Stainless steel appliances can be a great addition to any kitchen. Even if you aren't making over the whole kitchen, adding stainless steel appliances can make any kitchen look new again. While the steel may indeed be stainless it smudges, collects dust or dirt and streaks. Cleaners available to keep stainless steel shining, are often toxic and unhealthy for use in your home. Using a homemade cleaner is a great way to keep the toxins out of your kitchen and still keep your appliances shining.
Clean
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Stainless steel appliances can be cleaned with almost any gentle soap--dish soap works just fine with a sponge or cloth. You can also spray a mixture of 1 cup of vinegar to 2 cups of water on your appliances to clean them. If you have a grease issue on the appliance, you can make a baking soda paste. Place 2 or 3 tablespoons of baking soda in a bowl and add enough water (a teaspoon at a time) until a paste can be made. Aim for the consistency of toothpaste. Use a small amount of the paste at a time, on a non-abrasive sponge or scrub pad and scrub.
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Polish
After the appliance has been cleaned, it may look streaked or spotted. Place a couple of teaspoons of rubbing alcohol on a microfiber cloth or pad. Rub the cloth along the grain of the appliance until the whole appliance has been wiped. The alcohol will dry itself so there is no need for rinsing. If you do not want to use rubbing alcohol, you can use white vinegar applied the same way. A "rinse" of cornstarch can also be made. Put two teaspoons of cornstarch in a bowl and add a cup of warm water to it. Whisk them together until the cornstarch has been dissolved. Dip your rag or microfiber cloth into it and wipe the surface of the appliance along the grain. You will need to dry the appliance after this application with a clean dry cloth.