One of the most popular materials in daily life, you can probably spot stainless steel everywhere around you. Stainless steel can be used for cookware, kitchen utensils, cutlery, and kitchen sink. Stainless steel is also considered good material as it is known to have high resistance to corrosion. Also, as a steel composite, it is both strong and flexible making it a preferred choice for people.

If you like your home to be neat and clean and always look for simpler ways to clean stainless steel, then this article might be the right place for you. Read on to learn more about how to clean stainless steel and why you should include stainless steel appliances in your life.

Benefits of Stainless Steel Appliances and Cookware

For as long as we can remember, stainless steel appliances and cookware have been a part of the kitchen industry. The reason behind this is that stainless steel appliances and cookware have many benefits to offer compared to other materials. If you need a little convincing about the benefits of stainless steel, then here are a few benefits that you should go through:

1. Sustainability

When it comes to cooking equipment, you will always prefer a material that is indestructible and lasts for many years. When you invest in stainless steel appliances and cookware, it will not chip, warp or bend under any circumstances, and it will last for the years to come. Moreover, you can cook all kinds of meals in stainless steel cookware and store them in the refrigerator without worry.

2. Easier Cleaning

Are you looking for ways to clean stainless steel as you wouldn't like to spend hours cleaning appliances and cookware? There is good news for you as cleaning up stainless steel surfaces is like a breeze, and it doesn't require much effort. You can easily wash the cookware or clean the appliances using a bit of soap and a clean cloth. There are also special cleaners that make your stainless steel bright and smudge-free.

3. Helps Preserve Flavor

Did you know that cookware made from cheap materials can make your flavorful food taste weird at times? If you don't want to face this mishap when cooking food for friends and family, investing in stainless steel cookware will save you. Stainless steel cookware can enhance and preserve the taste of the food you are preparing as it doesn't transfer its properties to the food.

4. Hygienic

One of the main reasons many people invest in stainless steel cookware and appliances is that they are hygienic. This means that stainless steel cookware does not contribute to bacterial growth or other pathogens. Moreover, as it is low maintenance and easy to clean, all it requires is to give it a regular scrub so the metal can keep gleaming for a while.

Why Stainless Steel Appliances Get Greasy?

Stainless steel appliances might appear smooth, but they sometimes gather grease because the material has tiny pores. Stainless steel appliances appear to be beautiful smooth, but if you constantly touch them, they can gather grease. Stainless steel appliances get greasy when you touch them with oily or unwashed hands, especially during hot temperatures.

Stainless Steel Cleaning Basics

If you are worried about cleaning your stainless steel appliances and cookware, then here are a few basics on cleaning stainless steel:

1. Use Warm Water and Mild Detergent

If your stainless steel appliances and cookware aren't that greasy, you can use a mixture of warm water and mild detergent. Dip a soft cloth into this mixture and then wipe it across the surface. Once you have applied the mixture properly, use a dry cloth to wipe off the wet surface.

2. Vinegar and Olive Oil

Did you know that many people use vinegar and olive oil for effortless cleaning of their stainless steel appliances and cookware? Take a small amount of vinegar and rub it all over your appliances and cookware. Then, wipe it off with a clean cloth and dip the cloth in some olive oil. After that, rub that cloth over the surface if you want a long-lasting shine.

3. Baking Soda and Warm Water

Do you have small kids at home who always keep touching your stainless steel appliances and make them appear greasy, dirty, or smudged? You can make a paste using baking soda and warm water for grease and food-related stains and marks. Apply the paste on the surface, and then let it dry. Once it has dried, a little wipe off the paste with a damp cloth.

Our Favorite At-Home Stainless Steel Spot Cleaners

Instead of opting for other cleaning methods, do you want to make use of things already available at home for stainless steel cleaning? Let's find out what they are!

1. Make Use of Glass Cleaners

Fingerprints are one of the most commonly found complaints by people regarding cleaning stainless steel. If you want to know how to clean stainless steel, you can use the common glass cleaners available at home. Just spray the cleaner on a cloth and then rinse it evenly across the surface for a clean look. If the fingerprint marks are still there, you can repeat the process.

2. Opt for Flour Cleaning

If you haven't cleaned stainless steel with flour, this might sound weird, but trust us when we say that this works. As you might already have a sack of flour at home, all you need to do is, spread it all over the stainless steel surface. Clean out your cookware and remove any greasy marks and let it dry. Then, cover it properly in flour. After that, take a soft microfiber towel and rub it all over the surface so that your appliances start to shine.

How to Clean Stainless Steel

1. Invest in Stainless Steel Wipes

If you don't want to follow a detailed process while cleaning stainless steel, investing in stainless steel wipes is a good option. Using wipes eliminates the need for having a microfiber or a solution, as these wipes themselves are enough. When you use these wipes, they will provide you with a brilliant and streak-free shine that will last you for days. In addition to cleaning, they will also leave a protective layer which means that your stainless steel surfaces won't smudge as frequently.

2. Purchase a Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish

If you are looking for an easy-to-handle solution, you can opt to purchase a stainless steel cleaner and polish. This cleaner will help your stainless steel appliances, cookware, silverware, and fixtures. Also, it will improve the metal's surface quality, lead to mirror-like finishes, and reduce the number and size of crevices in the steel.

• Use a soft, microfiber towel or cloth for cleaning off the surfaces as a harsh cloth will ruin the surface badly.
• Using steel wool on the stainless steel surface will cause scratches all over, so you should skip using it.
• Prepare a bottle that includes a mixture of both vinegar and warm water. Use that bottle as a spray whenever you want to clean your stainless steel appliances and cookware.
• If you want your stainless steel surface to shine, use lemon oil furniture polish. Instead of directly spraying the polish on the surface, you should first apply it on a cloth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Vinegar Damage Stainless Steel?

Popularly used as a home remedy for cleaning stainless steel, vinegar is one of the safest options that you can use. Instead of damaging stainless steel, vinegar helps remove oil and grime and makes your surface appear much brighter and cleaner. Also, it helps reduce brown, orange, or red marks that form on stainless steel, so if you want to give your stainless steel a completely new look, vinegar should be your choice.

How to Get Streaks off Stainless Steel Appliances?

Do you want to get streaks off your stainless steel appliances and are wondering how to clean stainless steel most efficiently? Apply some amount of rubbing alcohol to a soft microfiber cloth and rub it all over the surface. Then, gently rub the stains with the cloth until you get rid of them easily.

How to Get Stainless Steel to Shine Again?

If you want stainless steel to shine again as if it were new, olive oil or mineral oil can help your appliances or cookware look as good as new. You have to grab some olive oil from your pantry and spread it over the marks and smudges. If the stains don't come off easily, you can also rub them slightly in the opposite direction. Also, once you work on this hack, your stainless steel will shine again.