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How to Effortlessly Create a Perfect Mirror Finish on Stainless Steel Without Using Harmful Chemicals

Stainless steel is the sign of a modern and updated kitchen. It’s used on appliances,

countertops, and cookware. It is the standard that gives kitchens a sleek, professional look while also being tough and efficient. Normal wear and tear won’t harm its appearance and it’s very easy to take care of. The problem comes in when appliances and cookware start to lose their shiny look, and are replaced with fingerprints, watermarks, and discoloration. Using store bought cleaners may help, but they are expensive and with time you are back to square one. When you try a new cleaner it may polish more, but it won’t resist

smudges, or it may cause your appliances to look dull or damaged. The reason your “all purpose” stainless steel cleaner isn’t getting the job done, or

is causing more damage, is because not all stainless steel is the same. Every company uses their own grades and types of steel. Just from your sink to your refrigerator to your pans you can see a difference. It is impossible to find just one product that will clean all the different areas in your home, not to mention that each cleaner has mixed reviews, making it hard to choose.

What’s worse, the harsh

chemicals may come into contact with your family. Even the milder store bought cleaners, like Bar Keepers Friend, can cause irritation, and you won’t

want it around your children or your food. There are organic cleaners you can buy, but then their cost doesn’t help you out.

You need one cleaner for everything, that’s safe, and inexpensive. Luckily, some

of the best cleaners that work on stainless steel are already in your house. Homemade cleaners made with cooking supplies and natural ingredients are much cheaper. If you were worried before about your children constantly coming into contact with the harsh cleaning supplies you won’t have to anymore. These don’t

cause skin reactions or have harmful fumes, some will even make your kitchen smell better. Pairing these natural cleaners with a microfiber cloth will make the stains go away faster with less worry. Microfiber cloths help prevent lint and streaks from getting on your surfaces, while polishing appliances back to the way they looked in the store. Don’t let the unpredictability of stainless steel keep you from cleaning. It’s

important to keep stainless steel clean, so your kitchen will continue looking modern for years to come. After finding the best tips and tricks online for cleaning and polishing stainless steel, they have been compiled below into a list to help you find the best cleaner for your kitchen. They are all organized from mild to tough so you know where to start. Remember to test each one out first to ensure your stainless steel remains stainless.

General Cleaning Solutions Whether it’s your stainless steel pots and pans, your sink, or the appliances in your

kitchen, you want to keep them clean and polished. You also don’t want to be

wasting more of your time cleaning than you have to. Some ecofriendly store bought options are KopperKleen, Bon Ami powder, Earth Friendly, Seventh Generation, and Bioshield. If you want to save some money and use things that you already have, the options below are easy to follow with just a few steps and only need a few supplies. All of them have been tested, and work, but you should always remember to test out all cleaners on a small, hidden area first. Dish Soap and Water Mixing dish soap and hot water should be your first line of defense when cleaning your stainless steel. It’s proven to get rid of stains, and when paired with a

microfiber cloth it can get rid of many of the stains or smudges in your kitchen. Clean along the grain of your stainless steel to get into the grooves and rub away more of the grime that can hide on your appliances. Club Soda Most people have some of this laying around their house. And surprisingly it can get a lot of stains off with minimal work. If you spray it directly on appliances and wipe in the direction of the grain of you stainless steel you will see results fast.

Lemons Lemons are great for cleaning and polishing metal surfaces. Their acidity allows them to remove grease and dirt, and they will leave your kitchen smelling great. You can halve a lemon and rub it on your stainless steel and then wipe it off to reveal the shine that was hiding. For really tough stains you can get some baking soda and rub it on the top of the halved lemon, then use it the same way.

Lemon Essential Oil This is a much gentler and non-toxic way to approach cleaning and shining your stainless steel. Mineral oils and baby oils can be used as well to cut through the

dirt and old oils left around. It also helps buff the surface of the stainless steel to leave a nice polished look.

Supplies

-Lemon Essential Oil -Microfiber Cloth

Instructions

1. Put a few drops of the lemon oil on your microfiber cloth. 2. Rub along the grain of your appliance or pots. Avoid rubbing in a circular

motion to get the best clean.

Cleaning Vinegar Cleaning Vinegar has the extra acidity of 6%, while most vinegar only has 5% acidity. This small difference makes cleaning vinegar much more powerful than others, helping to cut through oils leftover from fingers and cooking. Even areas where you may not clean as much and the grease has had time to sit for a while will be spotless with this trick. Other vinegars, especially white vinegar, also work, but are lacking that extra acetic acid.

