Do you have stainless steel appliances and surfaces in your kitchen? Then you are undoubtedly annoyed by the greasy fingers and smudges that are visible on it. How do you get your stainless steel worktop or tap really clean and shiny? Cleaning expert Marja Middeldorp comes to the rescue: “Definitely don’t use vinegar.”
“Our stainless steel countertop stains enormously. It is cleaned with cleaning vinegar, but the first drop of water leaves a stain. Is there a tip?” asks a reader. There certainly is, says Marja, who first advises to be careful with vinegar. “Cleaning vinegar is quite aggressive and acidic. Using this every day for stainless steel materials is not good. Stainless steel can handle some acid, but not whole jars of pickles. You actually damage the material, you exhaust it,” she knows. “And that is unnecessary, because there are alternatives.”
Vinegar does not degrease
For daily maintenance, Marja recommends simple soapy water. “A little bit of dishwashing liquid or all-purpose cleaner. You use this to clean your countertop every day. That degreases. The stains on the countertop are often grease stains. And if there’s one thing vinegar doesn’t clean, it’s grease. Vinegar and cleaning vinegar are really there for limescale. It’s best to use that if you have a lot of limescale.”
If you have a more persistent stain on stainless steel, such as erosion or rust, copper polish is an alternative.
Marja Middeldorp
Make stainless steel shine
But Marja also knows that stainless steel sometimes needs more thorough maintenance to keep it beautiful. “Every now and then you want it to shine again. Then my tip is to use white furniture oil and apply it very lightly over the countertop and rub with a soft cloth. Do not make figure eights or shapes, but rub in straight lines in the direction.” Always try it first in a place that is not (well) visible.
You should actually see this as extra maintenance of stainless steel, says the cleaning expert. It applies a protective layer, so to speak. This method can also be used for taps, sinks, extractor hoods and other stainless steel materials. “For everything that should shine,” says Marja.
Copper polish
“If you have a more persistent stain on stainless steel, such as erosion or rust, copper polish is an alternative. Most people will no longer have copper in their home, but a small can of copper polish won’t get in the way. This allows you to easily remove a stain without causing damage. Just rub it thinly with a soft cloth, like we used to do with a candle holder.”
And don’t forget to rub it on. “That is what I have known from an early age. Rub on. That often does more than decreasing it every time. That didn’t happen in the past either. Those buckets of soapy water were far too heavy to carry around the house. Did you think mirrors got wet every time? You just rubbed everything on. Also better for your things.”
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2023-12-30 14:00:00
#clean #stainless #steel #kitchen #appliances #parties #product #shiny
