- Having a stainless steel refrigerator is always nice. You have a super clean, simple and elegant finish that is widely regarded as the best in the market. Its shining looks, however, comes at a price. To maintain your stainless steel refrigerator’s elegant finish, you need to make sure you clean it regularly and that’s what we’ll be looking at in this article. We’ll be discussing how to remove stains from your stainless steel refrigerator.
It’s hard to imagine your stainless steel refrigerator ever getting stained by anything at all, especially when it’s new. There’s no doubt stainless steel refrigerators cost a lot to get, although there’s every possibility that you’ll get the best value for your money. They are regarded as great appliances to invest in; some even come with smart features like Wi-Fi connectivity and voice controls. The first few days after getting your stainless steel refrigerator is when you look after it the most. You’ll always want to ensure that the clean look is perfectly maintained and also prevent stains of any kind from getting close to it. Sadly, reality starts to set in with time. Kids start to rub their hands on it, causing it to absorb some fingerprint stains. The inside starts to get stained with food items, and sometimes, there can even be a case of scratches and smudges.
When all these start to happen, you might get a little discouraged to even keep up your plans of making your refrigerator maintain its new look. There are more fingerprint stains on it, more smudges and before you know it, your shiny stainless steel refrigerator is all but dirty and not-so-attractive. Fortunately, there are simple yet effective ways to get rid of these stains on your refrigerator. According to an article published by Sarah Crowley on The Spruce, stainless steel has about 10.5% of chromium which is responsible for its resistance to corrosion. The presence of chromium in stainless steel appliances gives them the protection they need to resist stains. This is one of the reasons why they’re so popular in the market.
Cleaning a stainless steel refrigerator can be a bit complicated and that’s why you need to be very careful. You need to ensure you’re doing more damage by scrubbing with materials that will leave more scratches on the stainless steel surface. Stainless steel refrigerators are things you get for long-term purposes. If you’re getting anything for the long-term, maintaining it should be a top priority to keep that particular appliance in its best conditions. In this article, we’ll be taking you through different cleaning steps you can take to remove stains, including hard water stains on your stainless steel refrigerator.
WHY IS THE STAINLESS STEEL MATERIAL SO POPULAR?
A lot of people pick stainless steel appliances over every other type because of the way they are designed. Stainless steel appliances are always sleek and will fit into any type of existing decoration in the house. The demand has grown over the years and that has caused a hike in price, but that hasn’t changed anything about the importance of stainless steel appliances. Thanks to the presence of chromium on the steel surface, stainless steel appliances are able to resist corrosion. Other elements that contribute to the toughness of stainless steel include nitrogen, molybdenum, and nickel among many others. It is then a no-brainer as to why people seem to invest more in stainless steel appliances. The strength, resilience, and beauty displayed by this material make it a great choice over the other types.
Every good thing comes with its own downside. Stainless steel appliances don’t come without hefty price tags. This can be a result of the high-grade elements that make up the stainless steel material itself. Stainless steel materials have been adopted in the most popular places in the world ranging from hospitals, restaurants, and most popularly, homes. The long-term value you’ll get out of stainless steel appliances makes them a great investment choice. They might be costlier initially but certainly, you’ll get the best years out of them than when you purchase appliances with different other materials. This will save you a lot of money in the long run and that’s why they’re regarded as the best material to invest in.
A report on Eagle Tube shows that stainless steel is very recyclable, stating that a little over 50% of every new stainless steel material is made from a set of old stainless steel scrap.
Let’s take a quick look at some of the benefits of the stainless steel material, as well as its disadvantages.
PROS AND CONS OF STAINLESS STEEL
PROS
CORROSION RESISTANCE
Stainless steel appliances will come in contact with water a lot but the good thing is that they can resist rust. The presence of chromium in the material offers maximum protection from corrosion and that’s why a lot of people prefer stainless steel materials. Its resistance to oxidation is one of its main strengths. You can use a stainless steel appliance for so many years with its original look. In the case of a refrigerator, all you need to do is look after it properly, clean any stains off immediately and you’ll have it looking as clean as new.
IT IS HYGIENIC
No other surface finish can boast of the hygienic properties you can find in stainless steel material. Its non-porosity is just perfect to prevent bacteria and germs. Also, stainless steel appliances are very easy to clean. Once you’ve found the perfect cleaning method for it, you’re right on course to help it maintain its new look for a good number of years. This is why you see stainless steel appliances in places where cleanliness is a top priority, like health centers and restaurants.
IT IS DURABLE
Another thing why a lot of people love stainless steel appliances is because they are always very durable. It’s the toughest material you can ever want in your home appliances and thankfully, it’s the material that most home appliances come with. Stainless steel refrigerators can thrive regardless of the weather, hot or cold. This makes it stand out as perhaps the most durable metal in the market.
