Clean Stainless Steel Refrigerators
A stainless steel fridge can turn your kitchen into a modern heaven, but cleaning it can sometimes get tricky. Follow this advice as you attempt to get rid of streaks, spots, hand prints, and the like, and you’ll figure out how to clean a stainless steel fridge in no time.
Contents
Steps
Use Proper Material and Rubbing Techniques
- Choose a nonabrasive cleaning cloth. Stainless steel scratches easily, and even a mild kitchen scrubbing pad will mar the surface.
- Use a microfiber cloth. They work better than lint-free cotton because they leave less fibrous material on the surface of the stainless steel
- Clean and shine your refrigerator with paper towels. If you want a super, non- streak shine, first clean the surface with the microfiber cloth and your favorite cleaning agent, and then wipe down the refrigerator with paper towels.
- Clean with the grain. You may have to look closely to see the grain, but you will be able to detect which way the grain is going. Rubbing against the grain, even with a microfiber cloth, will leave permanent scratches on the surface of your appliance.
Choose a Cleaner
- Use plain water. This is the cheapest method for cleaning your refrigerator, but stubborn stains and fingerprints will require extra rubbing or the addition of a few drops of dishwashing liquid soap. If you use soap, you will have to rinse off the surface with clear, hot water before you dry it with a paper towel. (Dry it quickly so that it doesn’t streak.)
- Clean with oil. Any vegetable oil, including olive oil, will clean stainless steel. You can also use baby oil; cleaning with oil does require extra drying to soak up the oil, this cleaning method leaves a very glossy shine but a darker shade.
- Try white vinegar and water on your appliance. Mix the two together in a spray bottle, using 3 parts white vinegar and 1 part water. Spray on your refrigerator and wipe it down with paper towels. Vinegar is excellent at cutting through greasy fingerprints.
- Use commercial cleaners. Some people prefer the convenience of glass cleaning products and products that are sold specifically for cleaning stainless steel appliances.
Tips
- Club soda works quite well on stainless steel, but many people don’t like to use it because it is messy.
- Vegetable oil, baby oil or any commercial cleaner containing oil will give the best shine, but the surface of the refrigerator will attract dust and dirt faster than if you use a non-oily product.
- Vinegar can also be used undiluted; splash some on your microfiber cloth and rub with the grain. The smell is much stronger when used full strength, but the odor dissipates quickly.
- All of the cleaning products mentioned in this article can also be used to clean your stainless steel pans, utensils and counter tops.
- A $1 microfibre cloth and plain water will clean your stainless steel appliances, no cleaners needed.
Warnings
- Some commercial cleaners can harm your floors. As a precaution, cover the floor surrounding the refrigerator with towels or an old rug before you spray a cleaner on the refrigerator.
- Use gloves to protect your hands from chemicals in commercial cleaners.
Thing’s You’ll Need
- Microfiber cloth
- Paper towels
- Commercial cleaners (optional)
Related Articles
Sources and Citations
- Videos provided by Clean My Space
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFvGlLRGtzU
- Hints from Heloise
- Housecleaning Central
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