Stainless Steel Cleaner

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Which one should you buy?

Any decent stainless steel cleaner will shift fingerprints if you wipe with the grain and buff dry; Magic is a handy aerosol, and Method's spray is a strong, cheaper choice.

Stainless steel appliances look very smart in the showroom. Then you bring them home, someone opens the fridge with buttery fingers, and it looks like a crime scene. Every print shows.

A cleaner made for the job lifts grease and smudges and leaves a light film that helps the shine last. It's not glamorous, but a gleaming fridge makes the whole kitchen feel cleaner, and that's half the battle when you're trying to enjoy cooking in it.

Know your stainless steel

Look closely at a fridge door and you'll see faint lines running one way. That's the grain, left by the polishing at the factory. Wipe across it and you push grime into the little grooves and leave streaks. Wipe along it and the dirt comes away cleanly.

Fingerprints are mostly skin oil. Water alone just moves oil around, which is why plain water leaves smears. A stainless cleaner breaks the oil down, and the polish in it leaves a thin layer that makes the next prints easier to wipe off.

Some newer appliances have a fingerprint-resistant coating. It's a clear layer on top of the steel, and harsh products can damage it. If yours has one, check the manual first. Many makers just want mild soap and water.

Magic Stainless Steel Cleaner at a glance

What to look for in a stainless steel cleaner

• Made for appliances. You want something that cleans and leaves a light polish, not a scouring product.

• Easy to control. A pump spray goes exactly where you aim. An aerosol is quick but can drift, so spray onto the cloth for small areas.

• Safe for your finish. If your appliance has a fingerprint-resistant coating, use only what the maker allows.

• Nothing gritty. Abrasives, scouring powders and steel wool scratch an appliance finish for good.

Magic does the job well and the can lasts a good while. If it's out of stock, the Method spray is cheaper and every bit as useful.

Who it suits, and who should skip it

Good for you if

• You have stainless fridges, dishwashers or ovens and a family who love touching them

• You like a quick spray-and-buff routine

• You want a shine that lasts a few days

Skip it if

• Your appliances have a fingerprint-resistant coating and the manual says soap and water only

• You'd rather not use aerosols: choose the Method pump spray

• You're trying to clean burnt-on marks inside a pan. That's a job for a powder cleanser

How to get the best from it

Wipe off the worst first

If there's sticky jam or dried sauce on the door, take it off with a damp cloth and a drop of dish soap first. The cleaner is for the finish, not for scraping off dinner.

Spray the cloth, not the room

Spray onto a soft microfibre cloth, or lightly onto the surface. A little goes a long way. Too much leaves a greasy film that collects dust.

Go with the grain

Follow those faint lines, top to bottom or side to side, whichever way they run. Long, even strokes.

Buff dry

Finish with a clean, dry cloth, again with the grain. This is the step most people skip, and it's the one that gets rid of streaks.

Cleaning and safety

• Aerosols can be flammable. Read the warnings on the can and never spray near a lit burner, oven or pilot light.

• Outside surfaces only. Keep it off cooktops, pans and anywhere food goes, unless the label says it's fine.

• No steel wool or green scourers on appliance fronts. They scratch.

• Clean cloths only. A cloth with food or oil on it just spreads the mess.

• Keep it out of reach of children, like every cleaning product.

The one rule

With the grain, then buff dry. Do that and almost any cleaner will give you a streak-free shine.

Questions people ask

How do I clean stainless steel without streaks?

Spray the cleaner onto a soft cloth, wipe along the grain, then buff dry with a second clean cloth.

Will steel wool scratch stainless steel appliances?

Yes. Leave steel wool, scouring powder and the rough green side of a sponge well away from appliance fronts.

Can I use a stainless cleaner on my pans or cooktop?

Not unless the label says so. It's made for the outside of appliances. For burnt-on marks in stainless pans, use a powder cleanser and rinse well.

What about fingerprint-resistant stainless steel?

Check your appliance manual before using any cleaner. Many makers recommend mild soap and water with a soft cloth.

Can I just use soap and water?

Yes, for a basic clean. A drop of dish soap in warm water, a wipe with the grain, a rinse with a clean damp cloth and a good buff dry. It won't leave the same polish, but it's gentle on every finish.

Use it with

For burnt-on marks inside stainless steel pots and pans, reach for my Powder Cleanser instead.

Updated October 2026. Prices change often, so check before you buy.