How to Clean Stainless Steel Appliances | I’m Lovin’ It
This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Stainless steel appliances are known for their beauty and ability to be a clean surface that resists corrosion and rust. Unfortunately, stainless steel appliances are also know to be the source of great grief in many home kitchens, due to their ability to show every fingerprint, smudge and bit of residue left behind from daily use.
(my 16 yo took this picture and insisted I use it! lol)
HOW TO CLEAN STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES
I’ve had Whirlpool stainless steel appliances in my kitchen for 5 months now. If you own stainless steel appliances, you may be in the same boat I was in…… losing a battle……..a battle against fingerprints and smudges. The grimy streaks were winning!
I whined to my friends about the smudges all over my pretty new appliances. I asked everyone I knew, including Mr. Google, how to clean stainless steel appliances. I got a slew of answers, from window cleaner to alcohol and baby oil, to simply pure water and numerous specially formulated cleaners. I tried, a clean dish cloth, paper towels and cloth diapers.
Nothing was working.
I vented my frustrations one day when I was on the phone with Jim, product manager at Whirlpool, when he told me something that changed my life! He said he uses affresh™ Stainless steel cleaner and a microfiber cloth. Jim told me he sprays the cloth with affresh™ Stainless steel cleaner then wipes down his appliances and has had great luck with that method.
To be honest, I doubted it was going to work, but figured what did I have to lose? I already had a bottle of affresh™ Stainless steel cleaner and a clean microfiber cloth.
As soon as we hung up the phone I headed to the kitchen to give it a go. To my amazement it WORKED!!!
- If appliances have visible grime and food, take a clean microfiber cloth and a little warm soapy water to wipe down surface (always wipe with the grain of the stainless steel). Then take the same cloth, rinse it well and wipe down surface again, removing soapy residue.
- Use a dry microfiber cloth and to spray the affresh™ Stainless steel cleaner on the cloth, NOT on the appliance (I usually just give it 2 squirts – don’t saturate the cloth)
- Wipe entire surface in the direction of the grain.
- Flip microfiber cloth over and buff surface using a little elbow grease until shiny!
I still have to clean them daily, but I have to tell you, I recently hired a cleaning lady to help me out a few times a month and when she walked into my kitchen she said “your appliances look AMAZING! how do you keep them so clean?!” ….TRUE STORY!
5 DON’TS WHEN CLEANING STAINLESS STEEL
- Do NOT use anything abrasive, such as steel wool or scrubber sponges. These may scratch the finish.
- Never clean in circular motion or against the grain. Always clean stainless steel with the grain.
- Never use chlorine bleach on stainless steel. It will ruin the finish.
- Do not allow residue to sit on surface. Grime, dirt and cleaning products should be removed as soon as possible.
- Do not expect stainless steel to look beautiful on it’s own. It’s going to take a little elbow grease and good daily maintenance to keep it looking shiny.
Not only am I still using the affresh™ Stainless steel cleaner on all of my stainless steel appliances daily, but I REALLY think the key is to use a microfiber cloth (I keep two that are only used on my appliances) and to spray the affresh™ Stainless steel cleaner on the cloth, NOT on the appliance. I’m now winning the battle with the fingerprints and smudges……and the BEST part….my appliances are clean AND streak free!! (so many other methods would remove smudges, but then left streaks).
I talked to the people at affresh™ and they said they’d be happy to hook up some TidyMom readers with their Stainless steel cleaner!
Giveaway! 3 (three) lucky TidyMom readers will win 2(two) 16 oz bottles of affresh™ Stainless steel cleaner + 1 microfiber cloth
Giveaway has ended. Congrats to Julie B and Meredith H
How to enter: Simply leave a comment on this post telling me if you’ve had trouble or success with keeping stainless steel appliances clean. (as always, if you are reading this via email or rss reader, you must click over to the blog to enter)
For an extra entry: You can share this post on pinterest, twitter, google+ or facebook and leave a comment letting me know you shared it (one extra entry per person)
Giveaway sponsored by affresh™. – I was not compensated for this post, but I do have a working relationship with Whirlpool – I truly use and love this product and wanted to share!
