| Ten years ago, before stainless steel was "hot," my | | | | damages the surface. You can brighten your stainless |
| husband and I bought stainless appliances for our | | | | steel sink by cleaning it with half a lemon dipped in |
| newly renovated kitchen. We bought a refrigerator, | | | | baking soda. Cleaning the sink was easy. My cleaning |
| dishwasher, stove, and matching hood. The | | | | challenge -- one that requires courage -- is repairing |
| appliances looked great. A few weeks later, they | | | | the scratch on the refrigerator door. It is a deep |
| were covered with fingerprints. How could I remove | | | | scratch and every time I open the door I clench my |
| them? | | | | teeth. |
| One oil-based cleaner, a spray, worked really well. I | | | | While I was searching the Internet for information |
| bought it at a cleaning supply store and the can | | | | about cleaning stainless steel, I came across a new |
| lasted a year. Another cleaner, with a cream base, | | | | product. Customer reviews of the scratch remover |
| did not work well. Our appliances have a brushed | | | | ranged from favorable to euphoric. I called the |
| surface and the cleaner clogged the finish so badly I | | | | manufacturer to learn more about the product and |
| threw it out. | | | | was put through to the Customer Experience Center. |
| Decorating channel programs recommend vinegar as | | | | The representative had never heard of the scratch |
| a cleaner. Apple cider vinegar was my choice and, | | | | remover and said it had never been tested on their |
| while it worked, the kitchen smelled like a salad | | | | appliances. |
| dressing factory. The decorating channel also | | | | To remove scratches, The Dollar Stretcher website |
| recommends olive oil as a cleaner, but it was not that | | | | says you should buy rubbing compound from an auto |
| different from the product I bought from the | | | | body shop and "the finest grit automobile sanding |
| cleaning supply store. | | | | paper you can find." According to the website, you |
| According to the article, "Cleaning Stainless Steel | | | | should try the compound first. If that does not work, |
| FAQs," posted on the Do It Yourself website, | | | | try the sandpaper. The sandpaper should be wet and |
| stainless steel is 10% chromium. The metal surface | | | | you should rub gently and slowly. When you can |
| resists stains, "but occasionally dulls or will show oily | | | | barely see the scratch, finish with the rubbing |
| finger prints." The article says you can clean stainless | | | | compound. |
| steel with club soda. If your appliances have a | | | | The moral of this stainless steel tale: Cleaning is easier |
| brushed finish like ours, you should use a really soft | | | | than removing scratches. Though I have not |
| cloth (a flour sack works well), and rub in the | | | | mustered the courage to try the scratch remover |
| direction of the grain only. | | | | yet, I think I will. I love my stainless steel appliances |
| The article goes on to say that you should never use | | | | and want them to last as long as possible. |
| a steel wool soap pad on stainless steel because it | | | | |