Perhaps one of the most common materials you’ll see in just about any kitchen is stainless steel. Not only is stainless steel sturdy and long-lasting but it also comes at a pretty good price. So the fact that it’s so popular in kitchens shouldn’t come as a surprise. However, all good things aside, stainless steel is also notorious for being vulnerable to getting dirty pretty quickly. Fingerprint marks, water and oil smudges – you name it – are all common entities to find on a stainless steel appliance especially one that hasn’t been maintained properly.
If you want to keep your stainless steel appliance look brand new every day, you’ll need to follow some simple stainless steel cleaning rules. When it comes to cleaning this metal alloy, there are certain rules that you’ll need to follow. Here in this article we’ll teach you how exactly to proceed with the cleaning.
How To Properly Clean Your Stainless Steel Appliances
Before Cleaning, Give the Manufacturer’s Instructions a Look
Every appliance will undoubtedly arrive with a manufacturer’s manual or an instruction book. Most homeowners will completely disregard this booklet but we’ll tell you right away that isn’t the wisest thing to do. Before you take out your cleaning supplies, make sure you are in the know of what the manual book instructs about cleaning the appliance. Some instructions will clearly mention and list down which cleaners can be used for the appliance and which are to be avoided. This is important to follow because if you use a cleaning product that the manual tells you not to, you won’t be able to avail your warranty when you end up ruining the appliance with the cleaner.
So before you proceed with the actual cleaning, familiarize yourself with the products the manufacturer’s book recommends and steer clear from those that it prohibits.
Steer Clear from Abrasive Cleaners
Stainless steel might be a pretty strong looking material but even this alloy can take some major damage from abrasive products. You want to avoid using any harsh or abrasive cleaners such as ammonia, bleach or tools like scrubber pads. Using these tools can cause scratches on your otherwise pristine stainless steel appliance and end up making things worse for you. Another important thing to remember when cleaning your appliance is to avoid the use of hard water. If your local water supply has too much hardness in it, you might want to use some other water supply to clean the appliance. Hard water is notorious for rusting and decreasing the longevity of metals.
Homemade Stainless Steel Cleaners
When it comes to stainless steel, you can make your own homemade cleaning product although the potency of the cleaner might not be too high. Nonetheless, it’s a good cheap alternative to commercial products. Knowing which cleaners you can use is of prime importance because you don’t want to end up with more smudge marks than you initially began with.
#1: Olive oil and vinegar: This homemade combination is one of the most widely used one and it’s effective as well. All you need is some white vinegar preferably in a spray water bottle which will make cleaning easier, some olive oil and microfiber cloth. Simply spray some white vinegar on the dirty, grimy areas and use a microfiber cloth to gently rub it. Make sure not to be too vigorous with it or you might leave a scratch. The microfiber cloth should be dipped in olive oil and then used.
#2: Baby Oil with Dish Soap: Another common household cleaning mixture for cleaning stainless steel appliances is a mixture of dish soap with baby oil. For this you’ll first need to dilute dishwashing liquid in warm water and then apply this solution onto the appliance with a microfiber cloth. At the end, to bring back the natural shine of the steel, use a microfiber cloth dipped in baby oil and rub it over the appliance.
Bring in the Experts for Help
If you can’t seem to wrap your head around a particularly dirty stainless steel appliance, let the professionals handle it. Dashing Maids is a renowned team of professional house cleaners in Denver that knows the ins and outs of commercial and residential cleaning.
Call us now for more information and get 50% off your first cleaning!