Supplies

-Cleaning Vinegar -Microfiber Cloth

Instructions

1. Pour about 2-3 teaspoons of cleaning vinegar onto your microfiber cloth. 2. Wipe along the grain of your stainless steel. 3. After cleaning, wipe off any extra vinegar with a dry cloth to avoid streaks.

Vinegar and Oil Combining the last two steps may work even better in your kitchen. You can get rid of all the grime and make everything shine like it did in the store. When your done cleaning you won’t have to worry about any streaks either.

Supplies

- Vinegar of your choice. Try using it in a spray bottle to get more coverage. - Microfiber cloth - Mineral oil (you can also use lemon oil or olive oil). Whichever you choose

just remember to use a very small amount.

Instructions

1. Spray the vinegar liberally onto your appliance. 2. Wipe away the vinegar, going along the grain. 3. Put a small amount of the oil onto your microfiber cloth. Polish in the

direction of the grain.

Cream of Tartar This isn’t an ingredient usually associated with cleaning, like some of the others. After using it though you will see it can get rid of those stains on your cookware and appliances.

Supplies

-Cream of Tartar -Water -Sponge -Microfiber cloth or paper towel

Instructions

1. Mix a tablespoon of cream of tartar and a little bit of water to create a milky paste.

2. Apply the paste to your stainless steel surfaces, and leave it on for a few minutes, but don’t let it dry.

3. Use a sponge to scrub away the dirt. Wipe the excess off with a microfiber cloth.

If you find you need a little extra power to get to those really hard spots, try adding vinegar to the cream of tartar and water. It is even more effective to boil the vinegar before adding it to the mixture White Vinegar and Baking Soda Baking soda has been used in kitchens for years, and can be great at breaking through old stains and grease. This mixture is also great at disinfecting your surfaces.

Supplies

- White Vinegar - Baking Soda - Hot Water - Spray Bottle - Microfiber Cloth

Instructions

1. Combine 2 cups of hot water, ½ cup of white vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a spray bottle. The baking soda may create foam. Let the foam subside before you put the lid on the spray bottle.

2. Spray the mixture onto your stainless steel. 3. Wipe along the grain with your cloth.

Sinks Even in kitchens that have chosen other materials for their appliances, chances are the sink is still stainless steel. It’s also the dumping ground for all of the dirty

dishes and hands to come and get clean, and where hard water can be a major problem. After a while you may find your stainless steel sink loosing its shine with spots and stains, a light film, or a light discoloration may have set in. Just because it’s a sink doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep it clean, regular cleaning will help

maintain the toughness of the stainless steel. These tricks will also help keep your sink shiny. Flour

Flour is at hand in most kitchens, and if it’s not, it’s very cheap and easy to pick

up at most stores. It’s first on this list because it’s granules are so small it isn’t

likely to scratch the surface of your sink and it can buff the micro-grooves in the sink's surface and pull out residual dirt and grime that your basic sponge and soap can't get to.

Supplies

-Hot soapy water -Kitchen towel -Flour -Paper towel or soft rag

Instructions

1. Clean the sink with hot soapy water and dry with a clean towel. Be sure you’ve dried the sink well; any water left in your sink will turn into instant goo and not end well. Don't forget the sides of the sink and the top of the drain.

2. Cover half or one side of your sink with a thick dusting of flour. 3. Using a paper towel or soft cloth, buff the flour into the sink. Make sure

you get the whole sink, including the drain, rim, and handles.

Repeat these steps as many times as needed for your sink to really shine. Try to use this trick once a month to maintain it.

Baking Soda

Another basic household item can also get results for your sink. This is a popular ingredient for cleaning a lot of things around the house and can get rid of odors.

Supplies

-Baking Soda -Water -Old toothbrush -Sponge

Instructions

1. Remove stuck on food and grease and then sprinkle on a light coating of baking soda all over your sink. Pay special attention to the corners and drain where food gets stuck.

2. Get out an old toothbrush to reach all the corners and to get around the drain. Run it under water in the sink for a few seconds and start scrubbing lightly in circles. You could try this first with a sponge first to make sure you don’t hurt the surface of your sink; and don’t leave the water running,

or you’ll wash away all of your baking soda.

3. Start with the sides of your sink and move downward, finishing with the drain. The drain will probably have most of the stains, so give it some extra

attention. You may need more water, just don’t use too much, you want

more of a paste. 4. Finish off by rubbing a mixture of baking soda and water on the top of your

sink and on the faucet; use a rag or sponge for this instead of the toothbrush. Wipe the sink clean with a damp rag and rinse out your sink so there is no baking soda residue.

If you still see stains, add some more baking soda and scrub again. Baking Soda, White Vinegar, and Lemon Juice These simple ingredients will naturally disinfect and deodorize while cutting into grease, mold, and mildew spots. It’s eco-friendly and the acidity of the lemon juice is a natural, and gentle, disinfectant. The baking soda and lemon will work well together to get rid of any bothersome smells.

