Over the past few years, stainless steel appliances have become an increasingly popular choice by consumers. Unlike color choices, stainless steel appliances are not easily dated, and if kept in good condition, their value holds up very well against their color counterparts. Not to mention that they look beautiful.
First and foremost, never clean stainless steel with any type of abrasive, such as scouring pads, or steel wool. These products will scratch the surface and create lines and swirls.
The best cleaning and drying cloth is a microfiber cloth. Always wipe in the direction of the grain of the finish. For light soil use a warm solution of mild soap to clean the surface. For heavy soil or grease we recommend a product called “Krud Kutter”. It can be used straight from the bottle at full strength for heavy grease cutting or it can be diluted depending on the soil level.
For stains or minor scratches, we recommend a product called “Bar Keepers Friend”. It is available in liquid or powder form. Again, just be sure to wipe with the grain of the stainless steel.
For deeper or more complex scratches, you might be better off having a professional remove them. A consumer scratch removal kit is available in a product aptly called “Scratch B Gone”. Follow the directions completely or you can easily create a bigger problem than you started with. It takes time, patience, and a lot of elbow work, but very satisfactory results can be obtained using this kit.
For the final finish you can use any of the commercially available stainless steel polishes. These are available in a wide range of products, from sprays to creams, and are even available in all natural versions. When used regularly, they will help resist fingerprints and scratches, and will help you achieve a brand new from the factory appearance.