How to clean stainless steel

How to clean stainless steel appliances

posted on June 21, 2022 in organize and cleaning tips, first time renting

At Panoramic Properties, we include stainless steel appliances in our rental units. These appliances require a little special care and attention when it comes to cleaning, so we’re here to guide you on how best to clean them.

The best products to use

Stainless steel appliances can be a bit tricky to clean and require regular cleaning to keep them looking like new. They are often more costly and beautiful compared to their standard appliance counterparts, but they can begin to look dirty and damaged easily if they aren’t properly cared for. For instance, things like scratches and fingerprints on them show up easily and prominently. You cannot clean stainless steel with just any cleaning products that you happen to have in the house -- you need dedicated products to do the job right. For example, if you need to scrub a stainless steel appliance down, many sponges can be too abrasive and leave scratches behind. You’d be better off investing in wipes or cloths designed for the job of cleaning stainless steel surfaces.

Good Housekeeping conducted their own thorough research to nail down the 9 best stainless steel cleaning products to use in 2022. To select their winners across 9 categories, they checked for how well each product cleaned away grease, food residue and dust; how neat or messy the product was to apply and use; and how easily each product buffed out without streaking. They also measured gloss with a meter and evaluated the efficacy of any protective coating that the cleaner left behind to resist fingerprints. They also examined each product’s label for clarity and factored in any safety warnings. Many of the products they singled out are available on Amazon.ca. Here’s what they landed on:

Do's/don’ts when it comes to cleaning stainless steel

There are a few key do’s and don’ts when it comes to properly cleaning stainless steel surfaces. Here are the most important ones to remember:

Do: Use products designed for cleansing stainless steel

Before you use your everyday kitchen cleanser to clean your stainless steel appliances, examine the product details to see if it’s appropriate. If it isn’t -- or doesn’t say so either way on the product description -- invest in a dedicated stainless steel spray cleanser such as Therapy Stainless Steel Cleaner + Polish. Spray some on a cloth designed for stainless steel surfaces, then wipe down the appliance gently. Afterwards, wipe the surface with a little water.

Don’t: Use anything abrasive

Don’t scrub your stainless steel appliances with an abrasive sponge or a cleanser that contains bleach. Products like these can damage the appliance’s surface and even scratch against the grain. Try a combination of products designed for the job like the Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaning & Polishing Cloth paired with the CLR Stainless Steel Streak-free Cleaner.

Do: Wipe gently with the grain

It’s critical to wipe gently with the grain when wiping down your stainless steel appliances. Make broad strokes that follow the lines of the grain when you wipe on and off and rinse the surface to avoid scratches and streaks.

Don’t: Scrub in circles

Resist the urge to scrub stainless steel appliances in a circular motion as this can scratch the surface and make your appliance look dull and damaged.

Do: Tackle any buildup quickly with water

Wipe up any new dirt, grease and grime with a wet rag or stainless steel cleaning cloth before it dries. Clean up the buildup as quickly as possible with a little water on your cloth.

Don’t: Let dirt, grease and grime dry

If you allow buildup like dirt, grease and grime to dry on your stainless steel appliances, they will be infinitely more difficult to clean off and will likely need to be scrubbed which can damage the surface.

How to submit a maintenance request to our team

If you’re a Panoramic Properties resident and have an issue with any of your stainless steel appliances, you can submit a maintenance request through our website or give our office a call at 1-855-371-1201.

We hope these tips help you keep your stainless steel appliances looking like new!

Looking for an apartment to call home in Canada? Panoramic Properties would love to welcome you home. Please visit our website to browse our available apartments.

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