Polish: Some stainless steel cleaners only clean surfaces without bringing back the shine they had when you first bought them. When making this list, she carefully considered the types of cleaning applications, as well as ease of use and effectiveness. We test how well stainless steel cleaners remove stains — grease, fingerprints and food residue— and use them to dust off stainless steel surfaces across all of our Institute Labs and test kitchens. Since it can be a bit abrasive, it’s especially important to test this product in an unnoticeable area of your cookware before using it.

Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish Trigger Spray Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish Trigger Spray

A formula that's too abrasive can cause damage that no cleaner, polish or mineral oil will be able to buff away. Because it's plant-based, it's one of our top picks for cleaning surfaces that come into contact with food. In our Cleaning Lab's last big test of stainless steel cleaners, we tested 30 different products to see how well they removed a difficult mixture of cooking oil and dirt from stainless steel surfaces. Good Housekeeping Seal-holder, Weiman Stainless Steel Wipes are pre-moistened and convenient to use for quick clean-ups. She holds a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences from Queens College, City University of New York.

And because the formula puts down a protective transparent coating as you apply it, we found it helped repel new fingerprints or at least made them less visible. For one of the most budget-friendly options, consider the Magic Stainless Steel Cleaner, which comes in an aerosol spray can.

Stainless Steel Cleaners of 2023 for a Sparkling The 7 Best Stainless Steel Cleaners of 2023 for a Sparkling

Carolyn Forté brings more than 40 years of experience as a consumer products expert to her role as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care and Cleaning Lab. Our top overall pick, Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish, can be used on everything from refrigerators to countertop appliances to cookware. Kohler's cleaner is especially effective on removing water spots, even those old ones that have been sitting on the surface for some time. It's a multitasking cleaner that can tackle stains in the kitchen, bathroom and outdoors across different surfaces like stainless steel, ceramic, brass and more. Shealso spoke to Krissia Garcia, founder of Maryland-based cleaning service Kriss Klean, about ways to keep stainless steel in your kitchen clean and sanitary.If the cleaner claims to leave a protective coating on the appliance surfaces, we test how well it resists new fingerprints and grease buildup. At the Good Housekeeping Institute, we have rows of stainless steel dishwashers, refrigerators and ranges in every test kitchen.

Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish Spray - The Home Depot 22 oz. Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish Spray - The Home Depot

There are larger refill options, which we recommend if you have lots of items to clean with this spray. It's also filled with a bit of Lavandula angustifolia, aka lavender essential oil, which adds a pleasing scent. This aerosol from Magic earned the top spot in our test of stainless steel cleaners for how quickly it removed stains like greasy splatters and oily fingerprints without streaking. Here's another reason why we're such big fans: It leaves a protective barrier against fingerprints, dust, dirt, and smudges, ensuring that your surfaces stay cleaner longer. Appliances like refrigerators and ovens need gentle, non-abrasive cleaners to avoid scratches and help preserve their protective finish.

It is excellent for maintaining and protecting all stainless steel including appliances, sinks, countertops, range hoods and BBQ grills.

Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner Wipes (2 Pack) Fingerprint

In addition to its cleaning agents, it also acts as a degreaser, making it our top choice for your stainless steel cookware. The formula is safe for large and small appliances, including refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, and even range hoods. The front of a microwave in our GH Cleaning Lab had some very old mystery marks that were significantly lightened (and even removed in some spots) with just one application of this brightener.Ditch the wipes and paper towels for a washable microfiber cloth that you can reuse whenever it’s time to give your appliances a quick polish. We take careful note of any cleaners that remove the shine and darken stainless steel surfaces after use. Yes, but you’ll need to thoroughly wash the surface with a mild dish detergent and water prior to using it for direct food contact. We especially liked that it left no gritty residue behind and helped water drain faster from our test sink to repel future water spots. As a mom of three, she's written about parenting and family life for At Ease Magazine, Legacy, and Monterey Bay Parent, where she was a monthly columnist.