The Household Ingredient That Works Just As Well As Stainless Steel Polish

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One of the hallmarks of any new home is a kitchen with stainless steel appliances. And although stainless steel might be a renovation favorite, the elevated material notoriously grabs dust, fingerprints, and grease almost as quickly as you clean it. It's no wonder TikTok is obsessed with DIY video hacks on how to clean your stainless steel appliances. Every time you touch it, it adds another smudge and fingerprint to the surface that you can't easily wipe off, and it looks gross.

So as you start your spring cleaning, don’t just grab a stainless cleaner from the store, you probably already have everything you need in your kitchen cabinets. Our round-up of DIY cleaning hacks makes your stainless steel appliances shimmer and shine in no time and for a fraction of the price.

Best DIY Practices

Before you begin to polish your stainless steel appliances, remember these tips before you start. First, don't use a sponge or cloth with an abrasive texture; the material will scratch the stainless steel. Secondly, you'll see and read this everywhere, rub your microfiber cloth in the same direction as the stainless steel grain. If you're unsure what that means, simply rub horizontally or vertically and stick with that direction (don't use circular movements). Lastly, avoid using other store brought cleaners that aren't intended to clean stainless steel. A chlorine-based cleaner can seriously damage the surface of your appliances, so when in doubt, always test it in a small inconspicuous location first.

Below are the eco-friendly cleaners to make your stainless steel appliances streak-free in no time. You'll probably discover most of these items are already in your cabinet too.

Materials:

• Water

• Microfiber cloth

• Spray bottle

• Baby oil

• Dish soap

• White vinegar

• Olive oil

• Club soda

Vinegar and Olive Oil

Although it may seem like you're making a salad dressing to spread all over your stainless steel appliances, this DIY hack is a cinch to make and it works! Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and generously spray it on the stainless steel appliance. Next, completely wipe down the surface with a microfiber cloth. Then to get that sparkly shine, dip your cloth in olive oil, and use a back-and-forth motion to apply it to the surface (follow the stainless steel grain).