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This list features options for all stainless steel surfaces, from refrigerators to kitchen sinks.
If you look around your kitchen, you’ll likely see a variety of stainless steel surfaces, from stainless steel cooktops to range hoods. Stainless steel requires special care to maintain its shine. You just need the right tools to keep stainless steel looking its best.
You may have noticed unsightly streaks or marks on your stainless steel kitchen appliances when you clean them with an all-purpose cleaner. This is because stainless steel requires a cleaner that can both clean and polish. A quality stainless steel cleaner will first remove dirt, dust, and grease, then apply a protective coating that will leave any surface looking shiny after wiping with a soft cloth.
In addition to personally testing a number of products in professional and home kitchens, we also spoke with chef Shimi Aaron, who gave us some pro tips on the best stainless steel cleaners and how to use them.
This spray is designed to clean and shine stainless steel, leaving the surface looking virtually new.
Chef Aaron recommends this all-purpose stainless steel spray, saying it delivers “the best results.” Its dual-action formula removes dirt, stains, and food residue, then coats the surface with a protective finish that leaves it shiny. The formula contains pH-neutral cleaners, which is an important ingredient because acidity can cause stainless steel to tarnish or corrode over time.
We also found the polish to be effective at preventing fingerprints and stains. While this cleaner shouldn’t be used on your favorite cookware, it’s safe to use on all stainless steel surfaces, from the front of your kitchen trash can to your refrigerator door, as well as sinks and grates, making it a must-have for anyone with stainless steel in their kitchen.
Because this cleaner comes in an aerosol can, each spray covers a large surface area without creating drips.
This spray cleaner and polish works great on almost all stainless steel surfaces, except cookware, and effectively removes water and oil stains from large or hard-to-reach surfaces. This makes it a great choice for large stainless steel kitchen appliances such as upright freezers, electric ranges, or microwaves.
Even a small amount of this product is enough as it distributes the cleaner evenly over the surface, which increases its lifespan and makes it a more economical option. Additionally, this stainless steel cleaner is odorless, which is ideal for those who are sensitive to odors or have limited space or poor air circulation in the kitchen.
This plant-based, naturally scented formula effectively removes stains and streaks from all types of stainless steel, but is specially formulated to clean and polish black stainless steel.
While this spray is streak-free, it does require a little more effort to wipe and buff after application than other options on this list.
This plant-based spray contains a blend of coconut oils that leaves a shiny protective coating; it’s also formulated with essential oils to leave your entire kitchen smelling fresh without any lingering chemical odors. While this cleaner and polish requires a little extra effort to wipe down your appliances after spraying (using the included microfiber cloth), the extra effort is worth it, as you’ll be rewarded with a sparkling shine that will keep your stainless steel surfaces stain-resistant for days afterward.
Bonus: Not only does this spray leave no streaks on any cookware surface, it can also be used on black stainless steel surfaces (something many other cleaners don’t do well on).
With this spray, cleaning and polishing can be done easily and successfully by simply wiping, cleaning or polishing gently.
Another spray cleaner is CLR, which is specially formulated to clean the exterior surfaces of stainless steel kitchen appliances. This spray effectively removes grease, stains, oils, and other particles, and is especially useful for removing stubborn water stains or drips from the front of your dishwasher or refrigerator. Keep the spray can about a foot and a half away from the appliance, which ensures that the droplets travel a long distance when sprayed onto surfaces.
This CLR option is a little less fussy than others when it comes to wiping down with cleaners; you can use this spray by wiping along the grain or in a circular motion to easily achieve a streak-free shine—whether you use a microfiber cloth, dish towel, or paper towel.
Goo Gone eliminates the need to clean your grill. The spray effectively removes burnt-on residue with just a light wipe or brush.
After you have painted and wiped down your grill, you must thoroughly rinse it before using it. Always remove the grate before spraying.
Thoroughly cleaning your grill can be a tedious task, what with all the scrubbing, scrubbing, and burning off of food residue. Goo Gone Grate & Grater Cleaner makes the process a breeze. Simply remove the stainless steel grates from your outdoor grill, place them on a piece of cardboard or trash bag, spray the grates liberally with the foaming cleaner, and let them sit for a few minutes. After a few minutes, the foam will dissipate, and a simple scrub with a grill brush will remove the charred residue, revealing shiny grates.
To ensure food safety, always rinse the grill grate with water before placing it back on the grill. It is also worth noting that this product is not suitable for use with other stainless steel appliances, cookware or components.
Bar Keeper’s Friend removes stubborn food residue, grease and other types of stains from cookware and barware.
We all know what it’s like to spend endless hours scrubbing food residue off a stainless steel pan in the sink. Bar Keeper Powder Cleaner is your best friend during these times, removing food residue from stainless steel cookware (as well as ceramic cookware and just about any other cooking material). It’s also a favorite among bartenders, as it helps keep stainless steel shakers and barware looking shiny.
Simply sprinkle the powder onto the surface of your dishes, mix with a little dish soap or water and scrub. For tougher stains or dried-on dirt, mix Bar Keeper’s Friend with a little soap and water and leave overnight. By morning, the residue should be gone.
To minimize streaking, you should first wipe the surface with a cloth and then wipe it with a microfiber cloth, making it a two-step cleaning process.
While the wipes can be used alone to clean stains, for best results, wipe the entire stainless steel surface in the direction of the metal grain, then blot away any remaining moisture with the included microfiber cloth. This two-step process eliminates streaking and does not require the same level of buffing as spraying.
