Cleaning Stainless Steel Refrigerators

If there's anything that makes a kitchen look great, it's stainless steel appliances. They make your kitchen look modern as well as clutter-free because of how beautiful they are. However, they tend to attract fingerprints and need to be cleaned regularly. Surprisingly you can't clean them with just any household cleaner as you can ruin the surface. When my mother bought her new condo, she had all stainless steel appliances and the manufacturer gave her a specific cleaner for them. Neither of us realized that they require certain care but we read the instructions and did some of our follow up on the Internet. Cleaning stainless steel appliances like your refrigerator is really an easy process.

1. Washing the refrigerator. You first want to start with a simple wash down. I recommend using a very mild dish soap and some warm water. I never use a cloth to clean it unless it is a terry cloth towel. I will use a sponge but I never use the abrasive side. This will scratch the surface and this can be very difficult to repair. You are just washing it down to remove the surface oils and dirt. Make sure you dry the stainless steel with a soft clean towel; otherwise, it will dry with streaks.
2. Cleaning. Use the manufacturer's cleaning solution to really clean the stainless steel. These are non-abrasive cleaners that are meant to really remove tough stains and polish at the same time. The instructions are printed on the back of the bottle but, essentially, use the cleanser on the stainless steel with a soft, clean cloth. Then wipe away with a damp clean cloth.
3. Polishing. Even though the cleansers are natural buffers, you can polish the stainless steel after cleaning or occasionally in between cleanings. You can use anything from Windex to WD-40 to Purex to do it. It will help keep the refrigerator looking newer and using those chemicals will help protect it.

Keeping your stainless steel refrigerator clean will not only help the stainless steel last longer but it will keep your machine looking new. After all, part of the appeal of the stainless steel appliance is the modern look it gives your kitchen. A simple cleaning one to two times per month is about the most you need to do.