Best Stainless Steel Cleaners In 2020 – Top 10 Reviews & Buying Guide

The 9 Best Stainless Steel Cleaners of 2020

These cleaners will make your kitchen shine

Our Top Picks

"This all-natural cleaner smells like lavender and comes with a microfiber cloth, perfect for wiping down your appliances."

"This cloth removes up to 99 percent of bacteria, allergens and dust from stainless steel, electronics, and more."

"People swear by this product for its versatility: it's even effective on burnt-on food on your stainless steel cookware."

"This tough-as-nails cleaning spray cuts through even the toughest grime, making it perfect for cooktops."

"It’s not only incredibly tough on spots, stains, on caked-on grime, but it also shines and adds a protective coating."

"This 18-in-1 soap has a neutral pH, meaning that it won't dull your appliance's shine."

"It's effective in removing grease and grime without streaks, and leaves a protective layer that prolongs time between cleanings."

"These convenient wipes are best used for a quick cleaning in between your more thorough weekly sweeps."

"Both a cleaner and a polish, this spray is particularly effective on stubborn water spots and streaks."

Best Overall: Therapy Premium Stainless Steel Cleaner

When it comes to cleaning stainless steel and restoring its shine, there’s nothing quite like this cleaner from Therapy. The plant-based spray receives plenty of praise, because it’s effective and made with natural ingredients like coconut oil and lavender essential oil. Reviewers love that it doesn’t have a harsh chemical odor, either.

Another selling point? The cleaning spray comes with a microfiber cloth, so you’ll have everything you need to clean a wide range of stainless steel appliances—from your refrigerator and your dishwasher, to your grill—right from the get-go. Getting a deep clean requires just a simple wipe-down, but a little extra elbow grease will ensure your stainless steel really sparkles.

Best Budget: Quickie Microfiber Cleaning Cloth

If you prefer to limit the amount of spray, foam, or aerosol cleaners you use in your home, this stainless steel cleaning towel is a good option—especially for quick touch-ups between deeper cleans.

It doesn’t take much effort to buff out fingerprints and wipe away grime on your fridge door or oven. Use it dry or, for a more effective clean, mist the appliance with water, then use a little elbow grease to wipe dry for a chemical-free clean. The manufacturers say it removes up to 99 percent of bacteria, allergens, and dust, too.

Despite this tough cleaning power, you don’t have to worry about any scratches. The towel is non-abrasive and won’t leave lint behind.

Best for Cookware: Bar Keepers Friend

If anything is prone to grease and grime, it’s your pots and pans. But this cult-favorite product can help tackle even the toughest and most caked-on spots.

People swear by this product for cleaning sinks, countertops, and more, but it’s also a very effective stainless steel cleaner—particularly for your stainless steel cookware, baking sheets, and even the inside of your oven or dishwasher. Hard water stains? Tough grease? Severely burnt spots? No problem—the company stands by its claim that it is 50 percent stronger than other cleaners.

It’s easy to use, too—all you have to do is simply sprinkle the powder on a wet surface, buff it in, then rinse thoroughly.

Best for Cooktop: Affresh Stainless Steel Cleaning Spray

Another incredibly tough spot to clean? Your stainless steel cooktop. Stainless steel is already prone to fingerprints and dust, but your stovetop has another big uphill battle—food splatter that gets baked on as you cook.

This tough-as-nails cleaning spray, which is backed by big brands like KitchenAid, cuts through all that grime to leave your stainless steel surface looking cleaner than ever before. Simply spray and wipe clean with a dry microfiber cloth to reveal a shiny, streak-free surface.

Best for Sink: Magic Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish

For something as frequently used as the sink, you are going to need an extra-tough stainless steel cleaner. This spray is just right for the job. It’s not only incredibly tough on spots, stains, on caked-on grime, but it also shines and adds a protective coating that helps keep this messy spot in the kitchen clean for longer.

This pick wins plenty of praise from reviewers for all of the above, but particularly for the way it makes the sink (and other stainless steel appliances) shine. You can’t really ask for anything more!

Best for Appliances: Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Liquid Soap

As it turns out, one of the best stainless steel cleaners for forward-facing stainless steel, like your appliances, is actually regular old soap. Why? When cleaning stainless steel, you should never use anything acidic—this can dull the shine. Instead, use something with a neutral pH, like dish soap. Simply mix a few drops of this concentrated soap with water in a spray bottle, spritz onto the stainless steel, and wipe clean with a microfiber cloth in the direction of the grain (those little textured lines you see on the surface).

This beloved soap is a winner, thanks to all natural organic ingredients, a sweet almond scent, and its ability to clean a wide range of surfaces. It’s a great option for your stainless steel, but it’s—generally—a workhorse you’ll be glad to have in your cleaning arsenal.

Best Eco-Friendly: Method Stainless Steel Cleaner

Courtesy of the Home Depot

If you’re looking for a great eco-friendly option, try Method's stainless steel cleaner. This non-abrasive spray is gentle enough to use on forward-facing stainless appliances, like the refrigerator or the dishwasher, but it’s effective enough to remove greasy fingerprints and other grime.

Reviewers are drawn to the fresh apple orchard scent, but are sold on the product when they see just how powerful it is. Another selling point? It doesn’t leave any streaks behind, but does leave a protective layer that helps prolong time needed between cleanings.

Most Convenient: Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaning Wipes

If your to-do list is a mile long, sometimes the best cleaning solution is the most convenient solution. For an appliance as prone to dirt and residue as stainless steel is, it’s incredibly helpful to have a set of these stainless steel cleaning wipes on hand. They’re effective enough for your deep cleaners, but are ideal for a quick swipe in between your more thorough weekly sweep.

For even more convenience, these wipes are suitable for use on all of your stainless steel, from the sink and the dishwasher, to the refrigerator and the oven, to your cookware and the grill.

Best Polish: Hope's Perfect Stainless Steel Polish

If it’s the shine you’re after, check out this all-in-one product—it’s both a stainless steel cleaner and a polish. Instead of clean, then polish, all you need to do is spritz this spray onto your appliances, cookware, or grill grates. Then, wipe with the grain using a microfiber cloth. There’s no elbow grease required, since this formula is made to dry without leaving any streaks behind.

Reviewers love the fact that this spray really does seem to prolong the time between cleans, and note that it’s particularly effective on stubborn water spots and streaks.