One of the most common challenges that many stainless steel appliance owners face is the proper cleaning of these appliances. Because of their rather delicate nature, stainless steel appliances tend to be the hardest to clean.
When not cleaned properly, it’s quite easy to leave streak marks and smudges on the surface.
Furthermore, the use of improper cleaning techniques such as the use of abrasive materials/methods will often leave your stainless steel refrigerator peeling off or in other instances, you might end up scratching the coating.
That being said, in this post, we look at how to properly clean a stainless steel refrigerator.
In addition, we will also look at some of the things you should keep in mind when cleaning your fridge including wiping the surface against the grain and so forth.
Cleaning a Stainless Steel Refrigerator
When cleaning a stainless steel refrigerator, you will need the following items;
- Warm Water
- Mild Dish Soap
- 2 micro-fiber cloth
- Baby Oil
Pour Mild Liquid Soap into a Bowl of Warm Water
When cleaning your stainless-steel refrigerator, the first thing you will want to do is pour mild dish soap into a bowl of warm water. You will then begin to mix the solution thoroughly until bubbles begin to form.
Again, it is extremely important to always use warm water in this step as this will help clear off any grease or natural oils from the refrigerator. Avoid cold water at all costs when cleaning any stainless-steel appliance.
That being said, the build-up of natural oils from our hands can end up causing the stainless-steel refrigerator to peel off. Thus, it’s important to not only clean the refrigerator regularly but also with warm water.
Wipe Gently Using a Micro-Fiber Cloth
Once your solution is ready, the next step is to wipe the surface of the refrigerator with a microfiber cloth. Take one of the dry micro-fibre cloths and then place it into the solution that we’ve just made.
Rinse any excess solution from the cloth, before you start wiping your fridge.
When wiping the surface of the stainless-steel fridge it is important to always wipe the refrigerator against the grain for the best results.
Again, this may vary from one appliance to the other. Thus, it is important to always examine your appliance to see how the grain runs on your refrigerator.
If the grain of your refrigerator runs vertically, then when cleaning it is highly advisable to always wipe the appliance horizontally and vice-versa.
That being said, when wiping the appliance, ensure that you exhaust all the areas on the surface including the handles.
Wipe the Surface with a Dry Micro-Fiber Cloth
Once you are done wiping the surface with the solution, the next step is now to dry it using the extra micro-fibre cloth. Once again, as mentioned previously, you will want to go against the grain when wiping the surface.
For the best result, always use a different micro-fibre cloth from the one used previously.
Finally, if you want that smooth finish, then you can always add a dab of baby oil to the dry surface. Again, it is important to always ensure that you have first covered the entire surface of the refrigerator with the dry clothing, before wiping the surface with the baby oil.
How To Remove Grease/Grime from Your Refrigerator
If you are only looking to remove grease or grime from the surface of your stainless-steel fridge, then you can always use vinegar or lime to do this. For this step, you should ensure that you either have lemon juice or vinegar at hand and a spray bottle.
- Pour Vinegar/Lime into a Spray Bottle
Pour either the lime or vinegar into a spray bottle and then add water. The water and vinegar should be in equal proportions. You should then close the spray bottle and then shake it thoroughly to ensure that the water and vinegar have mixed properly.
- Spray the mixture onto the Surface
Once the mixture is ready, the next step would be to spray the mixture onto the surface of the stainless-steel refrigerator.
- Wipe the Surface Using the Microfiber Cloth
Once you have covered every inch of the surface, you will then wipe the surface of the refrigerator where you have sprayed the vinegar using a microfiber cloth.
That being said, lime and vinegar are quite effective in removing grease thanks to their highly acidic nature. The acid found in these items helps to not only break down grease but also dissolve it in turn making it quite easy to wipe away. In addition, these two items also leave a pleasant smell. So, you might just want to give this a try.
How to Remove Dried Stains on Stainless Steel Refrigerator
If you are struggling to remove dried stains on the surface of your stainless-steel refrigerator, then you can always remove these caked-up stains using baking soda.
Begin the process, by mixing baking soda and warm water. Once mixed properly, apply the mixture to the areas of the stainless-steel refrigerator with the caked-up stains.
Let the mixture sit on these areas for about 10 to 20 minutes. Doing this will allow the baking soda to work. Once the time has elapsed, you will then use a microfiber cloth to wipe the mixture off the surface of the refrigerator.
Unlike the previous steps, you should wipe towards the grain and not against it for the best results.
Things Not to Do When Cleaning Stainless Steel Appliances
Avoid Using Abrasive Materials
When cleaning any stainless-steel appliance, it is extremely important to avoid using any abrasive cleaning materials. This includes harsh scouring pads and sponges.
Abrasive cleaning materials will only end up creating scratches on the surface of the appliance. When done continuously over a long period, this can result in the peeling of your stainless-steel refrigerator.
Thus, it is extremely important to always stay away from any abrasive cleaning methods.
Avoid Chlorine/Chloride Exposure at All Costs
Again, if you reside in an area where the water contains high levels of chlorine especially in the coastal areas, then it is important to avoid cleaning your refrigerator using this water.
Instead, always opt for fresh water when cleaning any stainless steel appliance.
Failure to do this will also result in your appliance to begin peeling off.
