5 Tips You've Never Heard of to Clean Stainless Steel

At Southwest Appliance in Durango, Colorado, stainless steel is perhaps one of our most popular finishes for household appliances. Stainless steel is probably best known for its ability to resist rust and corrosion, however, if you own stainless appliances, then you’ve probably figured out they are almost never stainless. If you’re tired of all those tiny fingerprints, drips and water stains decorating your stainless surfaces dive into our list of easy DIY cleaners that are not only effective but easy on the wallet and the environment too! Skip those pricey stainless steel cleaners and head over to your pantry. The truth is, keeping your stainless steel appliances clean is easy to do, and you don’t need any of those expensive products.

1. White Vinegar

The pros over at The Spruce offer up white vinegar as the best way to clean stainless steel. According to their article, all you’ll need to do is fill a spray bottle with undiluted white vinegar. Spray your stainless steel surfaces, and keeping with the direction of the grain wipe them dry with a soft cleaning cloth. Once you're satisfied that all the fingerprints and other spots have been removed, go over the surface once more with a water-dampened cloth to neutralize the acid in the vinegar.  

2. White Vinegar & Olive Oil

For an added shine to your appliances, Compact Appliance suggest that after you’ve wiped away your dirt and grime with vinegar you can get a high polish shine by dabbing a clean towel into some olive oil.  Simply polish the freshly-cleaned surface in the direction of the grain. If any extra olive oil residue remains, wipe away with a clean cloth. This method works well because the vinegar gets rid of all the grime, while the olive oil gives it a fresh, shiny polish.

3. Scented Cleaner

If the thought of cleaning with the smell of vinegar lingering around you is something you’d rather avoid then Good Housekeeping has you covered with their Scented All-Purpose Cleaner.

What you'll need:
One part white vinegar to
One part water
Lemon rind
Rosemary sprigs

Simply combine the above ingredients in a spray bottle, shake, and then let infuse for one week before using.

4. WD 40

If you’re looking at this one and shaking your head, so did I, but everyone from Life Haker to This Old House seams to agree, WD 40 is genius for cleaning and protecting your stainless steel. You will need to keep in mind that WD-40 is a petroleum-based product, so remember to wipe kitchen surfaces down thoroughly after cleaning.

5. Flour

To keep this from becoming a messy project we suggest reserving this tip from The Crazy Coupon Lady for your stainless sinks. Once your sink is clean and most importantly, completely dry sprinkle the surface with flour. Then, using a soft rag and a circular motion buff your sink to a nice shine. The flour will get into any grooves in the steel and help to absorb the dirt and grime.

 

Now that you know some of the best kept secrets for easily and affordably cleaning your stainless steel be sure to stop by Southwest Appliance in Durango Colorado for all of your appliance needs. From stoves to refrigerators, washers to dryers, even outdoor grills, and air conditioners we have the right products for you and your home.