Ten years ago, before stainless steel was "hot," my husband and I bought stainless appliances for our newly renovated kitchen. We bought a refrigerator, dishwasher, stove, and matching hood. The appliances looked great. A few weeks later, they were covered with fingerprints. How could I remove them?
One oil-based cleaner, a spray, worked really well. I bought it at a cleaning supply store and the can lasted a year. Another cleaner, with a cream base, did not work well. Our appliances have a brushed surface and the cleaner clogged the finish so badly I threw it out.
Decorating channel programs recommend vinegar as a cleaner. Apple cider vinegar was my choice and, while it worked, the kitchen smelled like a salad dressing factory. The decorating channel also recommends olive oil as a cleaner, but it was not that different from the product I bought from the cleaning supply store.
According to the article, "Cleaning Stainless Steel FAQs," posted on the Do It Yourself website, stainless steel is 10% chromium. The metal surface resists stains, "but occasionally dulls or will show oily finger prints." The article says you can clean stainless steel with club soda. If your appliances have a brushed finish like ours, you should use a really soft cloth (a flour sack works well), and rub in the direction of the grain only.
The article goes on to say that you should never use a steel wool soap pad on stainless steel because it damages the surface. You can brighten your stainless steel sink by cleaning it with half a lemon dipped in baking soda. Cleaning the sink was easy. My cleaning challenge -- one that requires courage -- is repairing the scratch on the refrigerator door. It is a deep scratch and every time I open the door I clench my teeth.
While I was searching the Internet for information about cleaning stainless steel, I came across a new product. Customer reviews of the scratch remover ranged from favorable to euphoric. I called the manufacturer to learn more about the product and was put through to the Customer Experience Center. The representative had never heard of the scratch remover and said it had never been tested on their appliances.
To remove scratches, The Dollar Stretcher website says you should buy rubbing compound from an auto body shop and "the finest grit automobile sanding paper you can find." According to the website, you should try the compound first. If that does not work, try the sandpaper. The sandpaper should be wet and you should rub gently and slowly. When you can barely see the scratch, finish with the rubbing compound.
The moral of this stainless steel tale: Cleaning is easier than removing scratches. Though I have not mustered the courage to try the scratch remover yet, I think I will. I love my stainless steel appliances and want them to last as long as possible.
Copyright 2010 by Harriet Hodgson
No comments:
Post a Comment