How to fight stainless steel’s biggest foe: fingerprints
When interior designer Elizabeth Pash set about renovating her Manhattan kitchen, one thing she knew for sure was that she wanted the space to include a mix of materials:
Wood for the cabinetry, honed marble for the counter tops and stainless steel for the appliances.
Pash also used stainless steel for other design elements.
Pash said that in some ways, stainless steel is easier to clean and maintain than the cabinetry and marble counter tops.
Stainless steel is not only classic, but it also gives a kitchen a more professional look; it conveys a serious, strong vibe and projects a sense that real cooking takes place there (even if in some cases it doesn’t).
And by and large, stainless steel is easy to maintain. It won’t chip, fade or stain. But don’t confuse its durability for indestructibility; stainless steel can scratch and dent, and by far the biggest complaint owners have is that the surface shows fingerprints.
The best way to prevent fingerprints from showing is to use a wax-based spray made for treating stainless steel. There are many on the market, but Pash likes 3M’s Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish.
Whichever brand you use, wear gloves when applying the polish. Spray a light mist over the stainless-steel surface, but do not overspray; if you soak the surface, it will become too greasy. Wait one or two minutes after spraying, then wipe away with a clean, lint-free cloth (microfiber cloths work best).
Make sure you wipe in the direction of the steel’s grain. The spray will bring back the original luster of the material and leave a thin layer of wax that will resist fingerprints and smudges. And if fingerprints do appear, they will be easy to wipe away.
Whatever you do, don’t use cleaners with bleach after you put on the waxy layer; it will dull the surface luster. And don’t use oil-based cleaners, either; they will attract lint. Abrasive cleaners such as Soft Scrub or Scotch-Brite pads could scratch the surface.
The only time you may want to use an abrasive pad is if an unintended scratch appears. If that happens, spray some of the polish on the scratch and then gently rub it in with steel wool or a Scotch-Brite pad. Again, make sure you always rub with the grain until the scratches are no longer visible.
The worst thing that can happen to stainless steel is a dent. Dents are hard to repair unless you can get behind the stainless-steel layer and knock the dent out.
Mayhew, a “Today” show style expert and former magazine editor, is the author of “Flip! for Decorating.”