How to Care for Stainless Steel Appliances

Stainless steel care starts with the finish on your particular appliance. Traditional stainless, fingerprint-resistant stainless, and coated finishes can need different products, even when they look similar.

Check the manual first

Find the model number and its care instructions before choosing a cleaner. Whirlpool’s stainless steel care guidance, for example, distinguishes between finishes and cautions against products that can damage coatings.

Do not assume that vinegar, oil, polish, or a homemade cleaning mixture is suitable for every appliance.

Use a gentle routine

Where the manufacturer permits it, clean with warm, mildly soapy water and a soft cloth. Follow the grain on traditional stainless steel, remove any soap residue, and dry with a clean cloth.

Use a product sold as a stainless steel cleaner only if the appliance manufacturer approves it for that finish. Avoid abrasive pads and powders.

Clean after surfaces have cooled

Allow the range and nearby surfaces to cool before wiping up cooking spills. Follow separate instructions for the cooktop, oven interior, knobs, and exterior panels; they may be made from different materials.

Lift cookware rather than dragging it across surfaces, and keep hot pans on appropriate heat-resistant surfaces.

Keep care information together

Save appliance model numbers, manuals, and receipts in one place. If a mark remains after the approved cleaning process, ask the manufacturer for guidance before trying a stronger product.

For an Alta home, use the warranty page to find the appropriate next step for a service question. Routine cleaning and a warranty request are different tasks; the product instructions help you decide which applies.