5 tips for cleaning stainless steel naturally
Shake the bottle well before each use. Spray the mixture onto a clean microfiber cloth or directly onto the surface you want to clean. Wipe the surface with the cloth, using a circular motion. If necessary, repeat the process until the surface is clean and shiny.
DIY Natural Stainless Steel Cleaner Recipe: An Eco-Friendly Alternative
Stainless steel appliances and surfaces add a sleek and modern touch to any home, but keeping them clean and shiny can be a challenge. Fortunately, there’s a natural and eco-friendly solution that’s easy to make at home. In this blog post, we’ll show you how to make your own DIY natural stainless steel cleaner using simple and affordable ingredients. * For the instructional video, check out the post on our Instagram!
Why Use DIY Natural Stainless Steel Cleaner?
It’s non-toxic
Unlike many commercial stainless steel cleaners that contain harsh chemicals, DIY natural stainless steel cleaner is non-toxic and safe for you, your family, and your pets. The simple ingredients used in this cleaner, such as white vinegar and olive oil, are natural and do not pose a risk to your health.
It’s affordable
Making your own natural cleaner is also an affordable alternative to buying expensive commercial cleaners. The ingredients are readily available and affordable, which means you can make a large batch of cleaner for a fraction of the cost of a store-bought cleaner.
It’s eco-friendly
The environmental impact of commercial cleaning products can be significant. Many of these products contain harmful chemicals that can pollute the air and water. By making your own natural cleaner, you can help reduce the amount of chemicals that are released into the environment. Additionally, making your own cleaner means that you can reuse and refill the same spray bottle, reducing the amount of plastic waste you generate.
It’s effective
Despite its natural ingredients, DIY stainless steel cleaner is just as effective as commercial cleaners when it comes to removing dirt, grime, and water spots from your stainless steel surfaces. The acidity of the vinegar helps to dissolve tough stains and the olive oil helps to condition and shine the surface. Plus, you can customize the scent of the cleaner by adding essential oils, so your surfaces will not only be clean, but will also smell great!
How to Make DIY Stainless Steel Cleaner Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Optional: essential oils for fragrance (e.g. lemon, lavender, or tea tree)
Instructions
Mix the white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Add the olive oil to the spray bottle and shake well to combine.
Optional: add a few drops of your favorite essential oil(s) to the mixture for a fresh and pleasant scent. Shake the bottle well before each use.
How to Use DIY Natural Stainless Steel Cleaner
Shake the bottle well before each use. Spray the mixture onto a clean microfiber cloth or directly onto the surface you want to clean. Wipe the surface with the cloth, using a circular motion. If necessary, repeat the process until the surface is clean and shiny.
Tips for Using DIY Natural Stainless Steel Cleaner
Always test the cleaner on a small, inconspicuous area before using it on a larger surface.
Use a clean microfiber cloth or a Swedish Dishcloth to avoid scratching the surface of your stainless steel appliances.
In conclusion, making your own DIY natural stainless steel cleaner is a great idea because it is non-toxic, affordable, eco-friendly, and effective. By using this cleaner, you can keep your stainless steel surfaces looking their best without harming your health or the environment. So why not give it a try? Your wallet and the planet will thank you!
5 tips for cleaning stainless steel naturally.
Stainless steel is durable and sleek, but it’s also prone to unsightly smudges. Read on for answers to all of your stainless steel cleaning questions.
- 5 tips for cleaning stainless steel naturally.
- First, what is stainless steel?
- What are the best natural stainless steel cleaning products?
- Shop some of these natural products from Grove
- Cleaning stainless steel
- How do you clean stainless steel pans?
- Shop some of these products from Grove
- Read more from Grove
Stainless steel is elegant and durable, but it’s also prone to unsightly smudges and sloppy smears. Even if you love your stainless steel appliances, you don’t have to love cleaning them — but with these quick and easy tips, you just might.
First, what is stainless steel?
To understand what makes stainless steel special, let’s talk about what steel is.
