How to Clean & Polish Any Stainless Steel Surface? [7 Methods]
Stainless steel is a popular material in designing many kitchen appliances and surfaces. Its pristine looks, smooth surface, reasonable price and easy maintenance had made its way to many household and commercial kitchens. Sinks, refrigerators, washing machines and even countertops are mostly made out of stainless steel. It is important to maintain steel surfaces and clean them regularly to keep them shiny and rust-free.
In this article, we’ll explore how to clean and polish stainless steel surfaces with various DIY methods and cleaning supplies.
What Can You Clean With This Guide?
This guide can help you clean and polish stainless steel surfaces in your kitchen. This includes:
- Kitchen sink
- Refrigerator
- Washing machine
- Dishwasher
- Stainless steel cookware like pans and pots
- Cooker and stovetop
- Kitchen hood extractor
- Faucets and taps
- Stainless steel countertops
- Stainless steel cupboard
Stainless Steel Cleaning Supplies
You can get two types of cleaning & polishing supplies for stainless steel: DIY and store-bought. While store-bought ones are good for cleaning & polishing kitchen appliances, it is recommended to clean stainless steel cookware with DIY cleaners.
Read More: Learn More About Green Cleaning Products
DIY Cleaning Solutions to Make at Home
DIY and homemade cleaning supplies for stainless steel surfaces are based on one or multiple of the following:
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Flour
- Mineral oil or essential oil
- Lemon juice
- Dish soap & washing up liquid
Store-Bought Cleaning Solutions
Many store-bought and commercial cleaning solutions are specially designed for cleaning and polishing stainless steel surfaces, You can also use those with food-grade chemicals in them for cleaning steel cooking ware. They generally come in sprays (for cleaning), pastes (for polishing) or foam (for cleaning & polishing).
Read More: How to Polish Silverware and Prevent Tarnish?
What to Avoid for Cleaning Stainless Steel
There are certain cleaning solutions and equipment you should avoid when cleaning or polishing stainless steel surfaces. See the list below to know what to avoid:
- Glass cleaners
- General-purpose cleaning sprays
- Over cleaners or degreasers
- Bleach & ammonia
- Cleaning solutions that are “grainy” and abrasive
- Hard and abrasive brush or scrubbers
- Steel wool
Always use soft & lint-free microfibre cloths for cleaning and polishing stainless steel surfaces. Also, to keep the beauty of the steel surface intact, always move along the direction of the surface grain (often “S” or “O” pattern).
Methods to Clean Stainless Steel Surfaces
You can use one of the following cleaning methods depending on the cleaning supplies you have around the house and the type of surface or appliance you want to clean.
#1 Cleaning with White Vinegar & Oil
An easy way to clean any kitchen appliances with stainless steel is to use white vinegar and oil. It can be cooking oil, mineral oil or essential oil to add some pleasant aroma to the environment.
First, spray white vinegar on the surface. Then use a clean and soft microfibre cloth to properly clean the surface. When everything is wiped and all stains are gone, dip the cloth in a small amount of oil and start rubbing it on the surface. Remember that a small amount of oil is enough for a large surface. Oil will give the stainless steel a shiny finish.
This method is perfect for most appliances. You can also use white vinegar to clean kitchen sinks and remove all stains left from different residues.
#2 Cleaning with WD-40
There isn’t a problem WD-40 can’t solve. You can also use the stuff to clean and polish stainless steel. Its strong cleaning properties and oily content will give your stainless steel surface the finish you are looking for. WD-40 also provides an extra layer of protection against rust when applied on the surface.
Spray some WD-40 on a clean microfibre cloth and start rubbing it on the surface. Use more WD-40 if needed.
Remember that WD-40 is a chemical and petroleum-based solution. It is best for cleaning and polishing the washing machine, dishwasher and fridge. Therefore, avoid cleaning steel cookware, sinks, stovetops or countertops with WD-40.
Read More: Common Cleaning Myth Debunked
#3 Cleaning with Flour
One of the best ways to polish stainless steel sinks is to use flour. It sounds weird, but it is a very effective method to restore stainless steel and make it shiny again.
To do this, first, clean the sink with any cleaning supplies you have. Make sure all stains, grime and oily residues are removed. Then rinse the sink and let it dry completely. Next, cover the sink in flour. You can use as much as you want. Afterwards, use a soft cloth and buff the sink until it looks shiny again.
This method is a bit messy. That is why we recommend using this only for polishing the kitchen sink.
#4 Cleaning with Water & Cloth
If you don’t have enough time or appropriate solutions for cleaning stainless steel, you can go with the good old cloth and a mixture of warm water and dish soap. This is a great way to clean stainless steel pans and pots.
Fill the kitchen sink with warm water, add a few drops of dish soap, soak the pans and pots and scrub them with a cloth. Rinse and dry them completely to prevent water spots on cookware.
If there are burnt food pieces or stubborn and hard-to-remove residues on the cookware, soak them in water overnight. Don’t scrub them off with steel or wire wool to prevent scratch and damage.
#5 Removing Water Spots with Lemon or Vinegar
Water spots on shiny steel or chrome surfaces are always noticeable regardless of how clean the surroundings are. This is common on faucets, taps, steel surfaces like countertops and stainless steel skinks. To clean water spots, you can use lemon juice or vinegar.
To clean with lemon juice or vinegar, dip a clean soft cloth in some lemon juice or spray the surface with lemon juice and use the cloth to wipe and dry it off. Just ensure the surface is clean and dry and only has watermarks on it.
#6 Cleaning Rust Stains with Baking Soda
Baking soda has magical cleaning properties. One of the best ways to clean rust stains off stainless steel is to use baking soda paste.
To make the paste, add baking soda to a bowl and slowly add water while mixing to form a paste.
To remove rust stains, rub some of the paste on rust stains. After a few minutes of rubbing, clean the spot by spraying a water and dish soap solution and wipe it with a clean microfibre cloth. Repeat the process until the rust stain is gone.
#7 Using General Stainless Steel Cleaners
There are several specialised stainless steel cleaners that make it easier to clean and polish different surfaces. Therefore, you don’t need any special preparation. You just need the cleaner and soft microfibre cloth.
There are two types of commercially available stainless steel cleaners you can buy from stores:
- Food-grade stainless steel cleaner for sinks, cookware, countertops and cupboards.
- General stainless steel surface cleaners for dishwasher, stovetop, refrigerator and washing machine.
Each cleaner often has specific instructions for use. Therefore, if you want to use them for cleaning and polishing stainless steel surfaces, read the manual instructions on the bottle first.
Conclusion
Stainless steel is a popular material for many surfaces in household and commercial kitchens. Faucets, sinks, countertops, cupboards, washing machines, dishwashers and refrigerators are common objects with stainless steel surfaces. Such metallic surfaces are not only shiny and beautiful but also reasonably priced and easy to maintain. Cleaning and polishing stainless steel surfaces is essential to keep them pristine and shiny. There are several ways to clean and polish. In this article, we explore the best ways to clean and polish stainless steel surfaces as well as the best cleaning materials you can use to do so.
The information provided by this article can help you correctly and effectively clean any stainless steel surfaces without causing any scratches or irreversible damage.
