Stainless steel appliances give a kitchen a sophisticated, high class aesthetic that other materials can replicate. However, even the smallest areas of dirt and grease can completely ruin the look of stainless steel and aluminium cookers and refrigerators.
Spillages, fingerprints and smudges are very easy to create, but they can be very difficult to remove. So the next time you notice that your stainless steel and aluminium appliances are looking rather grimey, take the following steps.
Cleaning aluminium appliances
Fill a bowl with a solution of warm water and dishwashing detergent. Dip a micro-fibre cloth into the water, and clean away any superficial accumulations of food, grease, dirt and fingerprints. If you find that the accumulations are proving difficult to remove, add a little white vinegar to the solution and start again.
Advice: Clean a small area of your aluminium appliance first — just in case you leave a permanent mark.
Once you have removed dirt, grease and food from the appliance, it’s time to start polishing. While there are some effective aluminium cleaners on the market these days, you can achieve the same results with a little olive oil or baby oil.
Apply a little oil to a clean, micro-fibre cloth, and start rubbing the affected area vigorously. At first, you might notice a few streaks, but continue rubbing along the grain and you should see the aluminium start to become shiny. Once you’re happy with the shine, remove any excess oil — as this could attract dirt and dust over time.
And that’s it! All of your aluminium appliances shining like new — and all it took was some detergent, some vinegar, a little oil and lots of elbow grease.
Cleaning stainless steel appliances
The procedure for cleaning and polishing stainless steel is almost identical to the one associated with aluminium. Follow these five simple steps to giving the steel appliances in your home a sparkling shine.
- Assemble your supplies
Before you start, gather together all of the cleaning agents and tools you’ll need — including at least three micro-fibre cloths, warm water, white vinegar, dishwashing detergent and olive oil.
- Look for the grain
Stainless steel usually has a subtle grain — in much the same way as wood has. For the best results, follow the grain when you’re cleaning and polishing.
- Clean with vinegar
Before you start using a little elbow grease, spray the stainless steel appliance with a solution of water and white vinegar. This will cut through dirt and grease effectively.
- Scrub
Using a micro-fibre cloth and a solution of dishwashing detergent and warm water, scrub the entire appliance until you’re happy that all of the grease, dirt and food has been removed. Finish by drying the appliance with a clean cloth.
- Polish
Particularly for kitchen appliances, olive oil makes a great polish. Put a little oil on a soft-fibre cloth, and polish the stainless steel with the grain. You’ll see streaks start to form, but these should disappear as you continue.
Stainless steel and aluminium deliver a premium look and feel that plastics and wood often can’t compete with. As long as you keep your appliances clean and polished, they’ll give you many years of faithful service.
