6 Tips for Cleaning Stainless Steel Appliances

One of the most popular appliance finishes is stainless steel. It can be a very classy look, but sometimes it can seem daunting to clean all of the fingerprints, especially if you have little kids. When you need to clean your stainless steel appliances there are a couple things to consider.

1. Use a cleaner made specifically for stainless steel and a soft microfiber cleaning cloth. DO NOT just use regular water and a paper towel. There can be minerals in your water that can harm the stainless steel and the paper towel fibers can get trapped in the grain.

2. NEVER use steel wool, steel brushes or other metal cleaning pads. Metal against metal will scratch your appliances leaving you with a not so pretty finish. This will also leave small carbon remnants that can be left in the steel which will leave a rusty looking finish which is not what you want.

3. Always wipe with the direction of the “grain” of the stainless steel.  If you look at the material you will be able to see if the striations in the stainless goes horizontal or vertical, whichever way they go that is the direction you want to wipe. This helps clean deep into the microscopic grooves where oxidation happens.

4. Be careful about the cleaner that you use.  Some cleaners leave a “greasy” film on the product and can be harmful to the environment. While some cleaners, such as Ecosential by Smart Choice, are formulated to clean while still being eco-friendly.

5. Pay attention to stainless steel handles. Sometimes the grime can stick to these areas the most. It might be best to take off the handles to get the sparkly shine. You should also wipe the area around where the knobs are as dirt and grime get trapped in these areas.

6. Don’t forget about the hood. If not careful, the hoods can buildup grease and dust very fast in those hard to reach areas. Make sure to get a ladder and wipe down these areas to get the perfect stainless steel look.

Stainless steel does require more cleaning, but with a little elbow grease it can stay beautiful just like it was brand new. Once you have these tips in your head and clean every few weeks, you will be so happy that you picked stainless steel appliances in your kitchen.

Choosing the Right Dishwasher for You

When it comes to choosing appliances for your kitchen, nothing has larger differences than those found in dishwashers. Before heading out to your nearest Appliance retailer or ordering one online, you need to ask yourself a few questions to ensure to make the right choice for you and your family.

• Do you pre-wash your dishes?

If you do, then features such as hard food disposers may not be a worthwhile feature.

• Do you run your dishwasher at all times of the day?

If your answer is yes, then look for a unit with a decibel rating below 50db. This will allow you to have a conversation in the same room as your dishwasher and it won’t interrupt your rousing anecdote.

• Do you use a rinse agent such as Finish or Jet Dry?

This is important as not all dishwashers have a heated dry feature. Condensation dry units require a rinse agent to effectively remove spots and allow the water to sheet off your flatware and cups. In addition, heated dry units will dry considerably faster, but at a cost in terms of energy consumption.

• How big are your plates?

I always encourage clients to bring in plates  or tall glasses and test them in a perspective dishwasher. Not all racks are the same, and nothing will frustrate you more than installing something that doesn’t accommodate your dishes.

If you can answer all these questions, your dishwasher buying experience will go much smoother, and ultimately you will be happier with your purchase.