Cleaning Your Finish

Today’s appliances are suited with durable finishes to resist everyday wear and damage. With that said, messes will inevitably happen in between cleaning days (especially if you have children!). From spills and splashes to opening the fridge door with a messy hand, your appliances can go from stunning to grubby in a matter of minutes. That’s okay. Messes are a byproduct of creating your favorite memories of baking cookies with your little ones, delighting your guests with a gourmet dish, and proudly crafting a masterpiece for your spouse. There’s no need for these messes to be a worrisome especially when you know how to properly clean them up.

As we say in the appliance industry, “Different shines call for different measures.” Okay we just made that up but it rings true just the same. The method you use to clean a painted appliance is different than cleaning stainless steel, and the way you clean traditional stainless steel is different than black stainless steel. Get your appliances back to stunning with these tips from KitchenAid®.

Traditional Stainless Steel Although stainless steel is a very durable finish, it can still scratch. Therefore, avoid damaging its shiny surface by never cleaning it with a scouring pads, steel-wool, rough washcloths, or any abrasive materials. You should also avoid harsh cleaners that contain chlorine bleach. Instead, us Affresh™ Stainless Steel cleaner on a soft cloth and simply wipe the surface in the direction of the grain. Going with the grain avoids and removes grime that can get stuck in between the surface lines. If Affresh™ cleaner is not available, just use warm, soapy water and a non-abrasive sponge to wipe in the direction of the grain. Rinse the soap off with clean water and use a lint-free cloth to dry the surface. Then with a clean, dry towel you can polish the surface until it shines. Make sure your surface is completely dry since water can contain iron that can cause discoloration to stainless steel. Shop stainless steel KitchenAid® appliances here.  

Black Stainless Steel Smudge-proof black stainless steel from KitchenAid® is protected with a clear coating that can be scratched or dulled by abrasive materials. For this reason, always avoid scouring pads, steel-wood, rough washcloths, certain types of paper towels, chlorine bleach, or really anything that isn’t a clean, microfiber cloth. In the case of black stainless steel, use a soft cloth, warm water, and mild soap and wipe in the direction of the grain. Wipe dry with a soft cloth and to polish the surface. Similar to traditional stainless steel, be sure to thoroughly dry all surfaces to avoid discoloration. Shop black stainless steel KitchenAid® appliances here.

Painted Or Colored To clean the surface of a painted or colored appliance finish, simply use warm water on a soft cloth and mild soap or detergent. Once you have wiped the surface clean, use a dry cloth to thoroughly dry it. As usual, abrasive materials and even paper towels that can scratch or dull the clear coat of the painted surface. Keeping your appliances clean with a good household appliance cleaner and polish will help protect your appliance from future messes. Shop painted and colored KitchenAid® appliances here.

 

When In Doubt If you’re not sure which method is best for your appliance finish, it’s always best to default to a soft cloth and mild soap. If you wipe bigger messes away as soon as they happen, it’s unlikely there are any messes that can’t be removed with warm water and soap. Be sure to always thoroughly dry every surface to avoid water marks or discoloration, and never use abrasive or harsh cleaners.