Stainless steel appliances look brilliant in a kitchen, turning a home food preparation area into a modern kitchen as seen in many fine dining restaurants. Almost every appliance is available in stainless steel with either a polished or brushed finish.
We prefer brushed stainless steel for one reason. This is that finger prints and smudges are easier to keep at bay (at least from what we have found). Also, brushed stainless steel tends to hide watermarks, that can easily show on polished steel surfaces even in areas with relatively soft water.
To clean stainless steel appliances, we recommend making a cleaning solution with simple, natural ingredients or buying an ‘off-the-shelf’ cleaner that is suitable for cleaning these surfaces.
Off-the-shelf solutions include Cif Perfect Finish Stainless Steel spray, Method Stainless Steel Polish and Bar Keepers Friend. All these as well as some supermarket own brands are fine and the choice will depend on your personal preference and the availability of each product. Always follow the manufacturers instructions and wear suitable protection and clothing when doing any cleaning task.
If you want to try a homemade method, you could try using potable water mixed with white vinegar. Potable water is just tap water suitable for drinking. If you live in a hard water area, some spring water or distilled water from a local shop/supermarket may be a better option. Vinegar is already diluted when sold, but for this we recommend diluting further so that the mixture is 25% shop pre-diluted vinegar mixed with 75% water. You do not need stronger than this, otherwise the vinegar solution may smell. If the solution smells strongly, dilute further with water.
Mix the solution and use a spray bottle to spray it onto your stainless steel surface. Spray in the middle of the steel rather than all over and avoid any joints, electrical circuits or other areas where the solution may seep. Clean from the top down in an ‘S’ shape. Once you have cleaned the area at least twice, ensure that the whole area is dry and then use a clean soft cloth to lightly polish the area, polishing in the direction of the grain of the brushed surface or in a continuous horizontal or vertical manner with a polished steel surface. Repeat if needed.
If there is grease on the surface, this may need to be removed and the area dried before the whole process using the white vinegar and water solution begins. You can remove grease by using clean warm water with a small amount of standard washing up liquid added. The cloth must be rung out before cleaning the surface and as with the solution, any electric areas or gaps where any liquid may seep must be avoided. If you are unsure about any procedure, contact the manufacturer or appropriate specialist for advice before attempting it.
Always refer to the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions first and do not use any products or mixtures that may damage the surface of your appliance or the rest of your kitchen.
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