Many people value the kitchen as the heart or center of the home. Because it means that much to homeowners, they invest a lot of money to build their dream kitchen. If you want to make a simple upgrade to your kitchen, all you have to do is add some stainless steel appliances.
You might not realize it, but you might have more stainless steel in your home than you think from appliances, cutlery, and sinks in the kitchen and other areas in your home like the bathroom. A new trend for modern kitchen designs today is the stainless steel kitchen countertops.
A stainless steel kitchen countertop can make your kitchen look so pristine, but that's only when it's spotless. The truth is that there is nothing stainless about stainless steel. Like any other kitchen countertop material, cleanliness helps maintain your stainless steel countertop's condition and shine.
So how do you clean stainless steel? Believe it or not, about 19,000 people Google this question every month, according to research by End of Tenancy Cleaning. Fortunately, cleaning stainless steel is not as difficult as you think. Here are a few pointers to help you keep your kitchen clean and sparkling.
Warm water and a soft towel
This is the most simplistic method of cleaning stainless steel surfaces to get the result you want. You can mix the warm water with liquid soap and dry the surface with a microfiber towel.
Use mild detergents
Strong cleaning detergents can damage stainless steel and make it look dull and outdated. It's also not safe to use robust cleaning solutions because even after you wipe it clean, there may be a residue that sips into your food.
You can use white vinegar and baking soda to clean. White vinegar is a safe cleaning agent, and baking soda can breathe new life to your dull countertops. Furthermore, avoid using steel wool or abrasive scrubbers to clean your cookware or surfaces.
Polish
Isn't it annoying to spot that one fingerprint on your stainless steel after taking the time to clean your kitchen? Don't worry; fingerprints are just as easy to clean as the stains. Get yourself some olive oil or baby oil and a soft cloth and polish your surface and cookware after cleaning. This will give your kitchen that shiny luster afterward and help away future smudges on your appliances and surfaces.
Note that stainless steel is sensitive to cuts, burns, and much more. So if you have stainless steel kitchen countertop, you better invest in a chopping board. Heat and stagnant water can cause your kitchen surface to lose its shine and color. The best way to deal with this is to prevent it by getting a surface with a non-directional finish.
Here's a final cleaning tip for you. If you look closely at your stainless steel surface, you will see either a vertical or horizontal grain. Determine the grain of your stainless steel and purpose to always clean in that direction for the best results.