7 Best Stainless-Steel Appliance Cleaners of 2025, Tested and Reviewed
We scoured and polished every kind of appliance to distinguish which cleaners really shine.
While nothing looks more contemporary than a gleaming stainless-steel kitchen, the charm is lost if the surfaces are marred with smears, smudges and sticky fingerprints. With the right product in your arsenal of cleaning supplies, you can maintain a spotless and shiny finish on your fridge, range, dishwasher, sink, and even your toaster.
There’s a myriad of stainless-steel cleaners to choose from. They all promise to spiff up your beautiful appliances easily and many also tout that they’ll keep them streak-free and resistant to new spots and fingerprints. In addition, some claim to be safer for your family and for the environment. We tested the 10 best-selling sprays to help you shop wisely and avoid having a cabinet full of useless items. Since nothing’s more important than how effective a cleaning product is, we put them to work on various stainless surfaces.
Our Top Stainless Steel Cleaner Picks
How We Tested
With each stainless-steel cleaner, we tackled grease and dried-on ketchup on a range, water spots and fingerprints on a refrigerator and a dishwasher and scratches on a sink. In addition, we used the products to clean off a sticky mixture of oil, peanut butter, ketchup, marmalade and mustard applied to identical small rectangles of stainless steel. For each test, we used a clean microfiber cloth to remove soil and another one to then polish and buff.
To test the 10 cleaners side by side, we used masking tape to section off the front of a stove. We covered each section with grease and ketchup and let them dry on the surface, and then tested each cleaner on the dried-on gunk.
After scrubbing and buffing with each cleaner, we were able to perform a good side-by-side comparison.
We also performed the same test with all the cleaners on a dishwasher microwave and a refrigerator. We used the same type of microfiber cloth to clean and buff all our appliances.
We tested each cleaner in a sink to see if they would help conceal scratches and remove stains.
We also tested the cleaners on smaller appliances such as microwaves and toasters.
As we worked, we noted how easy it was to apply the cleaners and how quickly and with how much effort we could remove the stains. After cleaning, we checked to see if any streaks remained and how shiny the stainless steel looked. We inspected to see if there was dulling or discoloration of the stainless steel and then tested to see if the surfaces resisted water streaks and fingerprints. On the rectangles, we compared the cleaners’ effects side by side.
To further evaluate the cleaners, we applied a sticky mixture of oil, peanut butter, ketchup, marmalade and mustard to identical small rectangles of stainless steel. You can see that some cleaners left streaks and a dull finish while others provided a clean, streak-free shine.
The ingredients in and environmental and safety claims made for each product were reviewed by Birnur Aral, PhD an independent consultant with over 20 years of experience in the consumer product and sustainability arena. She helped us determine which cleaners were better choices for the environment and your family.
- Excels at polishing and shining
- Excels at lifting dried-on soil
- Comes with a microfiber cloth
- Takes some effort to buff and polish
For its ability to excel at exactly what it’s supposed to do — clean and polish — Bar Keepers Friend Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish is our top pick. It lifts even the stickiest messes — think peanut butter, marmalade, ketchup — right off a fridge with a single swipe. And once it’s cleaned off all the smudges and greasy fingerprints that your family throws at it, it leaves behind a super smooth, gleaming finish. Use it on a sink and it masks the scratches. One caveat: You have to spend a little time rubbing the polish in and then buffing the surface to bring out the shine.
Along with the cleaner, you get a microfiber cloth that’s ribbed on one side for extra power when you’re dealing with stubborn gunk and a smooth side for polishing. “Shake Well” is printed in large letters right on top of the container; this might seem like a small nuisance, but it’s a very helpful reminder and speaks to the manufacturer’s attention to detail. The dispenser is sturdy and produces a nice, wide spray. Although the cleaner has a lingering odor, it’s not unpleasant.
