The Only DIY Stainless Steel Cleaner You Need for Spotless Appliances
Stainless steel appliances may add a touch of modernity to your space, but keeping them spotless can be a real challenge.
The trick lies in selecting ingredients that dry swiftly, leaving your surfaces gleaming without a trace of streaks or smudges.
In this guide, I'll show you how to make a simple DIY stainless steel cleaner that not only tackles germs but also keeps your appliances looking brand new.
Tools and Materials:
- Rubbing alcohol
- Lemon essential oil (optional)
- Olive oil
- Gloves
- Cloth
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1. Soak Your Cloth
Soak a cloth with rubbing alcohol, and add a drop of an essential oil like lemon if you like.
2. Wipe Appliances
Wipe the alcohol-soaked cloth directly onto your stainless steel appliances. Take note of the grain direction on your appliances – it's either vertical or horizontal.
Follow the direction of the grain when wiping.
This will clean and sanitize your surface.
3. Finishing Touch with Olive Oil
If your stainless steel still has marks, wait until it's completely dry. Apply a small amount of olive oil to a dry cloth and rub it in, again following the grain.
This step adds shine and effectively removes stubborn fingerprints and grease marks.
Let it dry, and if necessary, apply another coat for that factory-fresh sheen.
DIY Stainless Steel Cleaner Tutorial
Maintaining the beauty of your stainless steel appliances doesn't have to be a daunting task. With this simple homemade stainless steel cleaner, you can ensure your surfaces stay gleaming and germ-free.
Give it a try and let us know your experience in the comments below.
Comments
Join the conversation
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I’ve tried many ways to make my stainless steel appliances look like they’re new. I just don’t care for using this one as over time the alcohol will break down the steel and it will be permanently damaged. Instead I use a special microfiber cloth that is made for cleaning those grains with the Wieman’s spray and then wipe over the top following the grain with an ultra soft polished cloth. It leaves them perfect and smudge free unless you splattered or spill. Then you just wipe the area. This lasts longer than anything else and I have moved all over the country and it’s been great for resale value as they look like new. It’s also very good for older appliances that haven’t been cared for properly.
Just bought a 53 year old home and the previous owner had used alcohol and destroyed the finish on the stove and microwave. There’s nothing to do except replace when we remodel
the kitchen. Be very careful when using chemicals and especially harsh alcohol if you do use it make certain it is Denatured Alcohol.
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Agree with you. Thank you for the safer option
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A soft cloth and pledge cleans and polishes. No finger prints.
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
Would this work on stainless steel sinks?