# Cleaning stainless steel appliances **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 19, 2016, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-stainless-steel-appliances/775112 "2016-12-19T02:54:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-stainless-steel-appliances/775112/21 "2016-12-19T18:32:07Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Your fridge isn’t stainless steel then. It’s become common for makers to put a layer of sheet steel behind the stainless surface for just this purpose. It does allow them to use a thinner SS surface as well. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-stainless-steel-appliances/775112/22 "2016-12-19T18:52:41Z")
Don’t use kitchen oils. The advantage to cleaner is that the oil isn’t organic and won’t break down (and smell or turn to a rubbery substance). If you want to skip SS cleaner (Zep from Home Depot and other places is good and relatively cheap), use a mineral oil like you would for butcher block. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-stainless-steel-appliances/775112/23 "2016-12-19T20:18:05Z")
I don’t use it but in previous threads on the subject, Bar Keepers Friend products were recommended for this. ---
**Author:** ![pidgeon92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/50afbb/32.png) [@pidgeon92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pidgeon92)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-stainless-steel-appliances/775112/24 "2016-12-19T20:30:46Z")
I’ve tried several different kinds of stainless steel polish, and this stuff - recommended to me by a guy who cleans kitchen equipment for a living - is the best. > **[Sheila Shine, Inc.](http://www.sheilashineinc.com/)** > > Sheila Shine stainless steel polish is the most effective and recognized metal polish, cleaner available. Janitorial supplies for commercial cleaners. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-stainless-steel-appliances/775112/25 "2016-12-19T20:44:10Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I don’t use it but in previous threads on the subject, Bar Keepers Friend products were recommended for this. For smooth cooktop burners, yes. Unless it’s to remove corrosion one shouldn’t need to use any abrasive, no matter how mild, on the metal parts of an appliance. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-stainless-steel-appliances/775112/26 "2016-12-19T20:45:12Z")
> [@pidgeon92](#): > > I’ve tried several different kinds of stainless steel polish, and this stuff - recommended to me by a guy who cleans kitchen equipment for a living - is the best. > > [http://www.sheilashineinc.com/](http://www.sheilashineinc.com/) I’m interested in how our Aussie Dopers react to this product. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-stainless-steel-appliances/775112/27 "2016-12-19T21:51:04Z")
It’s not true that stainless steel is not magnetic. It is true that the most common varieties of stainless steel are not magnetic to any useful degree, but many varieties are magnetic, and even the nonmagnetic varieties can become magnetic during work hardening. Appliances are unlikely to have either of these exceptions apply, but it’s not impossible. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-stainless-steel-appliances/775112/28 "2016-12-19T23:48:13Z")
> [@pidgeon92](#): > > I’ve tried several different kinds of stainless steel polish, and this stuff - recommended to me by a guy who cleans kitchen equipment for a living - is the best. > > [http://www.sheilashineinc.com/](http://www.sheilashineinc.com/) Users may want to take a look at the [MSDS sheet](http://www.sheilashineinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Sheila-Shine-Aerosol-USA.pdf) (PDF) for this product. It’s got some heavy duty nasties in it. I’d probably do what I do when I buy a new power tool: clean off the machine oil with mineral spirits, then hit it with a product like [this one](https://www.amazon.com/Glidecote-V207501-Woodworking-Aerosol-Lubricant/dp/B00ODZM7SG/ref=sr_1_1?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1482191257&sr=1-1&keywords=Glidecote+V207501). ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-stainless-steel-appliances/775112/29 "2016-12-20T00:04:43Z")
The [MSDS sheet](https://www.highlandwoodworking.com/msds/Glidecote%20msds.pdf) (PDF) for that Glidecote product doesn’t look any more encouraging. Certainly it doesn’t sound like something you’d want to use around food. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-stainless-steel-appliances/775112/30 "2016-12-20T19:49:57Z")
My 2 cents. Not cheap but works great. > **[Signature Polish - Multi-Surface Polish](https://signaturepolish.com/)** > > The leading multi-surface cleaning polish since 1926. Signature Polish is made of the finest ingredients for cleaning & protecting stainless steel, porcelain/enamel, wood/laminate, marble, granite, vinyl, wood, chrome, aluminum, leather/vinyl.... ---
**Author:** ![justanothermike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@justanothermike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justanothermike)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-stainless-steel-appliances/775112/31 "2016-12-20T21:56:26Z")
As a fellow cleaner, I’ll just second what Nawth Chucka has said. My wife does all of the kitchens in the houses that we clean and she is fond of the Weiman Stainless Steel Wipes. First, clean with a non-ammonia based window cleaner and dry it. Then wipe with wipes, and buff dry in a circular motion with a good lint free microfiber. For old stainless steel that hasn’t been polished in a long time and that needs “conditioning” as we call it because it just seems to soak up the polish, we’ve sprayed Behold furniture polish on it and buffed it dry with good results. There are varying grades of stainless steel and some react better than others to different products. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-stainless-steel-appliances/775112/32 "2016-12-20T23:48:15Z")
Great advice! Thanks ---
**Author:** ![melbatoast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@melbatoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melbatoast)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2016, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-stainless-steel-appliances/775112/33 "2016-12-21T19:56:34Z")
Turtle wax helps keep fingerprints to a minimum. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-stainless-steel-appliances/775112/34 "2016-12-22T03:09:43Z")
I ran across a recommendation to use Pledge furniture polish. The boy came home from the store with Pledge Multi-Surface, which has been working great. No need to use the Windex/409 first unless there’s significant gunk to remove. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-stainless-steel-appliances/775112/35 "2016-12-22T18:02:55Z")
Weiman Stainless Steel cleaner in the spray can. Spray, wipe with the grain, and it cleans and polishes. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-stainless-steel-appliances/775112/36 "2016-12-22T18:18:42Z")
> [@peedin](#): > > Weiman Stainless Steel cleaner in the spray can. Spray, wipe with the grain, and it cleans and polishes. I came in here to say this. The aerosol can is great but the spray bottle isn’t (bottle leaves streaks). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-stainless-steel-appliances/775112.md?page=1)