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How to clean stainless steel without scratches

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Author: Erika Candelario

How to clean stainless steel without scratches

The best way to clean stainless steel is with lukewarm water, a mild cleaner and a soft microfibre cloth. Wipe along the grain, the fine lines in the metal, and dry afterwards to avoid streaks. Skip scouring pads, steel wool and bleach.

That keeps your worktop, sink, tap and cooker hood looking shiny. Below, you'll read how to clean every day, how to avoid streaks and how to tackle stubborn stains without damaging your stainless steel.

Cleaning stainless steel every day

The easiest stainless steel care is regular, light cleaning. According to cleaning brand HG, it's best to remove dirt from stainless steel straight away: leave it, and it turns into a stubborn stain. A quick wipe takes far less effort than scrubbing later.

Here's your daily routine:

  1. Dampen a microfibre cloth. Use lukewarm water with a mild cleaner.
  2. Find the grain. Look for the fine lines in the metal and wipe in that direction.
  3. Wipe along the lines. Lift grease, splashes and fingerprints without pressing hard.
  4. Dry afterwards. Wipe the surface dry with a clean, dry cloth.

For your worktop and sink, you can also use the POWR All-purpose cleaner. According to POWR, it's suitable for all surfaces: spray, rub and wipe clean with a cloth. Thanks to the probiotics, it stays active for up to 7 days.

Discover the POWR All-purpose cleaner →

How to avoid streaks and fingerprints

Streaks and fingerprints are the biggest annoyance with stainless steel. These tips keep your surface even:

  • Wipe along the lines. HG warns that you'll keep seeing streaks if you don't wipe along the lines of the stainless steel. Wiping in all directions works against you.
  • Always dry afterwards. Dried water droplets leave limescale spots and streaks. A clean, dry cloth solves that.
  • Use a clean, soft cloth. According to HG, a dirty or rough cloth can cause scratches. So wash your microfibre cloths regularly.
  • Tackle fingerprints straight away. They're small grease marks. A slightly damp microfibre cloth with a mild cleaner lifts them easily.

You might come across the tip to rub stainless steel with oil. It does add shine, but according to HG it doesn't clean anything: kitchen dirt is mostly grease, so you're cleaning grease with grease. Makes sense to clean properly first, then.

Stubborn stains and burnt-on residue on stainless steel

Limescale, dull patches or caked-on dirt won't always come off with a cloth. Still, it pays to be careful here. HG advises against scrubbing hard or polishing aggressively, as that damages the protective layer of stainless steel. A stain is better than damage.

For those spots, POWR has the POWR Cleaning paste. It works with mineral abrasives, namely aluminium oxide and natural chalk, which loosen stubborn dirt, limescale and dull stains. According to POWR, the paste is suitable for almost all hard surfaces, including stainless steel, taps and hobs (induction too).

Because it's an abrasive paste, use it with care:

  1. Test on a hidden spot first. Stainless steel comes in many finishes, from brushed to mirror-smooth. This way you'll see straight away how your surface reacts.
  2. Work up a lather. Wet a sponge or cloth and rub it over the paste until it foams.
  3. Work gently and along the grain. Clean only the stain, without pressing hard.
  4. Rinse and dry. Rinse with water and dry with a clean cloth for an instant shine.

So use the paste for stubborn spots only, not for your daily clean. A mild cleaner does the job there.

Discover the POWR Cleaning paste →

What should you not use on stainless steel?

Some products and materials do more harm than good:

  • Scouring pads and steel wool. According to HG, they scratch the surface, which makes it easier for dirt to stick.
  • Bleach. HG warns that bleach attacks the protective layer of stainless steel, which can cause stains and rust.
  • Lemon juice and vinegar as a routine. According to HG, the acid in lemon juice can attack stainless steel over time, and vinegar can leave a dull film.
  • Scrubbing hard. Even with a mild cleaner, too much force damages the protective layer.

Specific spots: sink, tap, cooker hood and hob

Stainless steel sink

Rinse away food scraps and grease straight away and dry your sink with a soft cloth after use. According to HG, that prevents limescale spots and a dull look. If limescale stays put, test the cleaning paste on a hidden spot and work gently along the lines.

Stainless steel tap

On a tap you'll mainly see limescale and water droplets. Give it a quick dry after every wash-up. For stubborn limescale rings you can use the cleaning paste, which POWR specifically mentions for taps. Test on an inconspicuous spot here too.

Stainless steel cooker hood

Grease is what builds up most on a cooker hood. Use a mild cleaner and a soft cloth, rinse well and dry to avoid streaks. Clean the filters regularly too, so your cooker hood keeps working well.

Hob

According to POWR, the cleaning paste is also suitable for hobs, induction included. Work gently and only on the stain, rinse and dry. Unsure about your hob's finish? Check the manufacturer's manual first.

Looking for more tips for a fresh kitchen? Read our blog with 8 practical cleaning tips. Or discover all POWR cleaning products.

FAQ

Always wipe along the grain, the fine lines in the metal, and use a clean microfibre cloth with lukewarm water and a mild cleaner. Then dry with a dry cloth, so no water droplets dry on the surface.
Not for your daily clean: a mild cleaner and a soft cloth are enough. For stubborn spots like limescale or burnt-on residue, an abrasive cleaner can help, but test it on a hidden spot first and work gently along the grain. A stain is better than damage.
Yes, according to POWR the cleaning paste is suitable for stainless steel, taps and hobs (induction too). It is an abrasive paste with mineral abrasives, though, so use it for stubborn spots only. Test on a hidden spot first, work gently along the grain, rinse and dry.
Stainless steel has a thin protective layer that hard materials quickly damage. Scouring pads, steel wool or a dirty, rough cloth leave visible scratches, especially if you clean against the grain. So use a soft microfibre cloth and always wipe along the lines.
It depends on how much dirt it gets: you'll clean a hob or sink more often than a cooker hood. Top tip: remove dirt straight away. That way you prevent stubborn stains and rarely need anything stronger.

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