Supplies

-Juice of 1 lemon or lime -Baking Soda -White Vinegar

Instructions

1. Generously cover the bottom of the sink with baking soda. Squeeze the lemon juice on top and let them sit for several minutes, but don’t let it dry.

2. Using a sponge, mix the lemon juice and baking soda into a paste while scrubbing the entire sink. You can add a tiny bit of water to help form a paste. After the entire sink has been scrubbed, let the paste sit again for several minutes.

3. Now pour the white vinegar over the paste and scrub the sink again. Fizzing will occur; this will help keep the drain clog-free. If you have a minor clog already, heat the vinegar up in the microwave for 1-2 minutes before pouring it over the baking soda.

When you are done you can grind up the lemon peels in the garbage disposal to help deodorize. Then rinse the sink thoroughly with hot water. Doing this about once a week will maintain your sink.

Baking Soda, Vinegar, and Olive Oil Using vinegar and olive oil can cut into the dirt and grime better than some spray disinfectants. And for those spots where the food just won’t come off, there is a homemade goo-gone that works really well.

Supplies

- Vinegar in a spray bottle - Baking Soda - Boiling Water - Homemade goo-gone: a mixture of coconut oil and baking soda - Olive Oil - Sponge - Paper Towels or Rag

Instructions

1. Spray the entire sink with vinegar. 2. Coat the sink with a light layer of baking soda and let it sit for 10 minutes. 3. Boil hot water while letting vinegar and baking soda sit, and then pour it

over the sink to wash down the baking soda and vinegar. 4. Spray some more vinegar onto sink and scrub the whole sink. Wipe the sink

out with a paper towel. If there are any stubborn or sticky spots, use your homemade goo-gone.

5. To finish with a polish put a little bit of olive oil onto a paper towel and buff your sink.

Baking Soda and Salt Be sure to check if your sink can handle the use of salt before you clean your whole sink. It is more abrasive than some of the other options and you wouldn’t

want to scratch your stainless steel sink. The salt adds extra strength when scrubbing and can help with any grittiness; you just want to test it first. Supplies

-Baking Soda -Salt -Towel

Instructions

1. Wash your sink with warm soapy water. 2. Sprinkle baking soda and salt into your sink and scrub the whole surface. 3. After you’ve scrubbed all the sides and corners wash it all down the drain

with warm water and wipe with the towel.

Appliances Kitchens are one of the busiest places in a home. This traffic usually involves the refrigerator or the dishwasher, leaving fingerprints, smudges, and water stains all over the stainless steel appliances. Fridge doors can be especially tough when trying to maintain a clean appearance. Even the use of store bought stainless steel cleaners can end up leaving streaks leftover. To really clean these appliances and get a good shine, try some of these reliable cleaners.

Dish Soap and Baby Oil You already have dish soap, and now you can use it for your stainless steel appliances too. It will cut through the extra oils left behind from all the hands, and then baby oil will leave your appliance with a nice polish. Supplies

- 2 non-abrasive towels, microfiber cloths or cotton cleaning rags. 100% cotton rags won’t leave much lint, but using a paper towel will leave lint behind.

- Dish soap - Baby oil or any mineral oil

Instructions

1. Apply a small amount of dish soap and water to your cleaning rag. Wipe along the grain of your appliance until the spots are gone.

2. Dry your appliance when done. 3. Put a couple of drops of mineral oil or baby oil on your second rag; this

small amount will be enough to shine your whole appliance. Wipe along the grain again.

Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing Alcohol is a great tool for both your cuts and your kitchen. It gives a streak-free clean on your stainless steel appliances, and almost anything else that needs cleaning. Everything will be disinfected while looking shiny and new. And of course, it’s affordable.

Supplies

-Rubbing Alcohol -Microfiber Cloth -Towel (optional)

Instructions

1. Squirt some rubbing alcohol onto your microfiber towel or a rag. 2. Apply it with the grain on all of your stainless steel. 3. If necessary, dry the cleaned surfaces with another towel.

Fingerprints This is the most difficult problem for anything made out of stainless steel. It may naturally protect against rust and natural wear and tear, but when it comes to fingerprints and smudges, they get everywhere. It starts to become a daily chore to clean your appliances, because the fingerprints seem to be everywhere. If there are kids running around or you were experimenting with a new, stickier recipe, these marks may be extra hard to remove. There is fingerprint-proof stainless steel, but there is an easier way than replacing your appliances. Try these homemade cleaners that can bust through the mess and leave fridge looking spotless, but will also deter any new marks from appearing.

