How can I improve my stainless steel?

Durable and shiny, it is the ideal material for kitchens and bathrooms, but do you know how to clean stainless steel? "Stainless" was originally used to describe steel's ability to withstand heat and humidity without corroding, but, as anyone who's owned stainless steel kitchen appliances knows, the term is somewhat of a misnomer. While stainless steel is tough, it's also prone to fingerprints, streaks, and water stains.

It's important to learn how to clean stainless steel with the appropriate cleaners because harsh abrasives can scratch and contribute to rust. Fortunately, you can go the natural route and mix an effective stainless steel cleaner with ingredients you probably already have. Follow these DIY chemical-free tips to get your stainless steel cookware and appliances clean and shiny—so they live up to their name.

How Often to Clean Stainless Steel

The best time to clean your stainless steel is when it's dirty. This seems far too simplistic but, as you know, kitchen use varies widely from one family to another.

The goal is to restore your appliances' original appearance, so an appropriate cleaning schedule may be as infrequent as one to four times a year. In a heavily used kitchen or where hygienic concerns are paramount, daily cleaning may be required for certain items.

Considerations Before You Get Started

Before you clean a stainless steel appliance, it's smart to check the manufacturer's recommendations. There are numerous grades of stainless steel out there, some more durable than others. Some appliances are treated with a clear-coat finish, which can be stripped by certain cleaning products. Lost the manual? Don't worry, you may be able to find it online.

If you're not the DIY type, there are plenty of effective stainless steel cleaners on the market. A stovetop cleaner such as TriNova is also effective in cleaning grimy stainless steel range hoods as well as oven and dishwasher doors.

More great options for cleaning stainless steel are a grill cleaner or even a silver polish like Wright's. Whatever you use, be sure to read the label and carefully follow instructions.

What You'll Need:

How to Clean Stainless Steel Without Chemicals

There is more than one way to clean stainless steel. Go with the method that matches your stainless steel item, its condition, and what you have on hand.

A Damp Cloth

In most cases, wiping down your stainless steel with a clean cloth or microfiber towel dipped in hot water does the trick.

• Just like wood, stainless steel has a grain. Determine the striations on the surface of your appliance and wipe in that direction, beginning at the top and working your way down.
• Rinse with water and dry thoroughly.

Steam-clean

Because stainless steel scratches easily, avoid using a brush attachment or any stiff cleaning tools. Instead, try using a steamer.

• To sterilize and disinfect stainless steel, use a steam cleaner with a nozzle attachment
• Wipe dry with a soft cloth.

Vinegar

For stubborn grease spots or water scaling, wetting a soft cloth with a diluted vinegar solution can do the trick.

• Mix a solution of 2 parts water to 1 part vinegar.
• Wipe the entire surface from top to bottom, and never let vinegar sit on the surface. Follow with a complete rinse and dry.

How to Keep Your Stainless Steel Clean Longer

Proper upkeep is an essential part of making the most of your kitchen's stainless steel appliances and equipment. Failure to maintain your investment can lead to unsightly staining, discoloration, or even long-term damage.

Fortunately, the upkeep of stainless is simple. By developing routine maintenance procedures, you can extend the life of your kitchen's stainless steel items and keep them looking like new. 

Add some shine

To make the surface of your stainless steel appliance shiny and protect it from fingerprints, add a small drop of olive oil to a cloth and buff it on the surface, working in the direction of the grain, and then wipe away excess with a dry cloth. The surface shouldn't feel oily, but it'll look shiny and fingerprint-free for longer.

Use a polishing paste

Commercially sold pastes are another way to keep stainless steel appliances sparkling. They create a microscopic wax layer on the surface that lasts up to several months, making the surface easy to clean. Polishing paste is for decorative surfaces only, and is not appropriate for cookware.

Avoid abrasive tools and cleaners

Be sure to avoid abrasives like sandpaper, steel wool, metal brushes, and harsh abrasive cleaners. Soft abrasives may work in specific scenarios, but first spot-test in an inconspicuous place. When using abrasives, wipe in the same direction as the grain or polish on the surface of the steel to ensure an optimal appearance.

How to Remove Stains on Stainless Steel with Baking Soda

Typically, you need to pay a bit more attention to burnt or caked-on messes on stainless steel sinks, pots and pans, or countertops. This method also works as a way to clean stainless steel compost bins.

Step 1. Make a Paste

To start, make a soft paste of baking soda and water and then apply it to the stain, allowing it to sit for about 20 minutes.

Step 2. Mix a solution

In a small to medium-sized bowl, mix a solution of water and dish soap.

Step 3. Scrub with a Soft Cloth

Next, scrub the area with a soft cloth dampened in a solution of water and dish soap, working parallel to the grain to avoid scratches.

Step 4. Rinse and Dry

Be sure to fully rinse the area with warm water, wiping away any residue left from the soap and water solution. Dry well with a clean cloth to avoid streaking.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can you use a Magic Eraser on stainless steel?

  While the Magic Eraser can be a helpful cleaning tool on many surfaces, it is not recommended for use on stainless steel. It may seem soft, but Magic Erasers are made from melamine foam, which is akin to very fine sandpaper, therefore, making it an abrasive. Use of the product on stainless steel appliances and cookware could result in very small, fine scratches that may not seem like an issue but could wear down the material over time.

