Homemade Stainless Steel Cleaner
This vinegar-based cleaner is safe to use only on non-coated (also known as fingerprint resistant) stainless steel appliances, counters and other stainless surfaced to clean and polish to a gloriously beautiful smudge less, streak-free shine! CAUTION: The oleophobic (oil-resistant) coating added to the surface of appliances to make them fingerprint-resistant is easily damaged by numerous actions and activities. It can be damaged even stripped away by vinegar, so check your owner's manual to make sure that your appliances do not have this upgraded finish before proceeding with any vinegar-based cleaning solution.
Cost: Varies
Equipment
- Spray bottle
- microfiber cloth
Ingredients
- 16 oz. cleaning vinegar, 6% acidity or greater, or amount needed
- 10-20 drops essential oil, such as lemon
- 2 oz food-grade mineral oil, or as required
- 16 oz clean spray bottle
Instructions
To make;
- Fill the spray bottle with cleaning vinegar. Check your owner’s manual to ensure that appliances and fixtures don’t have an oleophobic (oil-repellent) coating, which can be stripped by cleaning it with vinegar.
- Add 10 to 20 drops essential oil, such as lemon. This is optional, but will counteract the pungent smell of vinegar. Lemon oil is safe to use on tough metal.
- Secure the spray head to the bottle, and shake to combine.
- Pour about 2 oz. food-grade mineral oil into a small bowl. While olive oil is used by some as a reasonable substitute, know that it can become rancid with prolonged exposure to sunlight.
To use:
- It is important to determine the direction of the grain or pattern of lines in the stainless steel—either vertical or horizontal. The shinier the finish the more difficult this may be to detect, so look very closely. You want to avoid cleaning against the grain because that will leave annoying streaks.
- Spray the vinegar solution in one hand, and wipe with a microfiber cloth in the other. Clean as vigorously as necessary to remove all dust, dirt, and grime. Caution: Do not use abrasive scrubbers like a green ScothBrite sponge, steel wool, or any other even mildly abrasive implement. Those will surely scratch your beautiful stainless.
- Repeat the process of spraying and wiping to clean the entire appliance.
- Once clean, dip a clean soft cloth into the mineral oil and gently rub in the direction of the grain to erase any streaks or remaining prints. Make a second pass over the oiled areas with a clean soft cloth to remove excess oil and boost the shine. Repeat this step until your stainless is polished to perfection.
To store:
- Label the bottle and store it at room temperature away from kids and pets.