How to clean my stainless steel stove

Stainless steel brings the look of sleek sophistication to your kitchen. As a cooktop, it looks beautiful when clean, but easily shows stains and discolorations that occur during typical cooking and use. Stainless cooktops also scratch easily, so standard abrasive cleaners and scrub pads used on porcelain-style stovetops will only make matters worse. Items found around the house can be used to remove most stains and discolorations on a stainless cooktop, and better yet, most are environmentally friendly and inexpensive.

1. 1.

   Pour some water into a teakettle and heat the kettle until the water boils. Fold up a paper towel and place it atop the discolored area on the cooktop. Pour a small amount of the hot water from the kettle onto the paper towel over the stain to steam clean the surface. Allow the towel to set for five to 10 minutes, then rub the paper towel over the stain, following the grain of the steel.

2. 2.

   Pour a small amount of white or apple cider vinegar over the stain or discoloration if the steam didn't remove all of it. Allow the vinegar to set in place for a few minutes. Rub the stain with a microfiber cloth or soft dishcloth, following the grain of the steel. Rinse by wiping down with a damp soft cloth or paper towel, following the grain of the surface.

3. 3.

   Pour a little baking soda over the stain if still noticeable, followed by a small amount of vinegar, which will bubble up. Rub the mixture first with a soft cloth, then with a plastic scrub pad if the cloth doesn't remove the discoloration. Follow the grain of the steel as you scrub to avoid scratching the surface. Wipe the surface with a clean damp paper towel, following the grain of the steel.

   Things You Will Need

   • Teakettle

   • Paper towels

   • Vinegar

   • Microfiber cloth or soft dishcloth

   • Baking soda

   • Plastic scrub pad

   Tip

   Always clean or scrub with the grain of the brushed stainless steel cooktop surface. As with wood, scrubbing against the grain can create scratches.

   Wipe spills and stains up immediately or as soon as you notice them -- the less time the offending spill is on the surface, the less chance it has to set.

   Clean the cooktop frequently, or at very least wipe it down with a damp paper towel often. This will avoid grease and dust buildup that, over time, makes cleaning a more difficult task.

   Salt also removes stains from stainless steel. Test it first in an inconspicuous area by placing some salt on a damp soft cloth and rubbing with the grain of the steel. Some stainless surfaces are more prone to scratches than others.

   Warning

   Clean the cooktop only when it is cool to avoid burns.

ab62 | AdobeStock

Steer clear of Windex and paper towels when it comes to cleaning up the splatter and grime of holiday cooking on your stainless steel appliances.

Q: I recently replaced my old Jenn-Air downdraft range with a new slide-in model with interchangeable modules and grills. The cooktop has a fair amount of stainless steel. What is the best way to clean cooking oil and food splatters on the stainless-steel portion of the cooktop? I presently use a spritz of Windex and wipe up with paper towels, but this leaves unsightly streaks and I spend an inordinate amount of time to buff up the stainless steel. I hesitate to use stainless steel polish so close to the heat elements. There must be an easier way to clean stainless steel stoves given their popularity. Many thanks for any advice. — S.C.S., Hawthorne

A: Stainless steel appliances are all the rage, will apparently never go out of style, they look terrific, and they increase the value of your home — and you want easy care on top of all that? Not likely. Windex is often recommended to clean stainless steel, notably by the company that makes it. It contains ammonia, which shouldn’t leave streaks, but also detergents and various chemicals that evidently do, and which can build into a dull film. Paper towels may deposit lint, too.

It’s best is to wipe up spills immediately using just warm water and a microfiber cloth. But if you need something stronger, try that all-purpose wonder product, white vinegar. It’s non-toxic, removes hard-water stains (a common Westchester problem), kills microbes, leaves no residue or smears, and it’s surprisingly effective as a cleaner. (It can also remove heat stains.) The smell dissipates fast, and to cap it off it’s so cheap it’s almost free. Rinse and dry the surface with a clean microfiber cloth when you’re done and it should be good as new. If you need to restore the shine once in a while, try a light application of mineral oil on a clean cloth.

As for commercial polishes: Consumer Reports tested cleaners made especially for stainless steel appliances and gave the highest rating to Weiman. The manufacturer claims it also repels dust and dirt and resists fingerprints. It’s formulated for use on stoves, although not recommended to come into contact with food. Online reviews are mixed. I’d go with the vinegar.

Read More: How to Remove Stains From Hardwood Floors

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