Here’s what I am wondering today: am I the only human on the planet who does not understand the popularity of stainless steel appliances? Don’t get me wrong. I think they look sleek, modern, shiny…all those trendy things.
However.
Keeping our stainless steel refrigerator and microwave non-grimy has recently become a source of mild frustration for me. I’ve tried multiple cleaning products to no avail: I still end up with streaky appliances that are covered in fingerprints and smudges and whoknowswhatelse. And when the sun hits them? Ewwww. It’s like my fridge is laughing at me and my desire for it to not look like a herd of popsicle-wielding preschoolers just had a play date on it.
On the bright side, if anyone ever breaks into our house to steal items from our fridge (which is highly probable considering the delicacies we’ve been known to stash in there, as discussed here), we’ll have their fingerprints preserved on our fridge indefinitely, because unless they know something I don’t, there’s no quick and easy way to remove them.
I’ve googled for some help, but a summary of my findings includes:
-products that don’t exist anymore
-products that cost more than our mortgage
-products that need to be applied bi-hourly
-products that requires 6 days of rigorous polishing after applying
-homemade brews that involve things like three parts wild passion fruit root extract and five parts Jamaican Red Dwarf banana tree oil
-the following definition on Wikipedia: Stainless steel does not corrode, rust or stain with water as ordinary steel does, but despite the name, it is not fully stain-proof.
So I’m counting on you, my fabulous blog readers, to help me out! If you have stainless steel anything, what do you use to clean it? What has worked? What hasn’t? Spill all the juicy details. My appliances thank you in advance, as does the Committee for the Preservation of Jamaican Red Dwarf Banana Trees.
No Jamaican Red Dwarf banana tree oil here, just a small spray of Method Stainless Steel cleaner. I clean ours every few days and make sure my hands are dry when I touch the fridge.
ReplyDeleteDry hands...never thought about that. Sweaty hands are probably a problem, too...maybe I'll just wear gloves from now on. ;)
DeleteOrange Glo or orange clean Pledge both work really well. I think the citrus helps repel the natural oils in our hands or something, and they smell good.
ReplyDeleteMy mother in law let me know about these when she stayed for a week and KEPT commenting on how dirty my appliances looked. Boy was that fun! But I did get a great cleaning product out of it. :)
haha oh no! Tell her thanks for the tip ;)
DeleteI just spray ours with JR Watkins All Purpose Cleaner and then wipe it down. Our appliances don't look perfect, but they're usually not too shabby either. I'm interested in seeing what everyone else recommends :)
ReplyDeleteMy mom uses Windex, it doesn't work perfectly (and may not be on the recommended list) but with 3 kids constantly in and out of the fridge it usually doesn't look so bad. Also one of my classy college jobs was working in a hotel kitchen where everything was stainless steel. They used a stainless steel spray, like in the first comment, and that worked pretty well.
ReplyDeleteI use Windex on ours. We have the "no fingerprint" stainless steel, but there is constantly stuff dripping down it. It does a pretty decent job.
ReplyDeleteOur fridge looks exactly like stainless steel but it's not (shhh). However, in our first house we had a *real* stainless steel fridge and I used pledge multi-surface on it w success. They also had some kind of stainless steel cleaning wipes but I can't remember the name. The only thing I didn't like was that it was kinda oily and left smears/residue.
ReplyDeleteOn my stainless steel trash can I use Pledge. It's not perfect but it is the best option I have found when considering cost, convenience, etc.
ReplyDeleteI always find my stainless steal cleaner for $4 at places like Homegoods, TJMaxx, Ross of Marshalls. But sometimes I just use something normal like Windex or a multi-purpose cleaner.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite cleaner for my stainless steal fridge is Weiman Stainless Steel Wipes. I buy mine at Lowe's. It goes on at first like a car polish and as you continue to rub it dries clear and clean. I do the left door of the fridge while my hubby does the right side. I don't remember picking sides but it always works out that way. In fact, that is how we sleep in bed...me on the left...Jim on the right. Must be a pattern!
ReplyDeleteWe have a pledge stainless steel cleaner that we got on sale with a coupon (wow I sound so cheap right now) and it works great. I think the trick is to wipe with the "grain" of the steel? And also not look at it too hard? :)
ReplyDeletetry WD 40 a few friends live by that. I am currently waiting for our new fridge and stove to show up on friday, and then come the cleaning headache with a toddler running around
ReplyDelete1. I am a neat freak. Smudges drive me CRAZY (don't comment on how long or short this trip is).
ReplyDelete2. The only thing I have found that works to my standards is Rubbermaid's commercial quality stainless steel polish and cleaner. I get it at Lowe's. It smells very chemically. But I'm willing to risk it.
3. I teach Grimy Hands 101 to Nate about once a week. He fails each week. I may need to revise my curriculum.
You can use any cleaner you like. The trick is in the drying. Make sure to use a microfiber cloth and your fridge will be smudge free!
ReplyDeletePS - Just saw your bathroom makeover featured on Home Stories A to Z!! Congrats buddy!!
ReplyDeleteJust have Rick build a wall around it, and then buy a new fridge.
ReplyDeleteMy Dad is a stainless steel welding guru. He said you should try Soft Scrub and a soft green Scotch Brite scrubbie. He said stainless steel comes with the scatches on it running in one direction and to scrub with the scratches so you don't create a nifty cross hatch scratch pattern.
ReplyDeleteOh...and he said that once you have scrubbed it...wipe it down or else you will have water spots and it will make all your efforts wasted.
ReplyDeleteWe like Weiman Stainless Steel spray cleaner. I get it at Walmart and it works pretty well to keep the prints under control. Just use a little bit and buff with a microfiber cloth (cheaper in the auto detailing dept than in the cleaning or kitchen department)
ReplyDeleteWe have stainless appliances and stainless counters... and 8 kids with lots of fingers for printing! We use a damp cloth... Water, that's all. Then follow with a dry rag or microfiber cloth to dry and polish. Easy... and cheap! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI just spray ours with JR Watkins All Purpose Cleaner and then wipe it down. Our appliances don't look perfect
ReplyDeleteall purpose cleaner
Using water and a microfiber cloth for our fridge is effective on it’s own, but when it comes to other stainless steel hardware, I prefer using cleaning products to ensure that it will remain shiny and beautiful. I make sure that when I spot dirt or something on it, I immediately clean it. The dirt is tougher to remove when you keep it there for a long time.
ReplyDeleteI hear your sentiments, Erin! In my case, I use detergent and warm water to clean my stainless steel fridge and other appliances. However, there can be times when they need more cleaning. In those situations, I use a stronger solution. I make sure that it’s not too strong for the appliances though.
ReplyDeleteOh my Gosh! I love that article....no you are not out of your mind...I feel your pain! My FAVORITE cleaner is WEIMAN Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish. Also, check out my website...I created the Handle Babe (appliance handle cover) which totally cuts down on the number of times I have to polish that darn refrigerator (and microwave, dishwasher, oven etc) each day!! You simply pull them off and toss them in the washing machine with your dishtowels when they need to be cleaned. My website is www.handlebabe.com if you'd like to take a look at the different colors they come in. They have a "pocket" design, allowing you to slide your hand into the pocket, keeping smudges off the door of the appliance, directly behind the handle. Erin....send me an email and I will send you a set! My email is connected to the site. If you love them, then you can share with others!
ReplyDelete