IT ADDS MORE VALUE TO YOUR HOME
A lot of people believe when you’re getting something that is highly-priced, then it must be something of great value. That’s correct! Stainless steel appliances come at huge prices but the good thing is that you’re going to get your money’s worth, making it a great investment in the long run. Stainless steel appliances add value to any home, no matter where they are positioned. If you have stainless steel materials in your own home and you wish to part ways with that property, you’re definitely going to sell it at a good price. These stainless steel appliances make the buyer think highly of your property and they’ll be more than willing to buy.
CONS
ITS INITIAL COST IS HIGH
If you’re getting any stainless steel appliance, always be ready to chunk out more money than when you’re getting an appliance with a different material. The high cost is due to the uniqueness of the stainless steel material but this can be an issue for someone who’s on a tight budget. No matter how much you love stainless steel appliances, you can’t spend what you don’t have. The high cost has proved to be an issue over the years. Though, if you have a very flexible budget, this may be one of the best purchase decisions you’ll ever make as far as home appliances are concerned.
IT SOMETIME DOESN’T TAKE ON MAGNETS
It’s nice when you have a refrigerator you can display photographs on. It means more to some people because their kitchen is a place where they want to feel as comfortable as possible. Some stainless steel appliances don’t attract magnets and that’s due to the combination of metals used in making them. So, this might be an issue for those who love to display several works of art and their photographs on their refrigerators.
Having had a good look at the benefits and downsides of the stainless steel material, let’s now proceed to how you can get water stains or any stains at all off your stainless steel refrigerator.
HOW TO REMOVE STAINS FROM STAINLESS STEEL REFRIGERATOR
There are different methods to remove stains from your stainless steel refrigerator and we’ll be looking at the most effective ones below;
DISH SOAP AND BAKING SODA
Baking soda is one of the most effective stain removal elements and when you combine it with dish soap, you have a very effective method at your disposal. Baking soda is ideal for a stainless steel refrigerator because it will most likely not cause scratches on the surface of the refrigerator. It is important to know that abrasive material like a wire brush will only do more damage to the surface of your stainless steel refrigerator. Instead, make use of a soft towel or better yet, microfiber clothes which are the best for this purpose.
DIRECTION
- The first thing you need to do is mix your dish soap and baking soda in a normal size container.
- Apply this mixture on your neat microfiber cloth or a very clean, soft towel and rub it on the stain on your stainless steel refrigerator. Move it back and forth the location of the stain and make sure you’re doing it in the direction of the grain. This way, you will be effectively cleaning the stain on your stainless steel refrigerator.
- Once you’re done rubbing the towel on the stain, proceed to wash the towel and rinse it on the stained area where the dish soap and baking soda mixture was initially applied.
This method is one of the most effective ways to remove grease, ink, and even turmeric stains from your refrigerator.
WHITE VINEGAR
White vinegar is also regarded as one of the most effective natural cleansers and its effect on stained stainless steel is also outstanding. All you need for this procedure is your white vinegar (apple cider vinegar can also get the job done) and a microfiber cloth.
DIRECTION
- Put your white vinegar in a small container and dip the microfiber cloth or any clean, soft towel into it.
- Hold the damp towel on the stained surface of your stainless steel refrigerator for a couple of minutes. This will allow the vinegar to effectively combat any form of stain on the stainless steel surface.
- Rinse the microfiber cloth in clean water before using it to dry the affected stainless steel surface.
This method is also ideal when you’re looking to remove nicotine stains from your refrigerator.
COMMERCIAL STAINLESS STEEL CLEANERS
Another effective way to take tough stains off our stainless steel refrigerator is to get recommended commercial stainless steel cleaners that are safe to be used on stainless steel refrigerators. These commercial cleaners are not so costly and they always come with instructions on how to use them. If the application is right, you’re sure to get the best results without complications.
A chart that shows the percentage of each kitchen appliance’s finish. Source: Homestratosphere
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why does my stainless steel refrigerator have white stains?
White stains are a common water stain type and they are often found in stainless steel refrigerators. Don’t be too bothered when you see them. They are not strong enough to change the look of your stainless steel refrigerator unless you don’t clean them off as soon as possible. Some of the methods we’ve highlighted up there will really make these white stains go away. The most effective method is white vinegar combined with water.
2. Does vinegar damage stainless steel?
Yes, it can, if not used properly. Vinegar contains chemical properties that can be harmful to your refrigerator’s stainless steel finish if you leave the solution on the surface for too long. This is why it’s advisable to always use a clean, soft towel to wipe off any residue left after the application of vinegar solution.
Final thoughts
Having any stainless steel appliances at home is amazing. They add value to your home and give it a different feel. However, the shining appliances might start displaying some uninspiring look if not properly taken care of. Stainless steel appliances are meant to be cleaned properly because they attract stains, especially fingerprint stains. Thankfully, there are simple ways to ensure your stainless steel refrigerator is always left sparkling. We’ve highlighted some of the natural ways to remove stains from your stainless steel refrigerator. You can make your own research and we bet you’ll even find a few tricks to try out.
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