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Introduction
There’s something oddly satisfying about gleaming, streak-free stainless steel—but getting it there can be frustrating. My mother, a no-nonsense home guru, taught me a cleaning hack that delivers spotless, fingerprint-free results in just five minutes. Best of all? It’s practically effortless and uses items you likely already have in your home.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon of olive oil (or any cooking oil)
1 tablespoon of white vinegar
A soft microfiber cloth or two
Warm water (optional for pre-cleaning)
Dish soap (optional if surface is heavily soiled)
Preparation
If your stainless steel surface is especially dirty or greasy, give it a quick wipe down with warm soapy water and dry it thoroughly.
Dampen one microfiber cloth slightly with white vinegar. Wipe down the stainless steel in the direction of the grain. This removes grime, smudges, and light oxidation.
Once dry, apply a small amount of olive oil onto the second cloth. Rub gently in circular motions or along the grain—whichever works best for your surface.
Buff with a clean, dry section of the cloth for a streak-free shine.
Presentation and Storage Tips
Keep a spray bottle of diluted vinegar (1:1 with water) in your cleaning cabinet for quick wipe-downs.
Store the cloth used for oiling separately and reuse it—just be sure to label it.
Use this method on fridges, ovens, toasters, range hoods, and even stainless steel trash cans.
For best results, clean weekly and touch up with oil monthly.
Variants
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