White Vinegar and Dish Soap The acidity of white vinegar mixed with dish soap cuts through all the oils that have gathered on your refrigerator or dishwasher and help prevent them from building up so fast.

Supplies

-Spray Bottle -White Vinegar -Dish Soap -Water

Instructions

1. Mix together 2 parts white vinegar and 1 part water. Add a few drops of dish soap.

2. Spray it on all of your appliances.

3. Wipe the mixture off of with a microfiber cloth to really get all of the

grime off.

Turtle Wax This works great for keeping fingerprints away without messing up the look of your shiny stainless steel. Start with cleaning your appliances with vinegar, or your cleaner of choice, and then try this trick.

Supplies

-Turtle Wax -Cloth or Paper Towel -Microfiber Cloth

Instructions

1. Clean and dry your appliance. 2. Apply a light coat of turtle wax to your appliance with your cloth or paper

towel. 3. Use your microfiber cloth to buff the wax into your appliance and create a

shine.

Repeat this, as needed, probably every couple of weeks.

Useful Tips 1. Store bought cleaners come in two types: oil-based and water-based. You should test out both to see which will work better for your type of stainless steel.

2. If there are only a few hard water spots or fingerprints on your stainless steel you can easily use a microfiber cloth dipped in some boiling water, instead of using a specific cleaner.

3. When using a microfiber cloth you just want it to be damp, not dripping wet.

4. When you are done cleaning, wipe the area dry quickly to avoid streaks.

5. If you are still seeing spots after cleaning, it may not be the cleaner. Often times water that dries on stainless steel, mainly hard water, will leave spots or stains. Always dry your appliances after cleaning.

6. Each individual piece of stainless steel will have its on grain direction. Handles and other small parts may have a different direction than the main piece.

7. Going against the grain when cleaning stainless steel won’t hurt

anything, it just may not remove all of the dirt as well.

8. Vinegar is a great substitute for harsh chemicals. It disinfects while cutting through the grease. You can use cleaning vinegar, white vinegar, or cider vinegar to get the same results.

9. Household oils, like baby oil, olive oil, and vegetable oil, will bring a significant shine into your appliances. They work just as well as the oil-based commercial cleaners.

10. Make sure you only use the smallest amount of oil when you use oil or an oil-based product to clean and polish your stainless steel. If it feels oily or sticky, you’re using too much.

11. Mr. Clean Magic Erasers work really well on stainless steel appliances to remove marks and they won’t scratch the surface.

12. Some professional cleaners are really just fancy cooking spray. You can just try using PAM style cooking spray on your surfaces. It’s much cheaper.

13. Regular cleaning is important for maintaining the appearance and strength of stainless steel. Stainless steel used outside will require more attention.

14. Stainless steel that is used outside, especially in areas with salt air, like near a beach, will start to show signs of corrosion over time. Consider buying the 316 stainless steel marine-grade series to prevent this, or regularly clean your appliances. If rusting spots do occur, you can then gently sand them away.

15. Many of the cleaning options listed above can be mixed and matched to find the best solution for your stainless steel. Some find that oils used for cleaning will build up over time and will only use vinegars for their cleaning. Others will substitute lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide in the solutions, or combine baking soda with flour when cleaning their sink.

Warnings 1. Avoid metal scrubs or very abrasive materials when cleaning stainless steel. These can cause scratches and ruin the finish. Even products that seem mild, like Scotch-Brite pads, can cause some damage.

2. Always test a new cleaner on a small hidden spot to ensure your stainless steel won’t be ruined or

scratched.

3. Don’t leave wet

sponges or cloths directly on top of your sink. Keeping them in a separate spot or putting something underneath them will avoid rust from appearing. Even stainless steel can develop unsightly marks.

4. Avoid using Windex or window cleaners on stainless steel; the chemicals will destroy some finishes. If you want to use it, test it first.

5. Don’t let natural or store bought cleaners dry on stainless steel and always make

sure you have completely rinsed and dried your appliances. Even lemons will discolor the metal if left on for too long.

6. Don’t use chlorine or bleaches that contain chlorine on stainless steel. It will

destroy the protective chromium oxide layer and start corroding. Rinsing away the chlorine may not be enough to get rid of all the particles and prevent damage.

7. Don’t use furniture polish to shine your appliances. It may keep fingerprints off,

but it will attract more water stains and require more upkeep.

8. Avoid using paper towels and cotton cloths with oil. They will leave lint and dust on your surfaces.

We hope these cleaning solutions will help you find what works best on your stainless steel. Pair them with your microfiber polishing towel to really get the shine on your appliances and you will have the showroom kitchen you have always wanted.

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