We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Cleaning

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How can I Remove Fingerprints on Stainless Steel Appliances?

By Kris Roudebush
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 17,098
Share

Stainless steel is a beautiful material for appliances. They can really make a kitchen pop. Their sleek lines and shiny surfaces just beg for attention. Once they arrive in your kitchen, however, they lose their magazine-like sheen and take on every single fingerprint, dust fragment, and miscellaneous smudge that ever thought of entering your home. Keeping them looking good means taking a lot of time to remove fingerprints.

There is a great deal of advice available on how to remove fingerprints. You can use glass cleaner to remove fingerprints. Also try wetting a chamois or a super soft cloth with warm water, any excess water squeezed out, and just rub with the grain. Then there is this technique; mild soap to clean first to remove fingerprints, dirt, and oil, follow up with a little furniture polish to create a thin layer of wax. This keeps your appliance fingerprint free for about a week. You could also follow up with a clean cloth and apply a very little olive oil for shine and even more fingerprint protection. There are several manufacturers of stainless steel cleaners that are very good at removing fingerprints.

Be aware that some products and techniques may cause your stainless steel to darken or dull over time. Commercial stainless steel cleaners are particularly bad about this as they leave an oily build up each time you use them. Oil will attract dirt and dust which can cause discoloration. If you choose to use any method with oil or wax remember to wash with mild soap and warm water each week before reapplying another oil or wax treatment.

You do want to be careful about what you use to remove fingerprints from stainless steel appliances. Never use bleach, or chloride based cleaners or anything with muric acid. These cleaners can cause your shiny beauties to rust. If you do find a few rust spots on your appliances, do not despair. Try using a little baking soda. Gently scrub with the grain and it should come out. If not, or for severe stains, use a heavy duty rust fighter called oxalic acid. It comes in a powder and you’ll want to read the manufacturer’s instructions for use in case you need gloves or other equipment.

Stainless steel manufacturers are also aware of their fingerprint problems. To help with this, they may put texture on the surface to keep prints from sticking. Some will even use an epoxy seal. An epoxy seal can yellow and peel with age so be sure that you’re careful to follow the manufacturer’s directions for the care of your seal. Removing fingerprints is part of life when you bring a stainless steel appliance home, but it’s not an impossible task.

Share
HomeQuestionsAnswered is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By anon317354 — On Feb 01, 2013

My favorite cleaner is Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish. Also, I created the Handle Babe (an appliance handle cover) which totally cuts down on the number of fingerprints and smudges on the handles and door! You simply pull them off and toss them in the washing machine with your dishtowels when they need to be cleaned. They have a "pocket" design, allowing you to slide your hand into the pocket, keeping smudges off both the handle, and the door of the appliance directly behind the handle.

By anon214734 — On Sep 15, 2011

Remove finger prints fast and easy: use Endust spray. Spray on and wipe off. Fingerprints gone, no hard rubbing or streaking.

By jlmk — On Feb 02, 2011

I have always loved the look of stainless steel appliances -- I want a kitchen full of them. But, I have heard the complaints about how they are always covered with fingerprints, so I've hesitated to actually purchase them for my home.

Now that I know there are ways to protect them from all of the fingerprints, I think I may reconsider. If a little bit of furniture polish can keep them looking nice for a week, it doesn't sound so bad. I think I can handle cleaning my appliances once a week.

I wonder, though, if anyone has looked into the long term effects of using furniture polish on stainless steel. I don't want to end up damaging my appliances in the long run, because of fingerprints.

By upnorth31 — On Feb 01, 2011

Isn't it a little strange that commercial stainless steel cleaners could damage the appearance of stainless steel over time?

I wonder if there are certain cleaners that are safer than others.

Share
https://www.homequestionsanswered.com/how-can-i-remove-fingerprints-on-stainless-steel-appliances.htm
Copy this link
HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.