How to Clean Stainless Steel Appliances Without Streaks

Step by step

1. 1

   Find the grain

   Look closely at the door in good light. You will see very fine lines running one way, usually up and down or side to side. That is the grain, and Whirlpool says to always rub evenly in its direction.

2. 2

   Mix warm, soapy water

   Add a little dish soap to a bowl of warm water. You want it mild, not foamy.

3. 3

   Wipe with the grain

   Dip a soft cloth or a nonabrasive sponge in the soapy water and wring it out well. Wipe the door in long, even strokes that follow the grain. Start at the top and work down, and give the handles extra attention, since that is where hands touch most.

1. 4

   Dry and buff right away

   Dry the whole door with a clean, dry microfiber cloth, still moving with the grain. Whirlpool says water that is not completely dried off can cause discoloration, so do not let it air dry.

   What it looks like when it worked: an even shine from top to bottom, with no water spots left behind.

2. 5

   Optional: a stainless cleaner for extra shine

   On traditional stainless only, you can finish with a cleaner made for stainless steel. Whirlpool says to use only products designed for stainless steel and to follow the maker’s directions. Keep it off plastic trim and rubber door gaskets. GE warns against appliance wax and polish on its stainless, so check your own manual before you use any polish.

When it will not work, and what to do instead

Some marks are not what they seem. Here is what to do when the streaks stay.

• Streaks are still there after drying. Go over the door again with the soapy cloth, with the grain, then dry it completely with a fresh, dry microfiber cloth.
• You want to try vinegar. It makes sense, since vinegar is a favorite for water spots in other places. But Whirlpool lists vinegar based cleaners as something not to use on its stainless, and says damage from them is not covered by the warranty.
• You want to try olive oil or mineral oil. We could not find an appliance maker that recommends cooking oil on stainless, so we left it out. If you want a polish, use one made for stainless steel and allowed by your manual.
• There are scratches. Do not try to rub them out with steel wool or a scrubby pad, because Whirlpool lists both as things that damage the finish. Ask the appliance maker what it suggests.
• A coated door looks dull or cloudy. Whirlpool says harsh or gritty cleaners can scratch or dull the clear coat. Contact the maker, and stick to soap and water from now on.

Why it works

Brushed stainless has very fine lines running one way, and that is the grain. When you wipe along those lines, your strokes follow the finish instead of fighting it. That is why Whirlpool says to always rub evenly in the direction of the grain.

Drying matters just as much. Whirlpool explains that tap water may contain iron, so water left to dry on the door can discolor it. A dry microfiber cloth picks up the water before it has the chance.

The rest is about what you leave off. Steel wool, gritty powders and paper towels can scratch, and vinegar, ammonia and bleach are on the makers’ do-not-use lists. Warm, soapy water is what Whirlpool recommends for both kinds of stainless.

Every one of us has wiped that fridge door until it looked perfect, then turned on the light and seen streaks everywhere. It is enough to make you want to throw the cloth.