stainless steel is regular dishwashing soap. Take a clean cloth - preferably cotton - dab a little soap onto it, moisten with water, and let the cleaning begin! For shiniest results, be sure to scrub with the grain of the stainless steel; it'll keep grime from settling into the lines, plus you'll be able to bring out some serious luster.

Club Soda

A classic never dies! Club soda has been touted for decades as an amazingly versatile cleaner of all kinds of surfaces, and stainless steel is no exception. Just splash some club soda directly onto a stainless surface, wipe in the direction of the grain, then rinse with a little water.

Glass Cleaner

If your cleaning goal is to get rid of fingerprints on the refrigerator or dishwasher, ordinary glass cleaner is an excellent solution (pun intended). Spraying the cleaner directly onto the appliance may result in splatter marks, so apply by spritzing a bit on a clean cloth. Gently rub in a circular motion, and wipe dry. Another point worth noting: If you feel you've reached your lifetime limit of fingerprint-cleaning, many manufacturers offer appliances made with smudge-proof stainless steel.

Flour

Looking to add a nice polished look to your stainless steel? It may sound strange, but all-purpose flour is an effective way to buff stainless steel surfaces to a lovely shine (especially sinks, because of the easy cleanup). After cleaning stainless steel with any of the previously-mentioned methods, wipe everything down with an absorbent cloth to get the surface as dry as possible. Sprinkle on some flour, scrub in a circular motion with a clean cloth, then rinse and dry.

Now that you know exactly what to use to clean stainless steel appliances, why not browse the great selection that P.C. Richard & Son has to offer? Whether you're looking for a stainless-steel refrigerator, range, dishwasher, microwave or beyond, shop P.C. Richard & Son today for the latest stainless steel appliances at the best prices!