The Best Do It Yourself Stainless Steel Cleaner – Using Only 3 Ingredients!

Once you see how easy it is to make your own do it yourself stainless steel cleaner, you’ll never go for a store-bought cleaner again.

Clean and shiny stainless steel appliances and surfaces with no streaks, watermarks or fingerprints – can you picture it!?

Certain stainless steel items like the stainless refrigerator can be an absolute minefield of greasy fingerprints, sauce marks and spilled food, especially around the handle and other commonly touched areas.

The good news is that with 3 basic ingredients, you can have a DIY homemade stainless steel cleaner that will leave your surfaces looking as new as they did when they first came out of the box.

do it yourself stainless steel cleaner

What You Need To Know About Cleaning Stainless Steel Appliances And Stainless Steel Surfaces:

There’s something about stainless steel that instantly makes any room look upscale, modern and attractive – if it is clean that is.

Cleaning stainless steel can be an annoying task as it often looks dirty again in no time at all and getting rid of any stains is not as simple as just wiping it down with a wet cloth.

Store-bought cleaner or commercial stainless steel cleaners can be expensive and usually contain toxic or harsh chemicals that are not so great to breathe in, especially if you’re allergic or chemically sensitive.

I don’t know about you but I want my cleaning solution to be as natural and chemical-free as possible, particularly if it’s just as, or if not more effective!

We have been using this natural stainless steel cleaner in our homes for more than a year now and it is excellent for keeping kitchen appliances, sinks, countertops and any other stainless steel surface looking shiny clean!

The secret when it comes time to clean stainless steel lies in choosing ingredients that dry quickly so you are not left with even more streaks and smudges after all the work has been done.

diy stainless steel cleaner

The Best Natural Homemade Do It Yourself Stainless Steel Cleaner:

This is a cost-effective, easy recipe that contains only a few ingredients that most likely already have laying around your house.

It is non-toxic and non-reactive meaning it’s safe to use on all stainless steel appliances and surfaces from coffee machines and cooktops to benches and sinks, great as a cleaner to descale and even as a cleaner for some computer components (very carefully of course!)

However, with that being said – we always recommend you ‘spot test’ a small and inconspicuous section first on the off chance that you do get a reaction for some reason. If ever in doubt, call the manufacturer for further details before cleaning.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup of rubbing alcohol
  • 1/2 cup of water
  • A few drops of your favorite essential oil (Lemon Oil or Tea Tree Oil are great choices)
  • Glass or plastic spray bottle
  • A dry microfiber cloth

Instructions

  1. Combine the rubbing alcohol, water and lemon essential oil in plastic or glass spray bottle and shake well to ensure everything is mixed thoroughly.
  2. Spray your homemade stainless steel cleaner directly onto the surface you will be cleaning. Hold the bottle so the spray head is close to the surface to avoid overspray.
  3. Pay attention to the distinct grain direction of your stainless steel appliances or surfaces. It will be either vertical or horizontal. Take a dry clean microfiber cloth, or other clean soft cloth and wipe the cleaner in the direction of the grain. Make sure to clean the entire appliance or surface, not just what is visible.
  4. This will take care of the basic, everyday cleaning of your stainless steel. If you have some particularly stubborn spots and stains, you can apply an equal part mix of water, baking soda and plain white vinegar. This cleaning vinegar solution is famous for cutting grease and grime. Spot test it first as always.
  5. Finally – If you want a streak-free shine on your surfaces, you can make your own stainless steel polish with regular old olive oil. Simply pour a little olive oil onto a paper towel and gently rub it over the entire surface. Again, make sure you pay attention to the direction of the grain and keep rubbing with a dry cloth, making sure you remove excess oil.

Using a similar suite of ingredients, Karen from Healthy Gut Advisor has made this excellent video on how she keeps her stainless refrigerator in top condition after 10 years of owning it! She has some great tips – check it out!

A Few Key Points:

  1. As tempting as it may be to use steel wool or other abrasive scrubbers, DON’T! You will leave scratches and abrasions that not only look unsightly, but also stain more easily in the future.
  2. Using this DIY stainless steel cleaner weekly will save you hours of deep cleaning in the long run.
  3. Applying the stainless steel polish not only makes the surface look better but protects it as well.
  4. If you’re working with the cleaning code WS this do it yourself stainless steel cleaner may also be suitable for cleaning a fabric sofa, microfiber sofa and other upholstered furniture!

FAQ:

Can You Use This Natural Homemade Stainless Steel Cleaner For Pots And Pans?

You can most definitely use this homemade cleaner on your stainless pots and pans! Honestly, if it’s made from stainless steel, then this cleaner is your go-to.

Does Vinegar Damage Stainless Steel?

If strong undiluted vinegar is left to sit for long periods on your stainless steel then it can damage it. When using it as a stainless steel cleaner, make sure it’s diluted and completely wiped off.

How Do You Make Stainless Steel Look New Again?

The simple combination of this homemade DIY cleaner, some good old fashioned scrubbing and the final application of an olive oil-based stainless steel polish will have all of your stainless steel looking new again!

What Should You Not Use On Stainless Steel?

Never use abrasive pads, steel wool, bleach, oven cleaner, ammonia-based products (such as Windex) or scouring powders as stainless steel cleaner. All of these can potentially damage the finish.

homemade stainless steel cleaner

There We Have It!

Stainless steel is a durable and tough metal that should last you for decades if treated right.

With a bit of elbow grease (the only type of grease you want on stainless steel) and our DIY stainless steel cleaner, your stainless steel appliances and surfaces will look better than new.

Avoid the overwhelming toxic smell and harmful additives of commercial cleaners and make the change to simple, natural & homemade cleaning products!

About Darcy O

Loves good coffee, good design and a good nap on a good couch!

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