- Type Liquid spray
- Size 16 ounces
- Good value
- Excels at polishing
- Microfiber cloth included
- Need to scrub a bit to remove smears
- Takes some effort to buff and polish
Dollar for dollar, HOPE’S Perfect Stainless Steel Cleaner is the best stainless steel cleaner you can buy. Not only do you get more cleaner for your money, you get a product that rivals our top picks for its ability to polish and shine. While it fairly easily cleans off dried-on gunk, it takes a little bit of scrubbing. For added value, a microfiber cloth is included. We appreciated the solid-feeling spray mechanism and the barely detectable odor.
- Type Liquid spray
- Size 22 ounces
- Excels at polishing and shining
- Excels at lifting dried-on soil
- Aerosol
- Takes some effort to buff and polish
Magic Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish pretty much tied with Bar Keepers Friend when it came to banishing even the stubbornest messes, and maybe even surpassed it for leaving a long-lasting shiny surface that repels fingerprints and hides scratches. However, we downgraded it to second place because it comes in an aerosol can rather than a spray bottle. As the propellant is flammable, you need to be sure to store the cleaner at a cool temperature. We also found that at times, the dispenser clogged and needed a rest before it worked again. Its scent is barely detectable.
- Type Aerosol
- Size 17 ounces
- Can be used on cookware
- Good at cleaning and polishing
- Microfiber cloth included
- Strong chemical odor
- Need to scrub a bit to remove smears
- Takes some effort to buff and polish
Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish is the only cleaner we tested that you can also use to shine up cookware. (Just be sure to heed Weiman’s advice to wash pots and pans very thoroughly using dishwasher detergent before you add food.)
While this cleaner doesn’t remove gunk and grime quite as easily as our top choices, it doesn’t require repeated applications and a great deal of scrubbing. If you take the time to polish and buff, you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful, gleaming surface. Be aware that Weiman has a strong chemical odor that you associate with cleaning products.
- Type Liquid spray
- Size 12 ounces
- EPA and Leaping Bunny certified
- Women-owned company
- No scent
- Takes some effort to remove soil
- Takes some effort to buff and polish
If you're willing to use a little elbow grease for the peace of mind that you’re cleaning with a product that’s better for both your family and the world, your best bet is ECOS Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish. It bears the EPA SaferChoice label, which means its ingredients have met very stringent criteria that make it a safer choice for human health and the environment. It’s also certified by Leaping Bunny, so that you know it’s not tested on animals. Another feel-good thing about the company? It’s women-owned.
ECOS won’t produce a dazzling shine on your appliances, but if you take the time to buff a bit with a microfiber cloth, you can produce a streak-free finish. What you can’t do is camouflage any scratches or produce a surface that will resist fingerprints or watermarks. This is one product that has absolutely no scent. The manufacturer says it can also be used on chrome, nickel, titanium and other unspecified metals
- Type Liquid spray
- Size 22 ounces
- USDA certified biobased product
- Excels at lifting dried-on soil polishing and shining
- Pleasant lavender scent
- Takes some effort to buff and polish
With Therapy Clean Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish you get top-notch cleaning and polishing and also do a little bit to protect the planet. As it’s a USDA certified biobased product, you can trust the manufacturer’s claim that most of its ingredients are plant based and renewable.
With just a spritz and a swipe of a microfiber cloth (included) it gets rid of a crusty mess. Polish and buff and you get a smooth polished finish that repels greasy fingerprints. Plus, Therapy Clean has a lovely lavender scent.
- Type Liquid spray
- Size 16 ounces
- Recycable bottle
- Excels at cleaning and polishing
- Takes a lot of effort to rub in
One hundred percent of the Method Stainless Steel Cleaner bottle is recyclable. That means it reduces landfill, preserves energy and limits pollution. But not only is Method good for the environment, it’s a very effective cleaner and polisher. However, it’s a very greasy formulation and you need to spend considerable time rubbing it in in order to get a streak free finish or conceal scratches. We found the sweet floral fragrance, that Method calls Apple Orchard, pleasing.
