These days, many kitchens are turning to stainless steel for large appliances. It offers a sleeker, more modern look and eliminates the old question of “what color?” Stainless steel appliances also offer a more sterile environment, as metal can be easily sanitized and has long been used in restaurant kitchens as a standard finish for appliances.
Cleaning your stainless steel appliances can be a bit daunting, if you’re not sure what you’re doing. However, they are usually quite resistant, so you can clean them as many times as necessary. Obviously, a stove will need more frequent cleaning than a stainless steel refrigerator or dishwasher, but the process is basically the same whether it’s washed every day or just once a week.
First, every day, you’ll want to wash dirty surfaces with hot, soapy water. Dish soap works great for removing pesky grease and food splatters. A dish towel is nice and soft and won’t scratch the surface, but if you need more cleaning power (like for cooked-on food or tough-to-clean messes), you can use a grittier cleaner. If this is the case, you should rub with the grain of the metal to avoid causing any nasty scratches and scuffs. A better method is to simply pour hot soapy water on the area and let it sit for a couple of hours. For vertical stains, hang a damp cloth or towel over the edge of the appliance so it covers the stain so the water can penetrate and loosen it.
To avoid hard-to-clean stains, you should try to clean spills as soon as they occur. This is particularly important with the stovetop, as spilled food can cook directly on the surface and be extremely difficult to remove without scratching the stainless steel finish.
Once you have finished cleaning your stainless steel appliance, you always need to rinse it well. Stainless steel shows dried soap and water stains very well, so rinse with clean water and then towel dry to ensure the surface remains shiny and streak-free. It’s best to use a terry cloth towel to avoid the lint that paper towels often leave behind.
A common complaint with stainless steel appliances is how easily they pick up fingerprints and smudges. You don’t have to break out the big guns for little worries like this, just spray on some glass cleaner and wipe down the appliance with a clean paper towel or cloth. This removes stains without the need to rinse and dry.
You can also get stainless steel polish or cleaner to help keep your appliances sparkling clean and remove any scratches that may occur from daily use. Most stainless steel cleaners will also safely remove any stains that have formed on the metal. Simply apply the polish or cleaner (some even have a handy spray bottle available) and wipe off any excess. Then use a clean towel to buff the surface, following the grain of the metal, to bring back the shine that tends to fade over time.
It is recommended that you establish a cleaning and polishing routine, with a daily wash and a good polish once every two months. This will keep all your stainless steel appliances in top condition and with a shiny finish. These appliances look great in the kitchen and with regular and careful cleaning, you can ensure they stay in good shape.
