Why stainless steel streaks
Brushed stainless steel has a fine grain – tiny parallel lines you can see if you look closely. Wiping across the grain, or using too much product, leaves residue in those lines that catches the light as streaks. Fingerprints are mostly skin oil, which smears rather than lifts if you use a wet, dirty cloth.
Most streak problems come from one of three things: too much cleaner, a cloth that's too wet, or hard tap water drying on the surface and leaving mineral spots.
What you'll need
Keep it simple:
- Two or three clean microfibre cloths
- Warm water and a drop of washing-up liquid
- White vinegar (diluted) for water spots
- A stainless steel cleaner or a few drops of baby oil or mineral oil for polishing
- Bicarbonate of soda for stuck-on marks
Step by step: appliance fronts
First find the direction of the grain – usually horizontal on fridge and dishwasher doors, sometimes vertical on hoods and range cookers. Every wipe from now on goes the same way.
Dampen a microfibre cloth in warm water with a drop of washing-up liquid, wring it out well and wipe the surface along the grain, top to bottom. Follow with a second cloth dampened in plain water to remove soap. Then buff dry immediately with a dry cloth, again along the grain. This alone fixes most fingerprints and smears.
Water spots, grease and stuck-on marks
For white water spots, especially in hard-water areas, wipe with a cloth dampened in one part white vinegar to one part water, then rinse and dry. Don't leave vinegar sitting on the steel.
Greasy hoods and the area around the hob need a degreaser or hot water with washing-up liquid, applied with a cloth and rinsed off. For marks that won't budge, make a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water and rub gently with the grain using a soft cloth, then rinse thoroughly.
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Polishing for a finish that lasts
Once the surface is clean and dry, a polish fills the grain slightly and makes fingerprints less noticeable. Use a dedicated stainless steel polish, or put a few drops of mineral oil or baby oil on a dry microfibre cloth and wipe along the grain, then buff off the excess with a clean cloth. You want a sheen, not an oily film.
Some fridges have an anti-fingerprint coating. Oils and polishes aren't needed on these and can make them look patchy – the manufacturer's guide will tell you.
What to avoid
These can permanently mark or damage stainless steel:
- Wire wool and green scourers, which scratch across the grain
- Bleach and chlorine-based sprays, which can cause pitting and rust spots
- Abrasive cream cleaners and scouring powder on brushed finishes
- Leaving salt, vinegar, lemon juice or other acidic food sitting on the surface
- Glass cleaner containing ammonia, which can leave a smeary film
Rust spots and 'tea stain'
Stainless steel can develop small brown spots, usually from iron particles left by steel wool, cast-iron pans or nearby metalwork, or from chlorine. A paste of bicarbonate of soda rubbed gently with the grain often removes them. Specialist stainless steel cleaners containing a mild acid can help with persistent spots – follow the label and rinse well.
Outdoor stainless steel, such as door furniture and balustrades on coastal properties, gets a brown 'tea stain' from salt air. Regular washing with fresh water slows it down.
Stainless steel in a professional clean
A regular cleaner will usually wipe and buff appliance fronts each visit. In a deep clean or end of tenancy clean, the extractor hood, splashback, sink and kick plates are cleaned and polished – the kind of shiny finish inventory clerks and estate agents' photographers notice. If you've got a stainless steel range cooker, mention it when you ask for quotes; inside a range cooker is often priced like a double oven.
