How to Clean the Outside of a Stainless Steel Fridge

Cleaning stainless steel requires some special treatment.

Although stainless steel refrigerators are attractive, they can also be difficult to keep clean. In particular, fingerprints and smears are more prevalent on stainless steel than on painted refrigerators. Cleaning the outside of a stainless steel refrigerator requires some special treatment; use the wrong cleaner or the wrong method, and scratches develop on the stainless steel. Although there are stainless steel cleaners available at home improvement centers, most major manufacturers recommend a simple cleaning method.

Things You'll Need

• 2 buckets
• Liquid dish soap
• 2 soft sponges
• Lint-free cloths
• Stainless steel polish

Instructions

1. Fill a bucket with warm water and 4 tbsp. liquid dish soap. Fill a separate bucket with clean water. The clean water is your rinse water.

2. Dip a soft sponge into the soapy bucket, wring it out so that it is wet but not dripping, and wipe down the outside of the stainless steel refrigerator. Always wipe in the direction of the grain. Start at the top of the refrigerator and work your way down.

3. Wet a clean sponge with the clean water, and rinse the refrigerator. Wipe in the direction of the stainless steel grain, even when rinsing. Dip the sponge into the clean water often and wring it out to ensure the removal of all of the soapy water from the refrigerator.

4. Wipe the entire outside of the refrigerator with a lint-free cloth to dry the unit.

5. Apply stainless steel polish with a lint-free cloth periodically according to the instructions on the container to help restore luster to the stainless steel. Buff and dry the polish with a lint-free cloth, working in the direction of the grain.

Tips & Warnings

• Use only non-abrasive cleaners if choosing to use a stainless steel cleaner. Just because a cleaner is liquid does not necessarily mean it is non-abrasive.

• Never use scrubbing pads or rough sponges to clean stainless steel. These cause scratches that often cannot be removed.

References

• Maytag: How Do I Clean and Care for My Stainless Steel Appliances?
• Whirlpool: Cleaning and Caring for Stainless Steel Surfaces
• Frigidaire: Frigidaire Refrigerator Owner's Manual p11