Is there anything worse than looking at a stainless steel appliance and seeing smudgy fingerprints all over it? The answer is “yes,” but we hope you thought “no” for the sake of this article. First world problems, are we right? Anyways, the goal is to keep stainless steel shiny and streak-free. As it turns out, you don’t need a chemical spray to make that happen.
Dishwashers, refrigerators, range hoods, faucets, and trashcans are common stainless steel items in a home. There are often manuals that detail information about these appliances, but rarely do the instructions tell you how to care for them. These high-touch appliances accumulate dirt, bacteria, fingerprints, and general grime. The last thing you want to do is scrub these appliances with an abrasive sponge. If you want to keep your stainless steel appliances looking shiny and new, you only need a few natural ingredients.
Olive Oil
When it comes to polishing stainless steel appliances, or stainless steel in general, olive oil is one of the best ingredients for the job. Stainless steel smudges easily, especially with fingerprints. A handprint is easily visible on stainless steel or glass! Olive oil acts as a protective coating on the stainless steel. Olive oil helps to restore shine and reduce the chances of tarnishing. Just make sure to give the stainless steel a nice wipe down prior to using the olive oil.
Distilled White Vinegar
We’re not shy about our love for vinegar as a non-toxic cleaner. While it may not be a powerful disinfectant, it does have the ability to clean certain surfaces. Containing acetic acid, vinegar works to cut through grime and oils left by your hands on stainless steel. This means that instead of simply smearing old oils and grime around, vinegar actually removes all of that nastiness. It’s also inexpensive, non-abrasive, and free of harsh chemicals. That’s three wins for you and your stainless steel appliances!
A Quick Note
This non-toxic stainless steel polish is exactly that, a polish. That means that it helps stainless steel retain its shine between wipe downs. We recommend using a solution of soap and water and wiping down the stainless steel appliance with a microfiber towel. You don’t want to use an abrasive item like a sponge because it will scratch the appliance. Lastly, the essential oils in this recipe do contain some antibacterial properties, but they are mainly in this recipe to offer a lovely scent. That way, your house doesn’t smell like vinegar!
DIY Natural Stainless Steel Polish
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
- 10 drops lemon essential oil
- 10 drops sweet orange essential oil
Instructions:
- Pour all of the ingredients into a spray bottle. Shake well to combine.
- When you’re ready to use, shake up the bottle to mix. Spray on the already cleaned stainless steel appliance.
- Use a microfiber cloth, or any soft cloth, and wipe with the grain of the stainless steel.
