Check the grain of your stainless steel. Like wood, stainless steel has a grain, or a surface texture that runs in a particular direction. For appliances with a horizontal grain, wipe in straight motions from one side of the steel face to the other. For appliances with a vertical grain, wipe the steel face in long, fluid motions from top to bottom.[1] X Research source Avoid rubbing your cloth back and forth or up and down. Try to start all your wipes from one side and move straight across or down to the other. So, for example, if you start a wipe on the left side of an appliance, wipe all the way to the right, then bring your cloth back to the left to start your next wipe. This helps decrease streaks as you wipe. Dilute 4-5 drops of dish soap in 1 US quart (950 ml) of warm water. Mix the dish soap until it’s fully incorporated into the water. The water should be foamy or bubbly on top, and you shouldn’t see any streak or chunks of the dish soap left suspended in the water.[2] X Research source Use a mild dish detergent to clean stainless steel. Abrasive detergents may scratch or damage your steel. Wipe down the steel using soapy water and a microfiber cloth. Dip a clean,

nonabrasive cloth into your soapy water just enough to moisten it. Wring out any excess liquid, then wipe down your steel with the soapy cloth, working in the direction of the grain.[3] X Research source Work in sections for the washing, rinsing, and drying process. You don’t want the soap to dry before you rinse it, as this can leave residue and streaks. Rinse the steel with a clean cloth soaked in hot water. After soaping a section of your appliance, rinse the detergent away using a new, clean, nonabrasive cloth soaked in hot water. Go over the section as many times as you need in order to remove all the soapy residue from the steel.[4] X Trustworthy Source Consumer Reports Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing Go to source It may help to put a towel or something absorbent under the appliance to catch any excess water that spills during the rinsing process. Wring out the cloth in between sections to remove any soapy water that may have accumulated as you rinsed. Dry the steel with a clean, nonabrasive cloth. Once you’re done rinsing down your section of stainless steel, immediately dry it with another clean microfiber cloth to avoid

streaks. You may need a couple cloths to properly dry larger appliances like refrigerators.[5] X Research source Avoid letting the appliance air-dry, as this could lead to spots and streaks. Mist your appliance with white vinegar. Fill a spray bottle at least ? of the way full with white vinegar. Then, spray down the stainless steel surfaces of your appliance with a thin mist of the vinegar.[6] X Research source Mist the appliance enough that you cover the full surface, but not so much that the vinegar starts to condense into droplets and roll down the front of your appliance. Wipe down the steel with a cotton microfiber cloth. You want to use a clean, nonabrasive cloth to wipe down stainless steel. Microfiber cloths work best, but any nonabrasive cloth will do. Wipe down your appliance in the direction of the grain until you’ve removed all the vinegar mist.[7] X Research source Wiping down your appliance with vinegar helps cut through dirt and grime and get rid of streaks and marks before you polish it with oil. Polish the steel with mineral oil and a clean cloth. Add a few small drops of mineral oil or olive oil to another clean, nonabrasive cloth. Gently wipe the oiled cloth

over the surface of the steel, going with the grain. Wipe in sections, adding more oil to the cloth as necessary.[8] X Research source You don’t want any oily residue on the surface of your appliance. There should be just enough oil to give it a polished look. If you have too much oil on your steel, use a clean, unoiled cloth to wipe away the residue. This may take a few passes. Only add a little bit of oil to your cloth at a time. It’s always easier to go back and add more than it is to take away excess oil. Spray on a spray cleaner for a deep clean. You can find purpose-made stainless steel cleaners at most home improvement stores, groceries stores, and major online retailers. For most of these products, you simply spray it on your appliance, allow it to soak for 1-2 minutes, then wipe it away with a clean, nonabrasive cloth.[9] X Research source Specific directions for each cleaner will vary from product to product. Read the directions for use on the product packaging before you apply it to your stainless steel appliances. Use stainless steel wipes for quick cleanings. Like spray cleaners, you can find wipes made specifically for stainless steel in most stores that sell

cleaning products. These wipes usually let you wipe down the surface of your appliance in a single step, without having to rinse, dry, or polish.[10] X Research source Wipes may not be as effective as sprays or detergents for removing grease and oils from fingerprints. They are great for quick cleans in between deep cleans to keep your appliance looking fresh, but they often don’t substitute for a deep clean. Invest in a scratch-removal kit for surface scratches. If you have small scratches on the surface of your steel, your best option is to get a scratch removal kit made especially for stainless steel. These kits will help you buff out small scratches, but they won’t take care of large or deep scratches.[11] X Research source Read the directions for the kit fully and completely before using it on your appliances. Directions may vary from kit to kit.