How To Remove Stains From A Stainless Steel Refrigerator
The refrigerator door is one of the most often touched surfaces in any kitchen. That can leave fingerprints and plenty of stains that need cleaning. However, stainless steel surfaces require a different approach to cleaning without damaging the material underneath.
You can remove stains from a stainless steel refrigerator with dish soap, club soda, vinegar, and WD-40. Remember not to use any abrasive chemicals or cleaning materials, as those will damage the surface and leave marks after you’re done cleaning.
Read this quick guide to learn the dos and don’ts of cleaning your refrigerator surface.
What Are Some Precautions When Cleaning Stainless Steel?
The most important thing to remember when cleaning a stainless steel refrigerator is to avoid damaging it. That’s why you must take a few precautions to prevent that.
Here are 3 things you must never do when cleaning your fridge:
- No abrasives: Don’t use abrasive cleaning materials like steel wool. These materials are too aggressive for removing stains on a stainless steel surface and will leave scratch marks everywhere.
- No chlorine-based chemicals: Some chemicals are too harsh for cleaning stainless steel refrigerators. For example, chlorine-based should be avoided as they’ll stain and damage the surface. Always check the label to ensure your cleaning product is free from chlorine or anything that might damage stainless steel.
- Don’t use an oven cleaner: You might be tempted to reach for the oven cleaner when dealing with your fridge. That’s another thing you must avoid doing. Oven cleaning requires caustic chemicals that can remove stubborn stains. Unfortunately, those chemicals are far too damaging to stainless steel.
As you can see, the main concern with cleaning stainless steel is that the materials or chemical products you use might be too aggressive. That will damage the stainless steel surface, making it look horrible afterwards.
So, when choosing how to clean your stainless steel refrigerator, always use the most gentle options available. You’ll discover what those options are in the section below.
How Do You Remove Stains From A Stainless Steel Fridge?
Now that you’ve learned what not to do when cleaning a stainless steel fridge, it’s time to discover what works for those kinds of surfaces.
Here are 4 effective ways to remove stains from a stainless steel fridge.
1. Dish Soap
As you read earlier, starting with the most gentle cleaning options is always best. They’re often good enough to remove all stains and leave the surface looking brand new.
The first example of that is to use simple dish soap. Mix a little with some water and apply it to the surface with a wet rag. Then, gently rub the surface to remove as many stains as possible.
Some stubborn stains might require more attention, but continue cleaning with dish soap, and most will fade away quickly.
2. Club Soda
Another helpful option might be sitting in the fridge you’re trying to clean. Club soda is a common solution to remove stains from many things like your clothes. However, it’s also known to remove stains from stainless steel surfaces safely.
Club soda is only slightly acidic. That means it can help remove stains without damaging the surface underneath.
First, fill a spray bottle with club soda and cover the fridge surface with it. Then, give the soda a few moments to dissolve stains before you wipe them away with a clean cloth.
3. Vinegar
If the club soda wasn’t helpful enough, your next option is to use vinegar. It’s best to apply the vinegar using a spray bottle and give it a few moments to break the stains down.
Then, all you have to do is wipe it away with a microfiber cloth. Remember to repeat the process a few times for more stubborn stains.
4. WD-40
Believe it or not, the common penetrating oil product WD-40 is also effective at removing stains from your stainless steel refrigerator.
After all, it’s called a ‘penetrating oil’ for a good reason. The chemical formula will penetrate and break down stains without damaging the stainless steel surface underneath.
We have a few other articles similar to these on our site How To Keep Herbs Fresh In The Fridge, How Long Can Deer Meat Stay In Fridge Before Processing? and How To Keep Broccoli Fresh In The Refrigerator
Final Thoughts
Overall, the most important thing to remember is to avoid using harsh chemicals or cleaning materials when dealing with stainless steel refrigerator. Instead, use gentle household supplies like dish soap, club soda, vinegar, or WD-40 to remove those stains quickly!