- Type Liquid spray
- Size 14 ounces
What Else We Tested
The first ingredient in Aunt Fannie's Stainless Steel Cleaner is vinegar and therefore it speedily cuts through grease. However, it doesn’t have the oomph to lift off sticky smears like ketchup and marmalade. Not only does it fail to polish or shine stainless steel, but it also leaves a mottled finish. Plus, it imparts a strong, unpleasant and lingering vinegar odor.
Better Life Stainless Steel Polish easily banishes water marks and fingerprints, but getting rid of stuck-on messes requires several spritzes and a great deal of scrubbing. And once you’ve managed to get your fridge clean, you’ll be looking at a streaky door.
It takes serious elbow grease to remove sticky stuff with Puracy Stainless Steel Cleaner. Plus, it doesn’t leave a smooth, polished surface.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Do I Need to Know About Stainless Steel Cleaners?
These specialty products are formulated to be gentle and nonabrasive so that they clean stainless steel without dulling or scratching it. In order to leave a shiny, streak-free surface after cleaning, some also polish, imparting a protective finish that helps prevent or minimize fingerprints. While just about every cleaner removes water and finger marks, where they differ is in their ability to remove stuck-on smudges as well as beautify and protect. Effective polishing cleaners won’t remove scratches but they will help camouflage them.
Why Use a Cleaner Made Specifically for Stainless Steel?
In a few short words, insurance that you’re protecting your investment in stainless steel fixtures. When you use one of these specialty products, you don’t risk scratching the surface of your appliances. If you choose one that also polishes, it’ll help maintain their beautiful gleam for as long as you own your appliances.
What Shouldn't You Clean Stainless Steel With?
Don’t even think of using bleach or ammonia or any products containing them as they can corrode the finish and lead to rusting. On appliances that can’t be rinsed under running water, avoid powdered cleaners that are hard to remove with a cloth. Resist the urge to grab an oven or grill cleaner as they’re way too harsh for stainless steel. Lastly, never use abrasive scrubbers like steel wool or stiff-bristled brushes that can easily scratch stainless steel.
What Surfaces Shouldn't You Use a Stainless-Steel Cleaner On?
Unless the manufacturer specifically says its cleaner is safe for cookware, don’t use it on pots and pans. If a cleaner contains polishing agents that leave a protective shine, they can leave residue on your cookware that won’t come off easily and you don’t want it in your food or baked onto the outside. In addition, avoid using a stainless-steel cleaner on painted or wood surfaces, plastics, fabric, glass or other metals unless the manufacturer specifically says otherwise.
Why You Should Trust Our Tester
Sharon Franke has been a contributor to Food Network for four years, writing articles to help readers make educated decisions about all types of kitchen equipment, from stoves and ranges to dinnerware. After a seven-year career as a professional chef, Sharon joined the prestigious Good Housekeeping Institute, where she worked for three decades, serving as Director of the Kitchen Appliances Lab and establishing standards for testing. Over the last seven years, Sharon has been reviewing products for many national publications, including Wirecutter, Reviewed, thekitchen and CNNunderscored. With over 37 years of experience testing, writing, and consulting about tools used for cooking, storing, and serving food as well as cleaning up, she is a respected authority on kitchen gear.
Why You Should Trust Food Network Shopping Experts
Food Network Shopping Experts believe the best method for testing products is based on how our fans are going to use them in the real world. In each of our Tested and Reviewed stories, products are tested in real home kitchens that reflect real-world use cases. Our testers follow rigorous testing rubrics designed by our expert editors and take copious notes during the testing process. When choosing the best products, our testers evaluate all of the testing data and take into consideration many factors, including ease of use, price, product availability and practicality. The products covered on FoodNetwork.com are chosen completely independently by our editors without any outside influence. Our editors do not accept products in exchange for a positive review or promised coverage.
