Our kitchen is now complete! But, how to clean SS?

[southdown]

Baby oil.

Yes, lots of people swear by it!

And using a microfibre cloth helps too.

[jenkirk]

Originally Posted by cub77cub

I think I'm the one that said "Why SS??" when you were talking about replacing the white appliances. SS is a pain in the a** to keep clean, unless you are on it all the time. We had SS appliances in our 3 yr old house we just bought, and they looked awful. We switched them out for black. I have enough trouble keeping the SS sink looking good!!

I agree for me personally, but they look so nice in other people's homes. But I can't even stand black appliances because of all the finger prints. Too bad they don't have a kitchen appliance roomba. It would only have to go up four feet because that is as high as my two year old can reach.

[vsaksena]

Originally Posted by FromCalitoSteinerRanch

OK, our kitchen looks almost as good as the model homes now, but how the heck does one clean Stainless Steel? I have already tried Simple Green SS cleaner, but it leaves all the fingerprints from the install of the oven, etc. and the coloration is not consistent. What do you use?

Seriously, I am going to have to hire a maid because my DW is none to happy with my kids fingerprints, nor mine.

Weiman stainless steel cleaner & polish

Stainless Steel - Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish - Weiman Products

[Driftwood1]

Without question, its baby oil...
Only thing that will keep the shine smudge free.
Cheers

[centralaustinite]

I think that there are some appliances now with a brushed metal finish that looks similar to stainless but shows fingerprints much less.

One trip to Lowes to show my spouse the line up smudged stainless appliances 6 years ago was all it took to convince him to go with black!



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[Taterhead]

get yourself a ultimate cloth on-line. They are great, you can leave streaks behind and they disappear

[DragonFly757]

Originally Posted by chickenfry

WD40........cleans/shines and leaves an oily film that reminds your family to keep their hands on the handles.........stainless is beautiful but high maintanence and i kid you not about the WD40...all the expensive special stainless is exactly the same thing only with a nicer name and higher price tag

If you use WD-40, you are introducing toxins to your food surfaces.

I will summarize quickly the basics of Stainless Steel...

Use Weiman's or Holloway House lemon oil on a microfiber rag or soft cloth diaper.

When cleaning, ALWAYS wipe along the straight "grain" of the stainless steel. We tend to have a natural arc when we wipe things, so it's important to notice the straight lines of your wiping process.

And MOST IMPORTANTLY...NEVER EVER EVER use Clorox or bleach products on stainless steel. It will leave black streaks and eat the finish on your surfaces. Those antibacterial quick wipes are the fastest way to ruin your appliances.

I have an "ask the expert" area on my website to address this issue fully. Here is the answer:

Q. What is the best way to maintain my stainless steel?

A. It's hard to believe that a surface designed to withstand the rigors of professional use can be harmed because the surface seems so solid and substantial. Even the toughest looking kitchen appliances need special attention and TLC.

Stainless steel is actually very porous and attracts fingerprints, spills, and other contaminants quite easily. It will even absorb the cleaning products you use to maintain it. NEVER use chlorine on your stainless steel - it will leave black streaks and ruin your finish. The best method for cleaning is simply using a mild pH balanced solution, free of acids found in many cleaning solutions such as vinegar, citric acid (often found in orange cleaners) or bleach. Another no-no is using abrasive cleaning products such as scouring pads, steel wool or plastic scouring brushes as they will ruin the finish on your surface.

First off, shine (don't scrub!) your stainless steel. There are many products on the market for cleaning stainless steel surfaces including sprays and wipes. Absent these products, you can use a mild soap and water solution and a very soft rag such as a microfiber rag or soft cloth diaper.

Wipe in the direction of the grain on the surface, avoiding the natural tendency to arc your stroke with each wipe. For stronger streaks and stuck-on messes, use a soft sponge moistened with water and a little baking soda or Barkeeper's Friend, remembering to use gentle strokes going with the grain. Less is more...so be cautious when scrubbing. Always follow your manufacturers recommendations for your particular appliance. If you have lost or misplaced your instructions, you can Google your appliance information and download your instructions through the manufacturer's website.

Your final step is to leave a streak-free finish, free of fingerprints and debris. Once all surfaces have been disinfected and cleaned, simply take a dab of lemon oil (we recommend Holloway House or Weiman's) on a microfiber rag and smooth it lightly over your entire surface. This will not only shine your appliance but it will repel future fingerprints, stuck-on food, and allow your appliance to have a natural shine. With proper maintenance and care, your stainless steel will last for many years!

[woodinvilleguy]

Our last house had SS appliances and we never had problems with finger prints. The beatings helped :-) Actually, we only needed to clean it once a week. The biggest cleanup was the cooktop. The fridge and dishwasher we used the spray from HD any the can lasted a long time. It is all about not touching the surface or putting magnets on the fridge.

My friends mom tried to help clean their fridge with a scratchy sponge. Now they have a brushed stainless steel fridge.

[Katie1]

Vinagar...does a great job for me!!

[mandib]

my cleaning ladies recommended (and now I've purchased and use consistently) Stainless Steel Magic. They said they buy it at Target but I buy it at Home Depot. I use a microfiber cloth with it, it works great.