Each jar contains 30 wipes and will last up to 6 months after opening without drying out (pro tip: if you have wipes left over and the solution in the jar has dried out, you can add a little water to rehydrate them and they will work just fine). These handy wipes are especially effective on curved surfaces like the slow cooker or kitchen faucet, as they won’t leave splatter marks on your countertop.
Formulated with natural plant ingredients like soy, this cleaning spray is certified safe and effective for cleaning stainless steel.
ECOS is fragrance-free, climate-friendly, contains only eight ingredients (you can pronounce them all), is EPA Safer Choice Certified, and USDA BioPreferred Approved, so you can rest assured that it’s safe for the environment and your family. It works much like other cleaner and polish combinations: First, a water-based, pH-neutral cleaner is used to remove grease, residue, or dirt, then a soy-based polish is used to leave the surface shiny.
Unlike other options on this list, it can be used on other types of metal without damaging the surface, and it’s great for outdoor stainless steel appliances like gas grills, since its non-toxic composition makes it safe to leave out in the rain or hose down.
This sink cleaner and polish creates a protective, slightly water-repellent coating on your sink that keeps it clean even after you’ve finished washing up.
This cleaner works best on stainless steel sinks, so if you want to clean appliances and other surfaces, choose the all-purpose option.
Kitchen sinks get dirty quickly, and over time we forget what they look like when they are clean. While other methods of cleaning your kitchen sink require multiple scrubbings and the use of many kitchen tools, Perfect Sink Cleaner and Polish will give your sink a completely new look in just one step.
Once you have cleaned the sink of food residue, simply spray the cleaner onto a microfiber cloth, Swedish cloth, or paper towel and thoroughly wipe every corner (including the faucet), then rinse the sink with water. The cleaner removes stains and stubborn grease, as well as polishes the entire surface and creates a waterproof coating that prevents rust and water stains.
This dual-textured, double-sided microfiber cloth will handle any polishing or sanding task, leaving surfaces looking shiny even with just water.
For almost all of the above options, it is recommended to use a microfiber cloth to avoid leaving streaks. This electronic cloth does double duty: it keeps stainless steel shiny thanks to two different microfiber textures on both sides. The solid side is used to polish the surface after it has been sprayed or wiped with cleaner, while the striped side of the cloth is slightly abrasive and can be used as a cleaning tool when the cloth is damp.
The choice of stainless steel cleaner depends on what stainless steel surface you want to keep in tip-top condition. While we list the best options for specific purposes, such as the best sink cleaner or grill cleaner, there are some cleaners that can handle a variety of surfaces if you’re looking for an all-rounder. It’s important to note that while some cleaners can be used on a variety of surfaces, these all-purpose cleaners should not be used on cookware.
For large stainless steel surfaces like appliance doors, countertops, hoods, and sinks, avoid “anything powdery,” says Chef Aaron. In addition to being extremely difficult to apply to vertical surfaces, he says, “it doesn’t get the surface shiny or clean enough.” “There’s also a risk that you won’t be able to remove everything when you wipe it down.”
Powder cleaners are best for stainless steel cookware because they add extra grit to remove stubborn food residue without leaving scratches. For smaller stainless steel surfaces in the kitchen, choose a spray or wipe cleaner. Both spray and liquid cleaners contain a blend of cleaning and polishing agents, making spraying, wiping, and polishing quick and easy.
A good stainless steel cleaner does two things: remove dirt and residue from the surface, and leave a protective coating to minimize future marks. All of the products listed above do both. When looking for safe cleaners, make sure they are pH neutral to protect the stainless steel from fading and deteriorating over time, that there is no ammonia or bleach in the solution, and that they contain some kind of oil (such as mineral, coconut, or soybean) to ensure successful polishing after cleaning.
Also consider whether the products you’re considering are scented. We’ve listed both scented and unscented products above, so consider the size of your kitchen, the air circulation in your kitchen, and your personal preferences when making your decision.
To keep the metal surface intact, use a stainless steel cleaner. More abrasive cleaning solutions can permanently scratch or ruin stainless steel, while cleaning solutions that are too acidic can damage the color and shorten the life of the metal. According to Chef Aaron, it’s worth investing in cleaners specifically for stainless steel “to maintain it and ensure the longevity of your equipment.”
You should avoid using powdered cleaners, even though they are generally safe for sinks and grills. You should also avoid products that contain harsh chemicals. “Also, don’t use bleach or anything with ammonia,” says Chef Aaron, as these products can permanently alter the surface of the stainless steel, making it difficult to repair, even with repeated applications of a stainless steel cleaner.
Never use harsh cleaning tools like steel wool, the rough side of a sponge, or a stiff-bristled brush. If you must use a microfiber cloth, kitchen towel, or anything other than paper towels, Chef Aaron advises against scrubbing: “It will damage the surface and it will never shine again.”
The short answer is no. Chef Aaron says, “You can, but you shouldn’t. You won’t get the same results, and they often contain chlorine, which can remove the protective chrome coating from stainless steel, making it much more difficult to clean.”
Using a cleaner specifically designed for stainless steel will not only keep the surface clean, it will also protect the stainless steel for a long time and extend its life.
Stella is a pastry chef turned food writer with years of experience testing and researching all sorts of food. She has experience keeping stainless steel appliances, surfaces, and cookware spotless in commercial kitchens and at home. You can find her work at EdibleLA, Strategist, Apartment Therapy, and Kitchn.