Remove Appliance Grime Before Adding Any Polish

A cleaning expert recommends mild soap, clean microfiber and targeted attention to handles and controls.

Clean before trying to polish

The Spruce recommends first removing crumbs and loose grime, then using a suitable soapy cloth or stainless steel cleaner on fingerprints and stains. Follow with a clean damp cloth and dry promptly with another microfiber cloth to reduce streaks. A product that changes the shine is not a substitute for removing the soil. Handles, buttons and areas near controls often need the most frequent attention.

Do not soak the sensitive parts

The expert cautions against saturating seams and controls, using abrasive pads or applying a heavy oil or wax layer that can collect dust. Cleaner applied to the cloth allows more control than spraying indiscriminately over the appliance. Follow the steel's grain and keep dedicated clean cloths ready for quick touch-ups. Coated or colored finishes require particular care because scratches can be more obvious, and product compatibility remains important.

A cleaning expert recommends mild soap, clean microfiber and targeted attention to handles and controls.