Steel is made up of mostly iron, which is prone to rusting and stains. Stainless steel has the addition of chromium to give the steel a little extra oomph, which makes it tremendously strong and rust- and stain-resistant.
Stainless steel is ideal for appliances that see a lot of use, but keeping it shiny requires regular TLC.
What are the best natural stainless steel cleaning products?
The best stainless steel cleaners include stuff you might already have in your kitchen:
Vinegar
Vinegar is safe to use on stainless steel and helps remove oil and grime.
Fill a reusable spray bottle with a combination of 1:1 white vinegar and water. Spritz it on, and wipe it off — no need to rinse!
Love the idea of vinegar but hate the stink? Aunt Fannie’s Cleaning Vinegar and Cleaning Vinegar Wipes will definitely do the trick — as Grove writer Phoenix can attest to!
Dish soap
Mild, natural dish soap is non-abrasive and cuts through grease and grime with ease.
Squeeze a drop onto a damp microfiber cloth, scrub, rinse, and dry.
Baking soda
Baking soda is a powerful all-purpose cleaner. Its slight abrasiveness won’t harm your stainless steel, but it will help unstick stuck-on stains.
Make a thick paste with baking soda and water (here’s how), and glop it on tough stains. Let it sit for 20 minutes, then wipe, rinse, and dry.
You can also try a Mrs. Meyer’s baking soda cream cleanser to ensure your stainless steel will be scratch- and streak-free.
Microfiber cloths
Microfiber cloths are, by far, the best thing to use to clean stainless steel, since they won’t scratch the surface.
Shop some of these natural products from Grove
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Cleaning stainless steel
See those lines on your stainless steel? That’s the grain. The number-one rule of cleaning stainless steel is to wipe it in the direction of the grain to prevent scratches and a dull appearance.
Here are more must-know tips on how to clean your stainless steel appliances, like refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, and more.
How do you clean tough stains on stainless steel?
First, try the baking soda paste method.
If that doesn’t work, soak a clean microfiber cloth in a cup of steaming-hot vinegar, and lay it over the stain. Let it sit for 20 minutes, then wipe the stain away with the cloth.
How do you clean without getting streaks on stainless steel appliances?
Streaks are a bummer. If you wipe the surface of your stainless steel with dish soap or baking soda, rinse thoroughly afterwards.
If you use vinegar and still have streaks, fingerprints, or smudges, give your appliance another go with it.
Still streaky? Read on to learn how to shine your stainless kitchen appliances.
What can I use to shine my stainless steel appliances?
Baby oil or olive oil will shine your stainless steel and make it look new, and it’ll leave a protective coating that helps prevent smudges.
Put a small amount of oil on a microfiber cloth, and buff the stainless steel in the direction of the grain.
Watch this video to see stainless steel cleaning in action:
Try a ready-made natural stainless steel cleaner
Want to make it super-extra easy to shine up your stainless steel without emptying your pantry?
How do you clean stainless steel pans?
Stainless steel cookware is dishwasher safe, but we prefer to do ‘em by hand. You probably know how to wash dishes by now (if not, we’ve got hacks for that). Wash your pans in warm, soapy water, and dry thoroughly.
To remove burnt-on or stuck-on food in your stainless pan, try one of these tricks.
Boil and scrub
Set the pan on the stovetop, and add a couple of tablespoons of baking soda and a quarter-inch or so of water.
Boil until the water evaporates, and use a microfiber cloth to scrub off the residue left behind.
Toss in a grab green pod
grab green makes these sweet Cookware and Bakeware Cleaner Pods that make quick work of cleaning stainless steel pans. Just put some water in the pan, toss in a pod, wait five to 10 minutes, then scrub.
Use a pan scraper
Full Circle Power Couple Pan Scrapers have a recycled plastic side that easily scrapes away hard-to-remove food from your stainless cookware.
(The other side is made from recycled nylon, which you can use on your nonstick and cast iron pans.)