Lemons, Lavender, & Laundry

Looking for Something?
  • Home
  • About Me
  • $100 Room Challenge
  • Contact Me/Collaborate
  • Essential Oils
    • Where to Buy Essential Oils
    • How to Use Essential Oils
    • Essential Oil Must-Haves
    • Essential Oils: Safety
    • Understanding Common Essential Oil Terms
  • 8 Week Cleaning Challenge
  • Shop My Amazon
  • Fine Print
    • Advertising Disclosure
    • Cookie Policy & Privacy Policy
    • Copyright
    • Disclaimer

How to Clean Stainless Steel Appliances

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. You can view my full advertising disclosure here.

Cleaning Tips

28 Mar
  • 1.3K
  • 32
  •  

This post has been sponsored by Casabella. All opinions are 100% my own.

Many people (myself included) love the look of stainless steel, but it is notorious for displaying fingerprints and smudges. When we got our first stainless steel appliance, I was determined to figure out a way to clean it, and it is so easy! Let’s take a look at how to really clean stainless steel.

These tips for cleaning stainless steel are perfect! Just what I needed.

I am pumped! We just got ourselves a brand new, stainless steel dishwasher! Our old one was no longer cleaning our dishes: Fifty percent of the time, the soap didn’t dissolve, so we were left with a hard clump in the dispenser, the brackets that held the racks in place kept breaking… and if none of that sounds like reason enough to be annoyed, it was also growing weird, slime-y orange stuff inside. (Totally gross!)

After ranting for years (’cause that’s always helpful), my husband calls and asks if I’m ready to bring home a new dishwasher. (Ummm… Let me think on that…) He had found a high-quality, name-brand dishwasher, on sale, because it had been the floor model. Since we are not fans of our current creamy-colored appliances, we went with stainless steel.

I cannot tell you the number of times I have been asked about cleaning stainless steel, but I never had the answer because I didn’t have any stainless steel to work with. Now that I actually have some, I was ready to figure out the best way to keep it clean.

Here’s What You’ll Need to Clean Stainless Steel

These tips for cleaning stainless steel are perfect! Just what I needed.

  • Microfiber Cloth for Stainless Steel
  • Clean, Dry, Lint-Free Cloth (I used a clean Dish Towel)
  • Olive Oil

If you’ve been around this blog at all then you know I try to steer clear of store-bought cleaning products as much as possible. Instead, I either make my own, or use products that don’t require household cleaners, like microfiber. When I discovered that Casabella made a microfiber cloth specifically for stainless steel, I was excited to give it a try because all that is required is water… no harmful chemicals 🙂

Directions: How to Clean Stainless Steel Appliances

Stainless Steel is notorious for attracting fingerprints, but this cloth cleans them right up. Simply add water to the cloth, wring it out, and wipe down the stainless steel. When it comes to stainless steel, make sure you are wiping with the grain.

These tips for cleaning stainless steel are perfect! Just what I needed.

You do not want water drying onto the stainless steel because this will create watermarks. Instead, grab a clean towel, or cloth, and dry it off; again, wiping with the grain.

These tips for cleaning stainless steel are perfect! Just what I needed.

To polish up the stainless steel, and prevent immediate fingerprints from taking over your appliance again, add a little olive oil to your dry towel/cloth and wipe it onto your appliance. (With the grain 🙂 ). Please note: You are not smothering your appliance in olive oil, this should be a minimal amount. Once you’ve covered the whole appliance, go back over it with your dry towel (not the part with olive oil), and buff your appliance (Say it with me… “With the grain.”)

Let’s take a look at where this stainless steel dishwasher started, shall we?

These tips for cleaning stainless steel are perfect! Just what I needed.

… and now…

These tips for cleaning stainless steel are perfect! Just what I needed.

So much better, right???

One more quick note, if you do not yet have a cleaning caddy, I highly recommend you stock up this spring. They are so wonderful. I used to try carrying my toilet brush, cleaners, cloths, and sponges with me in one armload. (Since I’m rather klutzy, this was not a good idea.) This 4 gallon storage caddy is a life-saver. It holds everything I need to get my house clean, and I don’t risk falling down the stairs… although, knowing me, it could still happen 🙂

Casabella cleaning caddies are perfect for spring cleaning!

Are you getting geared up for spring cleaning?

 

Love it? Pin it!

How to really clean stainless steel.

You Might Also Enjoy:

  • Dollar Store Bin Makeover for Coat Closet StorageDollar Store Bin Makeover for Coat Closet Storage
  • $100 Room Makeovers That Will Blow Your Mind$100 Room Makeovers That Will Blow Your Mind
  • Cleaning Your Home After LiceCleaning Your Home After Lice
  • DIY Laundry DetergentDIY Laundry Detergent
  • Save Money Decorating for the SeasonsSave Money Decorating for the Seasons
  • 20+ Easy Vinyl Projects20+ Easy Vinyl Projects

  • 1.3K
  • 32
  •  

3 Comments

« March 2017 $100 Room Challenge: Week 4
$100 Farmhouse Bathroom Makeover »

Comments

  1. Claudine says

    April 29, 2020 at 8:51 AM

    Where did you pick up your cleaning caddy? I have been looking for one for several months and I can’t seem to find any. 🙁

    Reply
  2. Tiffany says

    February 1, 2020 at 6:27 PM

    I’m impressed. This actually worked pretty well. I have always hated my stainless steel because it was impossible to clean. I said would never buy it again and I still won’t, but this trick will help me until it’s time to replace my appliances. One word of warning….if you have a dog, you may find him licking the olive oil off the refrigerator.

    Reply
  3. John Stokes says

    February 6, 2018 at 10:25 PM

    These are very useful ways to keep stainless steel clean. I agree that, don’t use water drying onto the stainless steel because this will create watermark. Thanks for sharing..!!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hi there! I'm Erin. Welcome to Lemons, Lavender, & Laundry, a place to find cleaning tips, organizational ideas, DIY projects, and budget-friendly room transformations. [Read More...]

Come Say Hi!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Let’s Stay In Touch

Subscribe!

Search This Site

Categories

Affiliate Statement & Your Privacy

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Your privacy is important to us. Please review our updated privacy policy here.

This site uses cookies. Some are essential to make our site work; others help us improve your user experience. By using this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn More