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Stainless steel appliances have been adorning homes for a while now. After all, who doesn’t like how they make the kitchen look—besides being easy to clean and maintain?

However, to keep your appliances looking as good as they did when you first got them, you need to clean them regularly. Here’s how to clean your stainless steel appliances:

What to avoid

While stainless steel is not exactly the most delicate surface, it still requires that you take some precautions to keep it in top condition.

Here are some things you need to consider before you start cleaning your appliances:

Don’t use abrasive cleaners

Your first instinct may be to grab a chemical store-bought cleaner. However, products like bleach can stain the steel, and cleaners that contain ammonia could even cause scratches or discoloring on these surfaces.

So, when it comes to stainless steel, going for a more natural approach is better.

Don’t use metal sponges

Some might think that the harsher the sponge, the better. But, in the case of stainless steel, rough sponges can do more harm than good—the metallic fibers can scratch the appliance!

How to clean your stainless steel appliances

Now that you know what not to do, the actual process of cleaning stainless steel appliances is very straightforward. Just follow these easy steps:

Step 1. Dust the appliances

Sometimes, dust makes up most—if not all—of the dirt in your appliances. So, the first step is always to get this dust off the surfaces. This way, if the stainless steel is only dusty, you can stop at this step.

To do this, you only need to grab a clean, dry microfiber cloth and wipe the surface with it. The microfiber will be gentle enough not to damage the stainless steel while efficiently removing dust.

Step 2. Wipe the grime off the stainless steel

If some stains or dirt remain, you can use a mild cleaning solution and a soft sponge or microfiber cloth.

When choosing the cleaner you want to use, you have different options depending on your priorities: 

• Vinegar: Vinegar is acidic, which allows it to dissolve grime, and oily substances, leaving your appliances looking as good as new if you’re struggling with stains.
• Dish soap: Dish soap is a milder alternative to other commercial cleaners, but it will still clean grease, fingerprints, and sticky substances on the stainless steel.
• Olive oil: Olive oil cleans small smudges on the stainless steel. Plus, if you’re looking for something that will leave the stainless steel appliances shiny, olive oil is the best option! 
• Baby oil: Baby oil has some of the same results as olive oil, leaving the stainless steel surfaces free of smudges. However, baby oil is also antibacterial! Which is a great bonus to keep your kitchen germ-free.

All you need to do is put a little of your chosen cleaner in your cloth or sponge and wipe in the direction of the grain to avoid streaking the surfaces.

Note: If you don’t know which direction the grain goes, follow the one with less resistance when wiping.

Step 3. Dry the appliances

The last thing you need to do is dry the appliances with a dry microfiber cloth. This way, none of the moisture remains, so it can’t streak the surfaces if it runs.

Short on time? Let the pros handle it

Getting all the chores around your home can be challenging, especially if you can only use a small fraction of your time to do them. 

With CHRIStal Clean, you won’t have to worry about that anymore! We offer customizable cleaning packages to cover your cleaning needs, including cleaning and polishing the outside of your appliances.

Check out our services and request a free quote here!

Does getting your new home into a livable condition have you stressed? When you thought about moving into your new home, you probably didn’t imagine how much work simply cleaning it can be. 

You can stop stressing now! With the help of this blog, you’ll get your home ready for move-in day in just five steps.

The best order to clean: Start high and work your way down

The most efficient way to clean a new house—despite the specific room—is going from the top and following down. 

For example, you can start cleaning the ceiling fans and tops of the counters, dust the next level shelves and furniture, and follow down until the floor’s the only thing left to clean. 

Step 1. Disinfect the bathroom

Always start with the bathroom. This task can be more tiring than others, so you may get the impulse to leave it for later. Don’t do that! Your bathroom is always the place in your home that gets more use, and you’ll need to use it sooner than the rest of the rooms.

So, start disinfecting the toilet and sink—you can use soapy water, vinegar and baking soda, or a disinfectant. Then, keep going with the shower and bathtub.

Step 2. Clean the appliances

Unless you want to live off take-out forever, you will need to get your kitchen ready to cook eventually. Scrubbing with soapy water and a sponge should be enough to take care of this!

You can go in whatever order, but starting with the fridge is best if the house already has kitchen appliances. This way, you will have a place to store your groceries as soon as you move in. 

Then, you can follow with the sink, oven, and microwave in whichever order works best for you.

Step 3. Wash the windows

The windows can get fogged and dusty even if your home has never been inhabited. That’s no way to enjoy your new view! 

So, get washing those windows. All it takes is a clean cloth, soapy water, and a little of your time—wipe the windows in a Z-pattern to avoid streaks.

Step 4. Dust closets and cabinets

Do you want to start unpacking? Then, it would help if you prepared the storage spaces. Otherwise, you risk having your things get dirty or dusty just for putting them away.

Don’t worry! Dirtying your things right after unpacking them is very easy to prevent; grab your duster or a clean cloth and wipe the insides of your closets and cabinets.

Step 5. Clean the floors and walls (Planning the house’s layout)

For most homeowners, the most fun part about moving is giving the new home their personal touch. Well, cleaning your floors and walls can get you well on your way to decorating!

Start by looking for stains on the walls to clean them with a damp sponge or a magic eraser. If you prefer and have the time, you could also dust the entire walls—you won’t have a better chance!

Then, take advantage of the unfurnished house to sweep, mop, and wipe the floors without anything getting in the way. While you do this, you can start planning where your furniture, photos, or paintings will go.

Let us get your house ready for move-in day

Do you want to skip this part of the already tiring task of moving into a new house? CHRIStal Clean has just the thing for you!

We offer move-in and move-out cleaning services so you can stop worrying about cleaning and focus just on moving! Get your quote today.

Besides making your showerhead look dirty, limescale buildup can clog the water holes, lowering the flow and snatching the joy of a nice shower. And, while you can scrub the nozzle to try removing the buildup, it doesn’t always work.

Luckily, you can try these two easy and effective ways to descale your showerhead without problems.

How to clean a showerhead without detaching it

Whether you don’t have the tools to detach your showerhead or it isn’t that dirty, you can use this method to clean your fixture.

Step #1. Soak the showerhead

White vinegar works great to break down limescale due to its acid properties. So, fill a bag (big enough to fit the shower nozzle) halfway with vinegar and then cover the showerhead with it.

If the vinegar amount isn’t enough to cover your fixture, pour some more until reaching the desired level. Then, fasten the bag to avoid it from falling—a zip tie or a couple of rubber bands will do the trick.

Once the bag is secured, leave it there for about one hour unless the fixture is made of brass, gold, or coated with nickel—30 minutes is the maximum for those materials.

Caution: Avoid using malt or brown vinegar as that won’t be as effective and might even stain your showerhead.

Step #2. Scrub away the grime

After time’s up, remove the bag and pour its dirty contents into the drain. The limestone remaining on the shower head will be loosened, so use an old toothbrush to scrub it away. Finally, rinse the fixture with hot water, and dry it with a clean cloth.

How to deep clean your showerhead

If you need a more thorough cleaning, you’ll need an adjustable wrench to remove your showerhead. Once you have one handy, you can get to work!

Step #1. Unscrew your showerhead

To protect your showerhead from scratches, wrap the nut with a rag before loosening it. Avoid turning the fixture upside down after detaching it, as the water seal (the small rubber ring inside) could fall.

Pro tip: If your showerhead has a flow regulator, take this chance to scrub it with a toothbrush to remove any buildup, and rinse it with warm water.

Step #2. Submerge the fixture

Now, grab two bowls and place your showerhead inside the first one. In the second bowl, you’ll heat vinegar (a sufficient amount to cover your fixture) until it’s warm to the touch. Once the vinegar is ready, pour it into the first bowl.

Leave your showerhead submerged for one to eight hours, depending on how dirty it is. Make an exception for brass, gold, or nickel-coated showerheads—no more than 30 minutes!

Step #3. Clean and re-attach

Once you remove your showerhead from the vinegar, use an old toothbrush to scrub your fixture thoroughly until no more buildup remains. At this point you might ask, what about the water holes? Easy! While a toothbrush won’t help you, a toothpick or a needle will.

Finally, rinse your showerhead with warm water and dry it with a clean cloth before screwing it back.

Get more cleaning tips from CHRIStal Clean!

We take great pride in offering the most reliable cleaning service and useful guidance for homeowners. So, if you want to keep learning the best tips to tackle your cleaning chores, you can visit our blog!