Step by step: how to clean stainless steel appliances without streaks
- 1
Find the direction of the grain
Look closely at the steel for fine parallel lines. On most fridge doors and dishwasher fronts they run vertically; on many range and microwave panels they run horizontally. You will wipe along those lines in every step.
- 2
Check what finish you have
Look in your manual or on the manufacturer’s site for words like fingerprint-resistant, smudge-proof or black stainless. Those have a clear coating and need only soap and water. Traditional, uncoated stainless can also take a stainless steel cleaner.
- 3
Wipe off food and drips
Dampen a microfiber cloth with warm water and wipe away food, grease and drips along the grain. Start at the top and work down so drips fall onto areas you have not cleaned yet.
- 4
Wash with mild soap and water
Add a few drops of dish soap to a bowl of warm water, dip the cloth, wring it out well and wipe each panel along the grain. Pay extra attention to handles, the area around the ice dispenser and the edges of the oven door.
- 5
Rinse with a clean damp cloth
Wipe again with a cloth dipped in plain water to remove soap film, which is what usually causes streaks. Rinse the cloth often.
- 6
Dry right away
Dry every surface with a clean, dry microfiber cloth, following the grain. Water left to dry on its own leaves spots, and water with iron in it can discolor the steel.
- 7
Polish traditional stainless if you want
For extra shine and fewer fingerprints, spray a stainless steel cleaner in an S pattern or apply a small amount of cream, wipe along the grain, then buff with a fresh dry cloth. Keep polish off plastic trim, rubber gaskets and coated finishes.
What should you not use on stainless steel appliances?
Avoid vinegar, citrus cleaners, ammonia, chlorine bleach, oven cleaner, steel wool, abrasive powders, gritty cloths and paper towels. Many online hacks recommend vinegar, but appliance makers say it can harm the finish.
Whirlpool’s stainless steel care page lists abrasive cloths, paper towels, newsprint, steel wool, abrasive powders, ammonia, citrus-based cleaners, vinegar-based cleaners and oven cleaners as products to avoid, and notes that damage from them is not covered by the warranty. The range and range hood versions give the same advice: warm soapy water, a nonabrasive sponge, rub with the grain and dry fully. Whirlpool’s stainless steel guide adds chlorine bleach to the list.
Bleach is the most damaging of these: chlorine can pit and stain stainless steel. If a bleach-based cleaner touches the steel, rinse it off with plain water right away and dry it.
How to clean coated, black and traditional stainless
Use soap and water on everything; only traditional stainless gets polish.
| Finish | How to clean | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional stainless | Soap and water, then stainless cleaner or polish along the grain | Vinegar, ammonia, bleach, abrasives |
| Fingerprint-resistant (coated) stainless | Warm soapy water and a soft cloth, then dry | Stainless polish, which can streak the coating; anything abrasive |
| Black stainless | Warm soapy water and microfiber only | Polish and abrasives, which can scratch or haze the dark coating |
Brands use different names for coated finishes, so check your manual if you are not sure which you have.
How to fix streaks, smudges and spots on stainless steel
Most streaks are soap or polish residue, so the fix is usually less product and a dry cloth, not a stronger cleaner.
- Streaks: wipe with a cloth dampened in plain water, then dry along the grain with a clean cloth. Use a fresh cloth if the first one is greasy.
- Fingerprints on handles: a drop of dish soap on a damp cloth cuts skin oil better than water alone. Polish traditional stainless afterward to slow new prints.
- Water spots or rusty-looking specks: usually minerals or iron from water or nearby steel wool. Clean with a stainless steel cleaner and dry well. If they do not come off, contact the manufacturer before trying anything abrasive.
- Scratches: they cannot be wiped away. Scratch-removal kits can make things worse on appliance fronts and may void the warranty, so ask the manufacturer first.
Stainless sinks and pans are a different story, since they can take a mild abrasive; see our guides to the stainless steel sink and stainless steel pans.
Mistakes to avoid
- Wiping in circles or against the grain, which leaves visible swirl marks.
- Cleaning with vinegar or a citrus spray because a hack said to.
- Using paper towels, which can leave lint and fine scratches.
- Letting soapy water air dry, which leaves streaks and spots.
- Putting stainless polish on a fingerprint-resistant or black stainless finish.
- Using a bleach-based wipe on a fridge handle and leaving it there.
Products that make this easier
Optional. Everything above works with basic supplies; these just save time or effort.
- See it on Amazon
For traditional stainless
Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish
Removes fingerprints and leaves a light protective film. Not for coated or black stainless.
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Manufacturer pick
affresh Stainless Steel Cleaner
Made by Whirlpool’s cleaning brand for appliance fronts. Check that your finish is traditional stainless before you use it.
- See it on Amazon
Chemical-free option
E-Cloth Stainless Steel Pack
A cleaning cloth and a polishing cloth that work with just water, which suits coated and black stainless.
- See it on Amazon
Plant-based polish
Method Stainless Steel Cleaner + Polish
A spray cleaner and polish without ammonia or bleach. Spray it onto the cloth, not the appliance, to avoid drips into seams.
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