Official Rules: No purchase necessary. Open to US residents only. Must be over 18. Giveaway will end on Feb 13, 2013 at 5:00 pm CST. Three (3) winners with a valid entry will be selected at random using random.org. Winners will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be selected. TidyMom and affresh™ are not responsible for lost or undelivered emails. Prize: 2(two) 16 oz bottles affresh™ Stainless steel cleaner – value ($6.99/bottle) and 1(one) microfiber cloth
WHERE TO BUY affresh™ Stainless steel cleaner
you can purchase affresh products online from Whirlpool and Amazon, or at your local Best Buy, Home Depot, Walmart, and Target.
I’m Lovin’…….affresh™ Stainless steel cleaner
Now it’s your turn! Please remember to link back to https://TidyMom.net
Let us know what you’re lovin’ this week!
*Don’t forget to come back over the weekend for the I’m Lovin’ It Wrap Up post……where I feature a few of the great links!!
What is I’m Lovin’ It Fridays? get all the info, how to’s trouble shoot and button here
Hi there, I'm Cheryl!
As a wife, mom, and caffeine enthusiast, my journey has taken me from bustling mornings with my family to sharing delicious recipes, home care tips, and heartfelt decorating insights with wonderful readers like you. My love for baking, photography, and tidiness shines through every post I craft. Dive into my world and discover the art of homemaking, one tidy moment at a time. Read more...
Tidymom is a participant in the amazon services llc associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Please respect my work, recipes and photographs. If you do use a recipe in your own writing, please give proper credit and link back to the original post.
shared via twitter https://twitter.com/micaela6955/status/300438705024413697
Would love to win this to keep my stainless looking new! I just got them installed and can’t wait to use it.
I wonder if it would work on my stainless steel crockpot!
The best thing I have found to clean by stainless appliances is olive oil on a tag. Even the stainless cleaner that came with the appliances doesn’t work. I’m going looking for afresh today!
WOW i have never heard of Afresh….i cannot wait to try it!
thanks for an opportunity to win
Just added Affresh to my list… Hate the fingerprints!!
Thank you so much for the tip. I buy Affreesh nex time.
Thanks.. Yil.
I do have problem keeping my stainless looking good…thanks!
I am just getting Ss appliances. My front adhesive is still only dishwasher but the microwave does need washing every day it seems I am losing the fingerprint battle. I must try afresh Thanks for the suggestion.
I have trouble due to my 5 kids! Would love to try this product!
Cleaning my stainless appliances has been a losing battle… would love to win!
It seems like every time I turn around, my appliances need to be cleaned. I’m going to find Affresh at my store!
I tweeted. http://ow.ly/hARwg
Wow! I’m definitely going to add Affresh to my shopping list! I use vinegar/water to clean then Pledge with a cloth diaper and mine stay pretty shiny, but if I could just use one product, count me in! Thanks for entering me in the free giveaway…fingers-crossed!
I use white vinegar and a paper towel.
We just barely bought a townhome a few months ago, and our appliances are stainless steel! I have been noticing alot of streaks and finger prints which drive me nuts..and I can’t seem to get them off! I have been looking for a product that could remove them, so I am glad to hear that there is a product that actually works! I would love to win some, so that way I can try it out for free! Thanks!
Shared your post on facebook! 🙂
I am so buying this stuff!! I hate hate hate the streaks that normal cleaners leave on my stainless!
Would love to try some of this on my stainless steel Whirlpools!!
Pinned!!
WIth a 5 and 6 year old in the house, it is near impossible to keep our stainless steel fridge free of smudges. Maybe this product would help! 🙂
I have college students, their friends, boyfriend, girlfriend, and a teenage boy and his friends and have yet to find anything that will not leave it looking completely streak and fingerprint free. Need to try this.
Keeping the stainless refrigerator/stove/dishwasher clean is next to impossisble. Would love to win the Prize: 2(two) 16 oz bottles affresh™ Stainless steel cleaner – value ($6.99/bottle) and 1(one) microfiber cloth. Thanks!
