5 Tips for Cleaning Stainless Steel Naturally (2024)

Vinegar

Vinegar is safe to use on stainless steel and helps remove oil and grime.

Fill a reusable spray bottle with a combination of 1:1 white vinegar and water. Spritz it on, and wipe it off — no need to rinse!

Love the idea of vinegar but hate the stink? Aunt Fannie’s Cleaning Vinegar and Cleaning Vinegar Wipes will definitely do the trick — as Grove writer Phoenix can attest to!

Dish soap

Mild, natural dish soap is non-abrasive and cuts through grease and grime with ease.

Squeeze a drop onto a damp microfiber cloth, scrub, rinse, and dry.

(Read about how natural dish soap works without harsh chemical ingredients, and check out Grove members’ favorite natural dish soaps!)

Baking soda

Baking soda is a powerful all-purpose cleaner. Its slight abrasiveness won’t harm your stainless steel, but it will help unstick stuck-on stains.

Make a thick paste with baking soda and water (here’s how), and glop it on tough stains. Let it sit for 20 minutes, then wipe, rinse, and dry.

You can also try a Mrs. Meyer’s baking soda cream cleanser to ensure your stainless steel will be scratch- and streak-free.

Microfiber cloths

Microfiber cloths are, by far, the best thing to use to clean stainless steel, since they won’t scratch the surface.

Read up on how microfiber removes dirt and most bacteria with nothing but water — and check out the best microfiber cloths, according to Grove members!)

How do you clean tough stains on stainless steel?

First, try the baking soda paste method.

If that doesn’t work, soak a clean microfiber cloth in a cup of steaming-hot vinegar, and lay it over the stain. Let it sit for 20 minutes, then wipe the stain away with the cloth.

How do you clean without getting streaks on stainless steel appliances?

Streaks are a bummer. If you wipe the surface of your stainless steel with dish soap or baking soda, rinse thoroughly afterwards.

If you use vinegar and still have streaks, fingerprints, or smudges, give your appliance another go with it.

Still streaky? Read on to learn how to shine your stainless kitchen appliances.

What can I use to shine my stainless steel appliances?

Baby oil or olive oil will shine your stainless steel and make it look new, and it’ll leave a protective coating that helps prevent smudges.

Put a small amount of oil on a microfiber cloth, and buff the stainless steel in the direction of the grain.

Boil and scrub

Set the pan on the stovetop, and add a couple of tablespoons of baking soda and a quarter-inch or so of water.

Boil until the water evaporates, and use a microfiber cloth to scrub off the residue left behind.

Toss in a grab green pod

grab green makes these sweet that make quick work of cleaning stainless steel pans. Just put some water in the pan, toss in a pod, wait five to 10 minutes, then scrub.

Use a pan scraper

Full Circle Power Couple Pan Scrapers have a recycled plastic side that easily scrapes away hard-to-remove food from your stainless cookware.

(The other side is made from recycled nylon, which you can use on your nonstick and cast iron pans.)

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