• Can you wash stainless steel cookware in the dishwasher?

  Yes, stainless steel pots and pans can be cleaned in the dishwasher. While stainless steel is dishwasher-safe and rust-proof, you might want to clean it by hand to restore it to its original shine. Allowing the dishwasher to wash and dry the cookware for you can leave streaks behind. To prevent this, unload your stainless steel items from the dishwasher immediately after the cycle finishes and dry them with a microfiber towel.

• Can I use wipes on stainless steel?

  Yes, you may use stainless steel cleaning wipes on your stainless steel appliances. If you don't have time for a thorough clean, stainless steel wipes, like the brand Weiman, are good to use. These wipes will clean, polish, and keep fingerprints at bay, however, you should still regularly clean your appliances with the above methods.

Stainless steel appliances are now a hot commodity in kitchens, with everything like fridges, freezers, sinks and worktables being found in the finish – not to mention smaller items like cookware and flatware. It’s easy to clean, hard to break, and pretty to look at!

But just like all other finishes, stainless steel must be cleaned a very specific way to get the most life out of appliances.

What To Remember

There are many different compositions and “series” of stainless steel, and because of that there are different “films” (invisible protective layers on the steel) that rest atop the metal. Using the improper method can damage the steel because of the varying percentages of different metals in the steel.

In the food service world, the two most common series are the 400 series and the 300 series. The 400 series contains chromium, while the 300 series contains both chromium and nickel.

The film on stainless steel is remarkably thin, only millionths of an inch thick, so it is very important to avoid in method that could hurt the film on the steel.

This means avoiding mechanical abrasion (avoiding anything scratchy, such as scrapers, over cleaners, steel wool and wire brushes) not letting hard water sit on the surface, and not letting chlorides on the table. Also be sure that the cleaners you are using are not too abrasive.

General Stainless Steel Restoration (Sinks, Work Tables, Equipment, Appliances)

1. Read your instruction manual first. There might be special things to factor in when it comes to your steel.
2. Always remove food from your appliances quickly. Don’t let it sit.
3. Make sure to always use the right cleaning tools, such as soft cloths, spongers, plastic scouring pads, or microfibers. You can find the proper microfiber for your steel with a guide online.
4. Use the right cleaning chemicals. Chemicals that contain alkaline, alkaline chlorinated, or non-chloride chemical are the best ones for stainless steel. You can also get a cleaner that helps keep your steel looking shiny and help protect the film.
5. Typically, stainless steel has a “grain” that runs in one direction or another. If you can see the lines, it’s always best to wipe parallel to them.
6. Spray down your steel with a vinegar-water mix or glass cleaner and wipe off with a soft cloth. After that, use hot water and a gentle cloth or very gentle scrub on the metal.
7. If harder stains or rust remains, sprinkle baking soda or another non-abrasive scrub cleaner on a soft, damp cleaning cloth, mixed with liquid soap. Clean problem areas gently, going with the grain of the stainless steel. Spray the surface with vinegar-water mixture or glass cleaner and wipe again. Pat dry.
8. Apply “shiners,” if wanted.

While these guidelines are good for all equipment, there are a few additional aspects to keep in mind for flatware and cookware.

Stainless Steel Flatware

1. Before cleaning, pre-soak for about 20 minutes using a pre-soaking solution. Change your soaking solution every few cycles, otherwise chemicals and food particles will accumulate to the solution and reduce its effectiveness. Do not let your flatware soak for too long.
2. When hand-washing flatware, the only treatment needed is mild dish detergents and warm water. Do not use dish detergents with lemon or orange additives, as these acidic additives can cause corrosion of your stainless steel.
3. Placing stainless steel in the dishwasher is fine, just make sure to not wash other metals next to them. Also avoid detergents that contain bleach or heavy chlorination, as they can erode away the protective coating on your flatware. Always load forks, spoons knives with the handles down and place knives separately.
4. Once clean, dry your stainless steel flatware as soon as possible.
5. If you have rust on your flatware, place a rag into some regular vinegar and rub the spots vigorously until the spots have disappeared, then put some olive oil on another clean rag and rub it gently into your stainless steel flatware. Remove oil from flatware after. If spot hasn’t disappeared, clean flatware with a mild detergent by hand and repeat the steps as needed. Pat dry.

Stainless Steel Cookware Care

1. Season your cookware before your first use of the appliance and repeat as often as needed.
2. If salt comes in direct contact with the steel, it can cause pitting. Make sure to always add salt to boiling water.
3. Cookware will last longer if washed by hand with hot soapy water. Use plastic, wooden or silicone/rubber utensils to minimize damage to the surface, and always scrub in the direction of the metal grain.
4. Rust can be cleaned off by sprinkling baking soda or another non-abrasive scrub cleaner on a soft, damp cleaning cloth or scrub and rubbed against problem areas gently. Rinse and pat dry.

Your stainless steel is an investment that will last you a long time when you care for it properly. If you’ve neglected your stainless steel equipment and it needs a deep cleaning, look for a reputable commercial cleaning company in your area who offers commercial kitchen cleaning as a service – they will have the equipment and know-how to get the job done efficiently.