I’ve used some special wipes for my appliances but they are expensive and it’s a lot of trash. They work well but I’d still love to try Affresh!
Dear Cheryl! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I put Affresh on my grocery list and will pick it up on my next trip to the store! This is such a helpful tip! My house is on the market and I have tried everything to make my stainless Steele appliances. I may even stop by the store to buy it tomorrow!
I always have fun with your blog. Your ideas are super and you are quite entertaining!
My gratitude, Lucy Beliveau!
Oh, p.s…. I have put you on my Pinterest page!
am new to stainless steel appliances..have not still figured the sure shot way to get them cleaned.
I’m fighting a losing battle! Would love to win this!
I want to try this. My appliances stay streaked and have fingerprints!
We are transitioning to stainless steal and looking forward to it, but initially I was against it because I have heard so many stories about not being able to keep it clean and having fingerprints and smudges all over it. I’m excited to get our new appliances and would love to have this spray from the start 🙂
Thanks for the opportunity.
I also pinned this giveaway.
How have I not heard of this before? I’ve had my stainless steel refrigerator for four years, have never found anything that works well to clean it, and have been regretting buying it. (What’s wrong with a plain ol’ white refrigerator??) Although I’d love to win the affresh (like many of us on the downswing, I haven’t had a raise in three years), I’m definitely going to buy a bottle. Gives me an excuse to go to Home Depot (aka “The Toy Store”). Thanks for telling us about it!
I finally found something that works “OK” better than the rest let’s say. It is so much work though hahahaha..I watch 3 little ones during the week and it is just hard to keep up so would love love love to try this!
My Breville Juicer and my Ninja Blender would love you forever if you blessed my kitchen with a bottle of Affresh Stainless Steel Cleaner! I love using these appliances, but they stain so much…or because they’re out in the kitchen, they pick up grease on their bases because of the splatter from the stove. Affresh is definitely welcome in my house!
cleaning stainless steel isn’t that hard – the hardest part is keeping it clean, those surfaces miraculously attract tiny hand and fingerprints
Thank you for hosting this giveaway
Louis
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
I tweeted your giveaway
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
Yes, I do have trouble keeping my stainless steel appliances clean. I’d love to win. Thanks TidyMom.
Oh my gracious!! I have all stainless appliances and can’t keep them clean. Would LOVE to win those. Thanks for the post! I’m going to fins it tomorrow!!
I’ve had problems with keeping Stainless Steel appliances clean in the past also. Like you I searched for a cleaner that would work. Some gave me partial success with hand-prints but I too had streaks that remained. Would love to give Affreash a try!
I left a message on Facebook about Affresh.
With my two kids…..my stainless refrigerator has finger prints on it ALL the time. I could so use this!! My kids are 7yrs. and 4yrs. old. So, you know mine needs cleaning!!
WOULD LOVE TO TRY THIS.I HAVEN’T. BEEN ABLE TO FIND THIS IN MY CITY,I GUESS ALL WAL-MART’S DO NOT CARRY THE SAME STUFF.
we just recently started phasing out our black appliances for ss & i have not been able to keep the finger/paw prints off!
Yes, I always struggle to keep my SS appliances clean….thanks for the tip!
I pinned it!
I have only tried Method -would love to try this product!
If you already had a bottle of affresh, why did you try everything else first?
I had tried it – but not with the microfiber cloth and I had never sprayed it on to the cloth…….I was spraying it on the appliances directly.
Just bought our first new fridge and it’s stainless steel. Would love to try this product!
Repinned giveaway on pinterest as well
I find that a little WD 40 does a cheaper and better job!
If you already had a bottle of Affresh in the house why didn’t you try that before all of the other things and before making the call to the Whirlpool guy?
I had tried it – but not with the microfiber cloth and I had never sprayed it on to the cloth…….I was spraying it on the appliances directly. —- I had been chatting with Jim from Whirlpool about something else when the topic of how I clean my stainless steel came up – so I didn’t call him looking for a solution – but it’s funny that he suggested something I had already tried, but had not applied it the way he instructed me to……and THAT is why it worked this time, and not before.